Talk about a pain in the neck!

[MacChickens]

This system update was the most painful thing I've ever done in quite a while.

First, downloading the thing.... The system preferences panel said the download was complete and even tried to install the system, but then after wasting an hour on the stalled install and forcing a restart, the computer suddenly realized that the download wasn't finished and had to complete it. This was just a preview of things to come.

I realized how much Apple has changed when I tried to install the system. Numerous black and logo screens, blackouts, stalled progress bars that suddenly flashed to another black screen.... Finally, after several forced restarts, the computer booted to the password screen with for no apparent reason. I suppose the system somehow installed successfully without me knowing it.

We've been using Macs here since forever and never had to struggle this much to install the system software. I remember installing System 7 on that Iici, and swapping diskettes appeared to be then the most annoying thing... but at least you knew what the damn computer was doing! Black screens and non-descriptive logo screens, never in my life did I think that Apple would make installing a piece of system software so painful. I hope this was a glitch, and not a preview of things to come.

 

[jz0309]

so what's the point of this post? it sounds like the update was successful, so you're not looking for help. You are also not providing what system you upgraded nor from which OS ... well, you ranted, I hope you feel better

 

[Eric Idle]

Flawless installation here.

 

[RiderX]

Finally, after several forced restarts

very bad idea. Just be patient.

 

[FHoff]

Flawless installation here.

Here as well.

 

[Benz63amg]

Huh? Why did you force restart when the Mac was switching from screen to screen etc during the installation process? (All that stuff you mentioned is normal) You shouldn’t have touched the Mac at all until the installation was complete and you were brought to the login screen

you claim to be a savvy Mac user but I find that hard to believe after you said that you “force restarted” the Mac multiple times while installing a major software update.. I mean, Seriously?

 

[jagolden]

My installation went just fine. I’ve learned over the last couple of updates to just be patient. It’s not a 20 minute operation.
I just set mine up and just let it go. Came back a few hours later and all was, and continues to be good.
I upgraded from Catalina on a 2017 iMac, 27” 5K Retina, 64g ram.
I was trepidation’s about the upgrade after all the posts I read, but the posts turned out to be a lot of nothing.

 

[mwidjaya]

Flawless installation here.

Wouldn't go that far.

Fact is, when you hit the Install button, you are taking a leap of faith.

You don't know how long it will take. Will it reboot x many times? Is it hung? 2 hours later, should I power it down forcefully?

It's gotten complicated and more uncertain than ever.

Some people have been burned and are naturally hesitant.

 

[jagolden]

Huh? Why did you force restart when the Mac was switching from screen to screen etc during the installation process? (All that stuff you mentioned is normal) You shouldn’t have touched the Mac at all until the installation was complete and you were brought to the login screen

you claim to be a Mac user for a long time but I find that hard to believe after you said that you “force restarted” the Mac multiple times while installing a major software update

I truly believe many people lack the patience to have learned how things work.
Not sure what “long tern user” implies. I consider myself a long time user (since 1987) and am still learning things. Started on System 6.x, and despite the naysayers, I shoehorned System 7 into an SE along with a 20” monitor.
Biggest learning experience was patientce young Padawan.

 

[MacChickens]

Huh? Why did you force restart when the Mac was switching from screen to screen etc during the installation process? (All that stuff you mentioned is normal) You shouldn’t have touched the Mac at all until the installation was complete and you were brought to the login screen

you claim to be a Mac user for a long time but I find that hard to believe after you said that you “force restarted” the Mac multiple times while installing a major software update

One and a half hours stuck on a "less than one minute remaining" screen? That's not about patience, the system instal was frozen!

 

[jazz1]

Wouldn't go that far.

Fact is, when you hit the Install button, you are taking a leap of faith.

You don't know how long it will take. Will it reboot x many times? Is it hung? 2 hours later, should I power it down forcefully?

It's gotten complicated and more uncertain than ever.

