220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A Mac user reports that the computer stops responding during startup before the login screen appears. Which of the following is the most appropriate first troubleshooting step?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1102 exam often tests the principle of least invasive troubleshooting first, and the trap here is that candidates jump to repairing the disk (Option C) because they associate boot failures with disk errors, overlooking the simpler NVRAM/PRAM reset that specifically addresses pre-login hangs caused by corrupted firmware settings.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Reset the NVRAM or PRAM
When a Mac stops responding before the login screen, it often indicates a hardware parameter corruption that prevents the boot process from completing. Resetting NVRAM (non-volatile RAM) or PRAM (parameter RAM) clears these stored settings—such as startup disk selection, screen resolution, and time zone—without affecting user data. This is the quickest, least invasive first step because it addresses common boot failures caused by corrupted parameter memory.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reinstall macOS from the Recovery partition
Why it's wrong here
Reinstalling macOS from the Recovery partition is an unnecessarily destructive step for a startup freeze before the login screen; the issue likely stems from a corrupt kernel extension, a failing startup disk, or a peripheral conflict, all of which should be investigated with Safe Mode or disk utility diagnostics first. This option is tempting because Recovery partition reinstallation is the standard fix for a corrupted system volume or a failed macOS update that prevents booting entirely, but the stem describes a freeze during startup, not a complete boot failure.
- ✓
Reset the NVRAM or PRAM
Why this is correct
Resetting NVRAM/PRAM on an Intel-based Mac clears corrupted hardware settings—such as startup disk selection, screen resolution, or system volume—that can prevent the boot process from completing normally. Unlike reinstallation or disk repair, it is a non-destructive, quick first step when the system freezes during startup, and it addresses parameter RAM corruption that often mimics more serious boot issues.
- ✗
Run Disk Utility from Recovery to repair the disk
Why it's wrong here
Disk Utility from Recovery can verify and repair the filesystem, detect invalid directory structures, or rebuild the catalog, but a startup freeze before login is often caused by a peripheral conflict or corrupted parameter RAM rather than disk corruption. Because running First Aid requires booting to Recovery and can be time-consuming, and because the stem gives no indication of an invalid directory or a corrupt volume, it should be used only after NVRAM reset fails to resolve the hang.
- ✗
Boot into verbose mode to see error messages
Why it's wrong here
Booting into verbose mode displays kernel- and driver-level log messages that can reveal the last subsystem to initialize before the hang, which is a valuable advanced diagnostic. However, it requires a second reboot, specialized knowledge to interpret the log output, and it does not change the underlying state—it merely observes it. A technician should first try NVRAM reset or Safe Mode to fix common configuration-induced freezes, reserving verbose mode for identifying a specific failing kext or hardware component.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1102 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1102 exam.