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M1 Mini - An error occurred preparing the update

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mcscot

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 10, 2015
89
64
So received M1 Mini today, all installed okay, including Big Sur latest update.

Then realised I had put wrong login short name, so decided to do a reinstall rather than mess around renaming accounts. Restarted in 'new' recovery mode, removed existing partition and created APFS new one. Installer now doesn't complete (several times tried, including reboot) - see attached pic - get error "An error occurred preparing the update, Failed to personalize the software update, Please try again".

I'm based in the UK and apparently best option is to call Apple Support at 0800 tomorrow, but just incase anyone here has any advice, and also to prevent others from getting into same situation.

IMG_0046.jpeg
 
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mrj412

macrumors regular
May 27, 2009
141
56
In the same boat here ... Tried to reinstall to go through the setup again and now I'm stuck in the same place.
 
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pshifrin

pshifrin

macrumors 6502a
Mar 14, 2010
519
387
it’s possible that Apple has not uploaded the image of Big Sur for Apple silicon to their servers yet? The same thing to me when either 2018 or 2019 MacBook pros were released. it was fixed shortly after.

forums.macrumors.com

Caution: Unable to reinstall macOS on 2018 MBP

Update: The image was uploaded to Apple's servers on the Monday following this post. Everyone is free and clear to restore as necessary. TLDR: Apple has yet to update their recovery download servers with the specific build of 10.13.6 to allow for reinstallation of macOS on the 2018 MBP. Full...
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com
 
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M

mcscot

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 10, 2015
89
64
mrj412 said:
In the same boat here ... Tried to reinstall to go through the setup again and now I'm stuck in the same place.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply, don't feel so bad now at trying the reinstall ! In fairness this is a brand new platform and OS, so I should have expected some teething issues. I see another reply indicating might not be on servers yet, interesting as I had some issues with my Intel MacBook Pro trying to install from a USB drive.
 
B

bxs

macrumors 65816
Oct 20, 2007
1,151
529
Seattle, WA
If you feel comfortable doing this then...

1) Boot into Recovery mode
2) Using Disk Utility erase the internal SSD device as APFS
3) Now Reinstall macOS

Post back if this works for you ?
 
M

mcscot

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 10, 2015
89
64
pshifrin said:
it’s possible that Apple has not uploaded the image of Big Sur for Apple silicon to their servers yet? The same thing to me when either 2018 or 2019 MacBook pros were released. it was fixed shortly after.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestion ! Interesting as when I tried to do an install from USB on Intel Mac had an issue, looking at the wording it talks about update, so perhaps that's the case.

Will try again tomorrow AM before I call Apple Support and post.
 
M

mcscot

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 10, 2015
89
64
bxs said:
If you feel comfortable doing this then...

1) Boot into Recovery mode
2) Using Disk Utility erase the internal SSD device as APFS
3) Now Reinstall macOS

Post back if this works for you ?
Click to expand...
Sorry, should have been more clear in post, that's what I did (including once trying to reboot between (2) and (3)).

Also wondered if something to do with security (not sure if it is similar to Intel Mac), but launching the utility from recovery just gets a spinning wheel.
 
B

bxs

macrumors 65816
Oct 20, 2007
1,151
529
Seattle, WA
mcscot said:
Sorry, should have been more clear in post, that's what I did (including once trying to reboot between (2) and (3)).

Also wondered if something to do with security (not sure if it is similar to Intel Mac), but launching the utility from recovery just gets a spinning wheel.
Click to expand...
So when you created a fresh new erased when using DU in Recovery Mode, did you then run First Aid to ensure it was clean and with no reported errors ?

IMO... I doubt you have 'bricked' your new M1 device.
 
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M

mcscot

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 10, 2015
89
64
bxs said:
So when you created a fresh new erased when using DU in Recovery Mode, did you then run First Aid to ensure it was clean and with no reported errors ?

IMO... I doubt you have 'bricked' your new M1 device.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I just erased again and ran First Aid - no errors.

I did say 'bricked' in quotes as I'm sure there has to be a workaround. Interesting that the language in the error is 'Update'. I've never bothered to understand how Mac's do recovery - when I upgrade this OS does it write a new latest update recovery to the drive, or default to the base and then run updates ? Language implies it is trying to run an update..
 
B

bxs

macrumors 65816
Oct 20, 2007
1,151
529
Seattle, WA
mcscot said:
Thanks, I just erased again and ran First Aid - no errors.

I did say 'bricked' in quotes as I'm sure there has to be a workaround. Interesting that the language in the error is 'Update'. I've never bothered to understand how Mac's do recovery - when I upgrade this OS does it write a new latest update recovery to the drive, or default to the base and then run updates ? Language implies it is trying to run an update..
Click to expand...
If you have an external device, have you tried installing Big Sur on it ?

If you have an external with Big Sur installed on it, can you boot up on it using the Option key pressed and then Startup?
 
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M

mcscot

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 10, 2015
89
64
bxs said:
If you have an external device, have you tried installing Big Sur on it ?
Click to expand...
I think I have to change settings in Security Utility so it will boot, no ? I can't seem to get that to work.
 
M

mcscot

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 10, 2015
89
64
mrj412 said:
Found this article:

mrmacintosh.com

How to Reinstall macOS on your Apple Silicon M1 Mac. Everything you Need to Know

macOS recovery and reinstall has changed on Apple Silicon. I will show you everything you need to know about all the changes! + MORE!
mrmacintosh.com mrmacintosh.com

Trying to do a restore with Apple Configurator from a second Mac now. Will report back how it goes.
mrj412 said:
Found this article:

mrmacintosh.com

How to Reinstall macOS on your Apple Silicon M1 Mac. Everything you Need to Know

macOS recovery and reinstall has changed on Apple Silicon. I will show you everything you need to know about all the changes! + MORE!
mrmacintosh.com mrmacintosh.com

Trying to do a restore with Apple Configurator from a second Mac now. Will report back how it goes.
Click to expand...
Grabbed a glass of wine and trying also ! Feels like going back to the old school..
Click to expand...
 
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M

mcscot

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 10, 2015
89
64
Update - thanks mrj412 - we're back ! (and saved a long call to Apple Support going through lots of motions, oh and also some satisfaction in going a bit more hands on than normal!).

I'm not sure if I moved the cable, but after downloading it did indicated the Mini was disconnected. However, I just unplugged and reconnected the cable and selected restore again and it seemed to validate the already downloaded image.

IMG_0047.jpeg
 
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Saturn007

Saturn007

macrumors 68000
Jul 18, 2010
1,595
1,480
- rob - said:
Not to nitpick but doesn’t bricking a device mean it will not power on / is completely unresponsive?
Click to expand...

It does, but the OP put “bricked” in quotes in his thread title — and even responded a couple of posts before yours on that very point!

OP, glad to hear this got resolved! Your descriptions and story telling were great, even as you went through the saga!
 
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MrMacintoshBlog

MrMacintoshBlog

macrumors 6502
Sep 21, 2009
458
311
Chicago, IL
OP, just to get an understanding of this.

You erased the drive and reinstalled macOS then got that error?

You never updated to 11.0.1 correct? That seems to be the problem, what you are seeing was a huge bug that I reported in beta 8-9 timeframe. It looks like M1 Macs are shipping with a build around Beta 10. The issue was fixed in RC1 or RC2.

For anyone else let me know if you have any questions.

mrmacintosh.com

How to Reinstall macOS on your Apple Silicon M1 Mac. Everything you Need to Know

macOS recovery and reinstall has changed on Apple Silicon. I will show you everything you need to know about all the changes! + MORE!
mrmacintosh.com mrmacintosh.com
 
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