Some people have been burned and are naturally hesitant.

Even though I’ve been with Macs, since the first Mac, I thought the Big Sur 11.1 was pretty scary. Even though I ran the beta on my 2015 iMac and then the initial public release, I wasn’t quite prepared for the update process/sequences of the 11.1 release on my new M1 MacMini.

I’ve run two monitors on that rig, and I’ve had monitor blackouts on the USC-C monitor probably about 6 times over a two week period of daily use.

During the 11.1 install both screens were alternately going black and recovering in a quick succession. It was weird! It really appeared like serious install glitch. I finally did a forced shutdown. Yes, I know that is very dangerous!

I have now resigned myself to letting the next install run its course, and just walk away for an hour if I need to. I do still wonder if this was a “normal” install?

I also wonder if I should unplug one monitor during the next upgrade? I don’t know if MacOS benefits from “seeing” what external hardware is being used? If so how would the introduction of new devices, after an upgrade, fare if that was the case.

 

[mwidjaya]

I also wonder if I should unplug one monitor during the next upgrade?

To reduce possible fails, I suspect we need to do the dance:
- TM backup
- Unplug external disks not required for the install
- Plug in wired keyboard, mouse
- Single monitor only

Basically give the machine a simple, wired, hardware config.

 

[fisherking]

To reduce possible fails, I suspect we need to do the dance:
- TM backup
- Unplug external disks not required for the install
- Plug in wired keyboard, mouse
- Single monitor only

Basically give the machine a simple, wired, hardware config.

easy enough to do that... if necessary. can't say i've ever had to go that far (i've certainly had to do a few forced restarts, or kept at it with failed downloads). no harm in being prepared, tho.

meanwhile, another pointless rant on macrumors; who'd have expected that?

 

[jazz1]

To reduce possible fails, I suspect we need to do the dance:
- TM backup
- Unplug external disks not required for the install
- Plug in wired keyboard, mouse
- Single monitor only

Basically give the machine a simple, wired, hardware config.

Many thanks for the good advice!

 

[MacChickens]

On the plus side, we've not experienced most of the problems we were warned about after the install. I guess we paid our dues with that install from hell!

 

[Janeilfen]

so what's the point of this post? it sounds like the update was successful, so you're not looking for help. You are also not providing what system you upgraded nor from which OS ... well, you ranted, I hope you feel better

I understand fully why this guy is having a bit of a rant. I didn't have the install issues he had but it has to be said that Apple are no longer the go to company for "it just works". My experience with iMessage on my Mac Mini for example. It works, then it doesn't, then it works again, then it doesn't. This latest update has broken it again.

 

[rezwits]

They just needed to say, BACK the F-k up BEFORE for SURE with this BITCH...
hehe too funny... I just got to used to things working no problems.

Oh and Mail search? bah that is borked for me...

 

[profcutter]

I had a pretty weird install experience on a 2013 trashcan. Forced me to update Catalina, even though I was installing Big Sur. Forced me do a whole series of catalina updates, but didn’t warn me each time. Took about 2 hours for the full install to complete. Numerous reboots (I didn’t force them, it just did them on its own). Lots of long black screens. Worked in the end, but definitely not at smooth as earlier updates I’ve done.

 

[fisherking]

I had a pretty weird install experience on a 2013 trashcan. Forced me to update Catalina, even though I was installing Big Sur. Forced me do a whole series of catalina updates, but didn’t warn me each time. Took about 2 hours for the full install to complete. Numerous reboots (I didn’t force them, it just did them on its own). Lots of long black screens. Worked in the end, but definitely not at smooth as earlier updates I’ve done.

forced? check system preferences>software update>advanced. make sure the things you don't want happening are unchecked (like downloading & installing updates).

 

[Eric Idle]

Wouldn't go that far.

Fact is, when you hit the Install button, you are taking a leap of faith.

Same thing when I leave the house. I choose not to live in fear.

