M1 Mini - An error occurred preparing the update

[kaschool]

@mcscot @mrj412 - I have the same issue on an Apple silicon MBA.

I've tried following the process at https://support.apple.com/guide/app...ore-a-mac-with-apple-silicon-apdd5f3c75ad/mac but I must be doing something wrong.

I'm using an Intel based 2020 MacBook Pro to run Apple Configurator 2 and this is connected to the Apple Silicon MacBook Air.

I followed the key combination on the Apple silicon Mac but I'm not sure it is getting into the right mode. The Apple COnifgurator 2 app seems to see the device but whenever I try to do any actions on it it gives the below error

any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

thanks

rich

 

[kaschool]

BTW - the insutrcitions say:
Note: You won’t see any screen activity from the Apple notebook computer.

However after I do the power + right shirt + left control + option key sequence it obviously turns on the system and I do see screen activity - i.e. it gets to the recovery screen

 

[kaschool]

wow I massacred the word 'instructions' above

 

[MrMacintoshBlog]

BTW - the insutrcitions say:
Note: You won’t see any screen activity from the Apple notebook computer.

However after I do the power + right shirt + left control + option key sequence it obviously turns on the system and I do see screen activity - i.e. it gets to the recovery screen

Getting into DFU mode is a pain for sure! Check out my article for Apple Silicon Recovery and my 2nd article for more info on help getting your Mac into DFU mode.

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

How to Restore BridgeOS on a T2 Mac + Boot a Mac to DFU Mode

macOS Update brick your Mac? This article will show you how boot to DFU Mode and restore BridgeOS on a T2 MacBook Pro, Air, iMac Pro, Mac Mini & Mac Pro!

mrmacintosh.com

 

[kaschool]

Getting into DFU mode is a pain for sure! Check out my article for Apple Silicon Recovery and my 2nd article for more info on help getting your Mac into DFU mode.

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

How to Restore BridgeOS on a T2 Mac + Boot a Mac to DFU Mode

macOS Update brick your Mac? This article will show you how boot to DFU Mode and restore BridgeOS on a T2 MacBook Pro, Air, iMac Pro, Mac Mini & Mac Pro!

mrmacintosh.com

I can’t see anything in those two links that can help me get into DFU mode on an apple silicon Mac.

 

[kaschool]

I can’t see anything in those two links that can help me get into DFU mode on an apple silicon Mac.

Ok found it, will try and follow those recommendations now and report back

 

[chriswatson]

Update - Apple Support doc for this:

Revive or restore a Mac with Apple silicon using Apple Configurator 2

In rare circumstances, Apple computers become unresponsive and the chip’s firmware must be revived or restored.

support.apple.com

@mrj412 Thank you! Ive been dealing with this for hours trying every way I can to sneak OS X onto this bricked M1. I appreciate it! Did the Restore through Apple Configurator 2 and after 30 mins or so it booted right into the language screen

 

[MrMacintoshBlog]

Ok found it, will try and follow those recommendations now and report back

cool, the info is coming faster than I can update!

 

[kaschool]

Nope, still cannot get this thing into DFU.

Firstly - there will always be something on the screen on the Apple Silicon Macs when I do the keystroke combination - it bascially powers on the Mac however many times I try and ways that I do it. I'm following your instructions exactly and apples instructions.

On the Apple Configurator 2 App - the target device does appear - but it appears as a large padlock.

Anyone with any advice?

 

[kaschool]

it always just boots to this screen when I use the keystroke combination

 

[kaschool]

Chris - how did you get the thing into DFU recommended in the instructions in the article? Was anything on the screen or was it totally blank? I’ve tried everything exactly as the apple instructions in the article recommend but I don’t think it’s going into the mode needed.

 

[WildGrass]

Chris - how did you get the thing into DFU recommended in the instructions in the article? Was anything on the screen or was it totally blank? I’ve tried everything exactly as the apple instructions in the article recommend but I don’t think it’s going into the mode needed.

Try to follow below URL to enter DFU mode, It works with my macbook air m1

Revive or restore a Mac with Apple silicon with Apple Configurator 2

In rare circumstances, Apple computers become unresponsive and the chip’s firmware must be revived or restored.

web.archive.org

 

[m12s]

Nope, still cannot get this thing into DFU.

Firstly - there will always be something on the screen on the Apple Silicon Macs when I do the keystroke combination - it bascially powers on the Mac however many times I try and ways that I do it. I'm following your instructions exactly and apples instructions.

On the Apple Configurator 2 App - the target device does appear - but it appears as a large padlock.

Anyone with any advice?

I also had to use an Apple USB-C cable. Anker cable didn't work.

 

[Nrwrit3r]

BTW - the insutrcitions say:
Note: You won’t see any screen activity from the Apple notebook computer.

However after I do the power + right shirt + left control + option key sequence it obviously turns on the system and I do see screen activity - i.e. it gets to the recovery screen

You need to do the power right shift left control from when the computer is already on (it’s confusing and not mentioned in the Apple post):

First hold power button to completely shut off Mac if it’s on. Then hold power button (only power button) as it turns on, keep holding until it says something like “other settings” loading (gets you to disk utility and stuff). Once there, *then* follow the instructions on the website Apple has to hold the power button along with the other ones to get it into DFU. it’s very unintuitive!

