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150 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Function of the Processor/CPU? |
General purpose number cruncher. Computer processes reduce to math calculations. |
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Function of the HDD/SSD? |
Long term storage for OS, Programs and User Data |
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Function of System Memory? |
Short term storage for currently active data (RAM) |
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The central connection chip on a motherboard is called... |
A chipset |
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The OS is... |
The Operating System. A collection of programs that control a computer. Interface between programs and hardware. |
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Where is the operational parts of the OS reside while the computer is running? |
On HDD/SSD |
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In regard to storage/memory, what is the difference between volatile and non-volatile? |
Volatile requires power to store data. Non-volatile has permanent storage without power. |
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RAM Speed is measured in... |
Megahertz/second (MHz/s) |
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RAM Capacity is measured in... |
Gigabytes |
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Where does the OS Kernel reside when the computer is running? |
Inside RAM |
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Where does the OS Kernel reside when the computer is shutdown? |
On the Hard Disk |
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What does RAM stand for? |
Random Access Memory |
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What does ROM stand for? |
Read Only Memory |
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(T or F) Flash Memory and EELROM are descendants of ROM. |
True |
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What is a Volume/Partition? |
A logical storage unit formatted with a file system that can be accessed by a computer. Exists on a drive, DVD, etc. |
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What is a File System and what is its purpose? |
A required system of data structures and methods for storing, retrieving and keeping track of data. |
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PC computers can't recognize Mac drives is partly caused by... |
File System Incompatibility |
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(T or F) the macOS desktop shows Physical Drives? |
False |
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(T or F) The macOS desktop shows Mounted Volumes. |
True |
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(T or F) the macOS desktop shows Unmounted Volumes? |
False |
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Is a volume without an OS installed on it considered Bootable? |
No |
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What is the purpose of System Firmware? |
The underlying system used to initialize computer and load the OS. Exists in the EEPROM/Flash on the mother. |
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The 4 general functions System Firmware performs during Boot |
Performs hardware tests Loads some basic drivers Locates the OS Starts loading the OS |
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Boot functions in correct order |
Hardware Initializations Locate OS Boot OS Load User Profile Load Applications |
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Which storage device uses a mechanical spinning disk? |
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) |
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SSD stands for... |
Solid State Drive |
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What is Media Transfer Rate? |
The actual speed that the drive can read and write on the surface of the disk media |
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SSD's use what type of storage technology? |
Flash Memory |
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What is a Hybrid Hard Drive? |
Combination of HDD and SSD. SSD fills first and then the excess and less-used data spills in HDD. |
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Name of Apple's Hybrid Hard Drive? |
Apple Fusion Drive |
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In regards to drives, what is a Form Factor? |
The size, shape and physical attributes of a drive |
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Three common SSD Form Factors? |
2.5" Form Factor M.2 Form Factor (22x80mm) M.2 Form Factor (22x60mm) |
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Would a Hard Drive typically use the M.2 Form Factor? |
No, they use either 3.5" or 2.5" Form Factor |
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Would a 2.5" SSD typically connect to the motherboard via PCIe? |
No, it connects to SATA III |
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An NVMe type drive used which Form Factor? |
M.2 Form Factor |
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What bus does an NVMe drive connect to? |
PCIe |
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Two potential bus connectivity options with the M.2 Form Factor? |
PCIe and SATA |
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SATA stands for? |
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment |
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SATA III has a bandwidth of how many Gbits? |
6Gbits = 600MB |
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What Hard Drive limitations prevents it from coming close to using the available bandwidth of the SATA III bus? |
Disk cannot physically spin fast enough to accommodate its bandwidth |
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Which is bigger: the SATA power connector or the SATA data connector? |
SATA power connector |
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Which is faster and more responsive: HDD or SSD? |
SSD |
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(T or F) HDDs are a terrible choice for Audio Drives. |
False |
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What is the name of the component used in External Drives to convert from SATA to USB? |
Bridge Chipset |
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(T or F) the partition keeps track of the relationship between Files and Folders? |
True |
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(T or F) An Allocation Table is part of the File System |
True |
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What is an Allocation Unit/Cluster? |
Addressable units of data written to a drive |
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Purpose of an Allocation Table? |
Keep track of used and unused clusters |
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If data is deleted and trash emptied on a SSD, is actual data permanently erased? |
Yes, usually. |
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(T or F) On a HDD, deleting a file and emptying trash updates the Directory and Allocation table? |