You don't know how long it will take.

I dont worry about this. I have time.

Will it reboot x many times?

I dont care how many times. I have upgraded systems in the past, for 30 years, and I can count on one hand how many times I worried about reboot counts and still have 5 fingers left over.

Is it hung? 2 hours later, should I power it down forcefully?

I have never had to powerdown forcefully one time. If I did, I am reasonably certain that life would go on.

It's gotten complicated and more uncertain than ever.

Not for me.

Some people have been burned and are naturally hesitant.

Unfortunate. If these people had back ups, like would be much easier. And worry free.

 

[Benz63amg]

Even though I’ve been with Macs, since the first Mac, I thought the Big Sur 11.1 was pretty scary. Even though I ran the beta on my 2015 iMac and then the initial public release, I wasn’t quite prepared for the update process/sequences of the 11.1 release on my new M1 MacMini.

I’ve run two monitors on that rig, and I’ve had monitor blackouts on the USC-C monitor probably about 6 times over a two week period of daily use.

During the 11.1 install both screens were alternately going black and recovering in a quick succession. It was weird! It really appeared like serious install glitch. I finally did a forced shutdown. Yes, I know that is very dangerous!

I have now resigned myself to letting the next install run its course, and just walk away for an hour if I need to. I do still wonder if this was a “normal” install?

I also wonder if I should unplug one monitor during the next upgrade? I don’t know if MacOS benefits from “seeing” what external hardware is being used? If so how would the introduction of new devices, after an upgrade, fare if that was the case.

I personally would unplug anything that’s connected to the Mac except for the charger (if it’s a MacBook) as any connected device such as an external display, usb external drive etc could potentially cause an issue although highly unlikely

 

[mwidjaya]

Unfortunate. If these people had back ups, like would be much easier. And worry free.

Yes, if only machines didn't get bricked.

macOS Big Sur Update Bricking Some Older MacBook Pro Models

A large number of late 2013 and mid 2014 13-inch MacBook Pro owners are reporting that the macOS Big Sur update is bricking their machines. A MacRumors forum thread contains a significant number of users reporting the issue, and similar problems are being reported across Reddit and the Apple...

forums.macrumors.com

I have never had to powerdown forcefully one time.

Ah, such innocence. Must be nice.

macOS Big Sur 11.2 - List of Install & Upgrade Issues UPDATED!

This article is a running list of all known macOS Big Sur install & upgrade issues. Stuck progress bar to update bricking some older macs!

mrmacintosh.com

 

[profcutter]

forced? check system preferences>software update>advanced. make sure the things you don't want happening are unchecked (like downloading & installing updates).

Forced as in it wouldn’t continue the Big Sur install until I installed all the Catalina updates. It would download the entire Big Sur install, then fail, then pop up a request to install Catalina updates. I know how to uncheck system updates.
Through all the reboots and failed attempts, it downloaded Big Sur 4 times.

 

[fisherking]

Forced as in it wouldn’t continue the Big Sur install until I installed all the Catalina updates. It would download the entire Big Sur install, then fail, then pop up a request to install Catalina updates. I know how to uncheck system updates.
Through all the reboots and failed attempts, it downloaded Big Sur 4 times.

you mean, it finally downloaded & installed big sur on the 4th attempt? anyway, not sure why you had to run the catalina installs; seems you could have gone to the software update window, ignored the 'other' updates and just installed big sur. but, at least you got thru this! 👍

 

[profcutter]

you mean, it finally downloaded & installed big sur on the 4th attempt? anyway, not sure why you had to run the catalina installs; seems you could have gone to the software update window, ignored the 'other' updates and just installed big sur. but, at least you got thru this! 👍

Yes, it did finally install on the fourth download. I couldn’t ignore the other updates because when I tried, it would go through the whole process and fail. Anyway, no biggie, it’s not a production machine. I’ll keep my main machines on Catalina until all my software is up to date.