 

[Nrwrit3r]

it always just boots to this screen when I use the keystroke combination

View attachment 1671626

Once it’s at this screen, *then* hold the power button at the same time as the other buttons listed on the Apple website guide.

 

[kaschool]

Try to follow below URL to enter DFU mode, It works with my macbook air m1

Revive or restore a Mac with Apple silicon with Apple Configurator 2

In rare circumstances, Apple computers become unresponsive and the chip’s firmware must be revived or restored.

web.archive.org

I’ve already followed that process exactly - probably about 30 times now! No it does not work on my system.

 

[Rachel Anne]

Ok found it, will try and follow those recommendations now and report back

I found what looks like it here:

Revive or restore a Mac with Apple silicon with Apple Configurator 2

In rare circumstances, Apple computers become unresponsive and the chip’s firmware must be revived or restored.

web.archive.org

So:

I hold down the 3 keys and the power button
I wait for about 10 seconds
I release the 3 keys
A message comes up that says "Continue holding for start-up options". A lock image shows up in configurator rather than the DFU image. With the lock image up, nothing I've tried works. How do I get the DFU image instead of the lock image?

 

[reznq]

Thanks, ClassicII. So are we out of luck if we only have one Mac?!

 

[kaschool]

Glad you see it. But I don't see it. HOW DO I GET MY M1 MACBOOK AIR INTO DFU MODE? Please? Help me...

Doesn’t matter. Even if you see the insurrections - which are basically the same as the apple instructions - I have not been able to get the M1 system into DFU mode. I’ve tried for hours.... don’t understand how others have done it

 

[WildGrass]

Doesn’t matter. Even if you see the insurrections - which are basically the same as the apple instructions - I have not been able to get the M1 system into DFU mode. I’ve tried for hours.... don’t understand how others have done it

Here is my experience:

1. Run Apple Configurator 2 on a Mac with Catalina
2. Connect a usb type A to type C cable (Macbook Air M1, left-top type c port)
3. Shut down Mac Air
4. Press Power button for 1 sec and keep hold
5. Press and hold three keys for 10 sec
6. Release three keys and keep hold Power button until to show DFU screen on Mac with Apple Configurator 2
(When enter to DFU mode, Mac Air is black screen

 

[tyron]

Here is my experience:

1. Run Apple Configurator 2 on a Mac with Catalina
2. Connect a usb type A to type C cable (Macbook Air M1, left-top type c port)
3. Shut down Mac Air
4. Press Power button for 1 sec and keep hold
5. Press and hold three keys for 10 sec
6. Release three keys and keep hold Power button until to show DFU screen on Mac with Apple Configurator 2
(When enter to DFU mode, Mac Air is black screen

Did your experience end up with a working computer in the end?

 

[kaschool]

Here is my experience:

1. Run Apple Configurator 2 on a Mac with Catalina
2. Connect a usb type A to type C cable (Macbook Air M1, left-top type c port)
3. Shut down Mac Air
4. Press Power button for 1 sec and keep hold
5. Press and hold three keys for 10 sec
6. Release three keys and keep hold Power button until to show DFU screen on Mac with Apple Configurator 2
(When enter to DFU mode, Mac Air is black screen

Wow somehow my Mac air M1 does not go into DFU mode with the above exact same process. It just powers up into options screen. Tried now probably a million times!

 

[tyron]

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.

My MBA M1 was shipped with 11.0.1 and I'm facing the same issue now... Just trying a restore to see if it works.

 

[mcscot]

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.

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

Sorry I should have been more clear on this point. I had already upgraded to 11.0.1 before the reinstall. Above I did ask the question about how things work exactly in Recovery mode (as I wondered if the Upgrade error was that it was trying to upgrade). Question : when you upgrade OS does it write an updated recovery image ?

Here's a detailed summary (all via WiFi + USB connected keyboard/trackpad):

1. Unbox
2. Setup as normal Mac (stupidly omitting a last letter on account name which I use consistently across Macs and hence the need to reinstall, which I know could have been fixed without reinstalling)
3. Reboot
4. Installed updates - OS to 11.0.1, also Apple apps (GarageBand et al)
5. Reboot, all fine (save for stupid error above)

Reinstall attempts:

1. Power up holding power button
2. Disk Utility : Erase disc to APFS
3. Reinstall, runs for ca. 45 mins then gives error message on original post

Tried several times, including reboots between (2) and (3).

For clarity, after running Apple Configurator 2 (see link above, connected my MB Pro to Mac Mini via USBC-C) it seems I installed a build that had all the latest updates already:

* OS Version 11.0.1 (i.e. I didn't need to upgrade)
* Apple apps also didn't require an update

 

[mcscot]

Wow somehow my Mac air M1 does not go into DFU mode with the above exact same process. It just powers up into options screen. Tried now probably a million times!

Strange. On the Mini disconnecting the power and leaving for a little bit (doc says at least 10 seconds) seemed to do the trick for me (my first attempts clearly were too quick).