True |
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Purpose of a File System's Directory? |
Keep track of a file's initial cluster address and how files/folders related to each other. Updated when read/writes occur. |
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To store data on a drive, it requires at least... |
1 partition |
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Two synonyms for a Partition Record? |
Partition Table and Partition Map |
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Purpose of a Partition Record? |
To track partition locations on a drive |
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Where does Partition Record live regarding Volume? |
Outside of volumes |
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Three types of Partition Record? |
MBR (Master Boot Record) GPT (GUID Partition Table, newer version) APM (Apple Partition Map, mostly obselete) |
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Which Partition Record is mostly obsolete? |
APM |
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Which Partition record is newer? |
GPT |
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Which Partition Record Types does macOS understand? |
GPT, APM, MBR |
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Which Partition Record Types does Windows understand? |
MBR and GPT |
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On a fresh Drive, what two steps need to be taken to allow data to be written and read on the drive? |
Partition drive to create Partitions and Partition Record Format Volumes with File System;creates necessary structures |
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Is formatting a volume non-destructive or destructive? |
Typically destructive |
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(T or F) Resizing a partition is typically possible within limits using modern OS formatting programs |
True |
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Changing the Partition Record type from APM to GOT would be... |
A destructive process |
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Pro Tools on Windows uses what File System? |
NTFS |
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Pro Tools on macOS can use what 2 file systems? |
HFS+ (better for backwards compatibility) APFS |
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Which is usually considered a fixed location, the beginning or end of a partition (Pre-APFS) |
The beginning |
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The logical storage unit that APFS uses? |
APFS container. An intermediary logical structure between the drive and its APFS. |
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APFS Container only supports... |
APFS partitions, does not support FAT32 or HFS+ |
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(T or F) APFS volumes can automatically resize as required without the involvement of humans |
True |
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On Pre-High Sierra macOS computers, there is a hidden EFI volume? |
Yes |
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What is Virtual Memory? |
When you use a drive as additional memory. Acts as additional RAM. |
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Where is it located on a Mojage macOS drive? |
APFS Container |
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What is the general purpose of Recovery Volume? |
Factory reset |
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Case Sensitivity means... |
More sensitive to compatibility in the code which makes it less compatible/flexible in the code. Capital/lowercase letters, punctuation must all be same. |
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Purpose of a Journaled File System? |
File system that keeps track of changes not yet committed to the file system's main part bu recording the intentions of such changes to a journal. |
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The newer PC System Firmware? |
UEFI |
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The traditional PC system Firmware? |
BIOS |
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The MAC System Firmware? |
EFI |
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Which Partition Record does EFI require to boot an OS? |
GPT (over 2Tb of disk support) |
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What type of Partition Record does UEFI require to boot an OS? |
GPT |
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What type of Partition Record does BIOS require to boot an OS? |
MBR |
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BIOS stands for... |
Basic Input Output System |
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EFI stands for... |
Extensible Firmware Interface |
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UEFI stands for... |
Unified EFI |
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Four basic functions of System Firmware? |
POST Basic drivers Initiate boot process User interaction |
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What does POST stand for? |
Power On Self Test |
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User settings related to System Firmware are stored... |
In the NVRAM |
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Purpose of a Boot Manager? |
Software that allows choosing between multiple OS's |
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What does Apple call the Mac's Boot Manager? |
Macos Boot Manager |
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Where does the Mac's Boot Manager reside? |
System Firmware |
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(T or F) The MBR is restricted from booting drives larger than 2TB |
True |
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S1BL stands for... |
Stage one Boot Loader |
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Apple's NVRAM is also known as... |
PRAM (Parameter RAM) |
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PC's NVRAM referred to as... |
CMOS |
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If UEFI cannot find an ESP partition,... |
It'll have a missing error message |
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What is the chip that the EFI programming is stored in? |
EFI BootROM |
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When would you restart a Mac's PRAM? |
Irregularities or boot issues arise due to corrupt settings in the NVRAM |
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What is a Mac's EFI partition used for? |
System firmware updates |
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Name of a Mac's stage 2 bootloader? |
Boot.EFI |
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Where is Boot.EFI? |
System Drive |
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(T or F) Mac's EFI partition is a hidden volume. |
True |
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A folder with a question mark on it means... |
