Can't install 10.15.2 on iMac Pro

[Redneck1089]

I am trying to install the latest MacOS update on my 10-core iMac Pro and I keep running into problems.

I've tried updating the computer through the traditional ways, like going to the Software Update section of System Preferences. What happens is the update downloads, and then the little window immediately refreshes and says "Update Now" again. If I click on Update Now it downloads the update again, and then the same thing happens -- the window refreshes and I see "Update Now".

I've tried downloading 10.15.2 directly from Apple to install and I get a messages that "one or more packages were unable to download".

Then I've tried updating through Recovery Mode by holding Options + Command + R. Still, it does not work. I see a little globe and a loading bar, but then it eventually just takes me into normal Recovery Mode.


Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do?

 

[chrfr]

Then I've tried updating through Recovery Mode by holding Options + Command + R. Still, it does not work. I see a little globe and a loading bar, but then it eventually just takes me into normal Recovery Mode.

The internet recovery interface looks identical to the regular recovery interface. What operating system is on your computer right now?

 

[Redneck1089]

I'm on 10.15.1.

The Recovery Mode where it's supposed to install the updated version of MacOS doesn't give me that option, even if I press Options + Command + R.

The only option I get is to install a new version of MacOS.

 

[chrfr]

The only option I get is to install a new version of MacOS.

That's the expected behavior. If you select that option, you'll get the newest version installed over the top of your existing installation. If you don't specifically opt to erase your disk in Disk Utility, you won't lose data.
I would try downloading just the 10.15.2 update from the Apple support website first, however: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL2025

 

[Redneck1089]

Interesting. I will try Recovery Mode again, and hopefully it will just install overtop.

I have tried downloading 10.15.2 directly from Apple. I get a message during the initial installation process that says:

"one or more packages were unable to download".


Thanks for you help with this.

 

[chrfr]

Interesting. I will try Recovery Mode again, and hopefully it will just install overtop.

I have tried downloading 10.15.2 directly from Apple. I get a message during the initial installation process that says:

"one or more packages were unable to download".


Thanks for you help with this.

Do you have any restrictions on your internet connection whatsoever? Macs that have a T2 chip, like the iMac Pro, must be able to access Apple to verify the installation before you'll be able to get the install to work.

 

[Redneck1089]

Do you have any restrictions on your internet connection whatsoever? Macs that have a T2 chip, like the iMac Pro, must be able to access Apple to verify the installation before you'll be able to get the install to work.

No, there are no restrictions on my internet connection. I have never had this issue before.

I’m also plug right into the Ethernet; I’m not connected via wifi

 

[Redneck1089]

I still can't update.

I've booted into recovery using the option + command + R keys to force the update, and I've used the normal recovery mode boot using command + R.

Whenever I choose to do a new install of MacOS it says "Downloading installer information to the target volume failed".

I also tried disabling SIP and deleting the contents of the Library/Updates folder to no avail.


From there I created a separate Administrator account. Still nothing.



I can't update at all! I really don't want to have to wipe the computer and spend hours and hours fixing everything.

Does anyone else have suggestions of what I might be able to try?
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I have also tried downloading the updates directly from Apple -- both normal as well as combo update.

When I try install I get the message "The Installation Failed - An error occurred downloading one or more packages for the update product".

 

[ssls6]

When I'm faced with issues like this, I will download the full installer and make a usb stick. I will also have a clone or time machine backup on hand. I'll boot into the usb, wipe the old volume, do an install then migration. I recently did this on a mid 2014 MBP to clean it up and let migration take what it wanted and put it where it wanted. I haven't tested this on my iMac Pro with T2 but with your admin password it should work fine.
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If you want the full Catalina installer try this from the terminal

• softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer

 

[mmomega]

I have had issues like this over the years. steps that have helped that sometimes don't make sense but they do.
Run first aid on the drive and every partition of it.

Do a full shutdown, not just a reset. Sometimes even remove power for a hard count of 20 then reconnect and boot up.

Pretty much every update I get for all devices now, I do a first aid if possible on it. reboot, and then the update process, followed by a first aid on the drive after the update.

I do this with Windows machines, Macs, gaming consoles, my car now. Anything that can receive a software update, I do a clean boot when available to at minimum a restart before updating.
Over the past several decades, my experience with this has helped much more than the amount of time to do it.

The full on removal of power helps much more it most "strange, can't figure out why, bashing face against keyboard" situations.

 

[Airborne-Ape]

You're not alone. I have a 2018 Mac Mini with 564 GB of free space. The software update utility runs in an endless download loop for 10.15.2, so I found the package directly from Apple's website (link below) and it fails too.

https://updates.cdn-apple.com/2019/macos/061-10696-20191210-27ac9a3d-cc81-431b-8009-724c894dd399/macOSUpd10.15.2.dmg

 

[Redneck1089]

I still can't get it to work. I have tried everything short of erasing the drive and reinstalling EVERYTHING.

This is incredibly frustrating.

 

[Redneck1089]

I finally resolved the issue. I spent two hours on the phone with AppleCare Support. We ran a battery of tests, essentially re-doing everything I had already tried.

Finally, the tech support lady gave up and said that I would have to take the iMac Pro into the local Apple Store for the geniuses to look at. She said they would try running the installation through their network; the suggestion of a different network gave me an idea.


I disconnected my Ethernet cable connection and also disconnected from the home wifi. I then tethered from my iPhone, and ran the update. This time, despite being a slow download, everything worked and the update installed properly.


I don't know why my home internet connection was giving me grief. I have never had that problem before. Anyways, problem sorted...at least until the next update.