True or False: Storage device problems can prevent a computer from starting up properly.

• A. Not necessarily
• B. Sometimes
• C. False
• D. True

Answer: (D)

The startup process needs to load the operating system from a storage device. If that device fails, is disconnected, or has a corrupted boot sector or filesystem, the bootloader can’t be found or loaded. Without a loaded OS, the computer cannot complete the startup sequence, even though other hardware may power on fine. You’ll commonly see messages like “No bootable device” or “Operating system not found.” So storage problems can indeed prevent a computer from starting up properly.