Can't find the boot loader |
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A screen with a circle and a slash through it means... |
Problem with loading the OS |
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Given a Mac has 2 bootable volumes on the System Drive, name two different ways of choosing which one to start from? |
System Prefs - Startup Disk Key Commands |
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In regard to System firmware, what is flashing |
Updating system firmware to fix stability problems or bugs |
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If file corruption is responsible for a Volume not mounting, what is the most likely to be corrupt? |
PARTITION RECORD |
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What are the three general categories of drive problems? |
Logical errors/data corruption Storage medium failure - usually caused by bad sectors. Non-storage physical issues |
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Example of a non storage related physical drive issue? |
Damaged cable |
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Within macOS, what program can you use to see if the computer recognizes a physical drive? |
SMART - Self monitoring and reporting Technology |
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(T or F) Bad Sectors can lead to logical errors on a Mac |
False |
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Error displaying folder wit a question mark during boot up? |
Can't find start up disk |
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Troubleshooting to see if NVRAM is responsible for an error (4 answers) |
Running from hidden recovery partition, if that doesn't work Try connecting to apple servers over the Internet Then bring up disk utility to check if NVRAM is really in there If not, then you run Apple Diagnostics |
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Error with a circle and a slash means... |
Can't load OS |
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How can you test if a drive can be physically recognized by another computer? |
Take it out and insert into another computer |
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Key command to boot into macOS recovery... |
Command + R |
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Where does the utility/tool reside on your computer? |
Hidden recovery partition |
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If there are problems accessing the hidden recovery partition, where does the computer try it run it from? |
Apple servers on the internet |
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Apple's File Repair Program? |
First Aid |
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Where is First Aid located? |
Disk Utility |
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What is a file system's directory? |
Keeps track of file's initial cluster address, also how files/folders relate to each other |
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Apple calls the Directory... |
The Catalouge Tree |
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What is a file system's allocation table? |
Part of the file system that keeps track of the used and unused clusters. Also called a bitmap. |
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Mac's built-in hardware testing program? |
Apple Diagnostics |
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To run Apple Diagnostics,... |
Disconnect everything but keyboard and ethernet and hold the D button |
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How is MacOS Recovery loaded if a computer's system drive cannot be accessed? |
Attempts to connect to Apple Servers |
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How should IP assignment be configured on a network to use Internet Recovery? |
DHCP enabled network |
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(T or F) Ability to use Command+R to access macOS Recovery is a function of System Firmware |
True |
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List 3 common causes of getting the Prohibitory Sign during boot |
Booting a non-compatible version of MAC A file system error that's typically related to system folder Upgrade led to file incompatibility which is a driver related problem |
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Two things Safe Mode does during boot? |
Runs First Aid Loads with minimal KEXT |
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KEXT stands for... |
Kernel Extension |
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Boot into Verbose Mode on a Mac |
Command+V |
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Window's File Repair program is called... |
Check Disk |
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Software that tries to predict Drive Failure? |
Get Smart |
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What component of the SSD is responsible for designating new cells from the Over-Provisioned Area to replace them? |
SSD Controller |
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Kernel Panic |
Happens when the kernel encounters a non-recoverable error and halts or restarts to prevent further damage |
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A kernal panic in the Windows world .. |
Blue Screen of Death |
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Common causes of a kernel panic? |
Driver problems Software Bug Hardware Incompatibilities Faulty RAM |
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If Faulty RAM is the cause of a kernel panic... |
Try Reseating Memory Try a memory test Try swapping out Memory |
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Time Machine is... |
A non-bootable backup of macOS system volume. Restoring from it restores all your files and potentially any prior problems. |
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Is Time Machine backup bootable? |
NO. |
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A clone is.. |
A bootable copy of a system partition. |
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Uses of a Clone? |
Reducing Downtime Recreating an ideal installation |
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4 main folders found at root level on macOS? |
Library System Applications Users |
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Accessing the User Library folder? |
Hidden folder. To reveal in Finder, click Go while pressing Option. |
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Purpose of a preference file? |
Configuration settings for OS and Applications |
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File extension for macOS Preference files? |
Prefs |
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Target Disk Mode |
Puts a MAC into a mode whereby the system drive acts as an External Drive. Requires Thunderbolt and/or Firewire. |
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Key command to enter Targer Disk Mode. |
T |
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Uses of Target Disk Mode |
Good for troubleshooting and file transfers |
