Learn why booting into macOS Recovery Mode is the best first step when a Mac won’t boot past the Apple logo, as required for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1101 exam. Discover how Recovery Mode enables disk repair and system troubleshooting for startup issues.
Table of Contents
Question
A technician is troubleshooting a Mac that won’t boot past the Apple logo. What is the best first step?
A. Reinstall macOS immediately
B. Replace the hard drive
C. Run a Windows repair disk
D. Boot into macOS Recovery Mode
E. Reset all user accounts
Answer
D. Boot into macOS Recovery Mode
Explanation
macOS Recovery Mode allows technicians to diagnose issues, repair disks, and reinstall macOS if necessary.
When a Mac fails to boot past the Apple logo, the best initial troubleshooting step is to enter macOS Recovery Mode. Recovery Mode provides access to essential utilities such as Disk Utility for repairing the startup disk, options to reinstall macOS, restore from Time Machine backups, and access to the Terminal for advanced troubleshooting. To enter Recovery Mode on Intel-based Macs, hold down Command + R during startup until the Utilities window appears.
From there, you can use Disk Utility’s First Aid feature to scan and repair disk errors, which are a common cause of startup problems. If disk repair does not resolve the issue, Recovery Mode also allows you to reinstall macOS without erasing user data. This approach directly addresses the most common startup failures and is recommended by multiple Mac support resources.
CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1101 certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1101 exam and earn CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1101 certification.