MacOS install failing ☹️
from Ulrich@feddit.org to apple_enthusiast@lemmy.world on 19 Jun 18:28
https://feddit.org/post/14459500

Hardware: 27" 2017 iMac

Connection: Wired

Storage: 1TB SSD

Hi all. I installed Linux Mint on my Mac on an external drive, which was all good fun. But when I went back to boot into MacOS, I got the 🚫 symbol. Booting into recovery mode and running first aid revealed that the disk was corrupted. The only advice it gave was to run first aid in recovery mode, which I was already doing.

Whatever, no big deal, everything important was backed up. So I went ahead and erased the disk using Extended Journaled (I guess APFS is unavailable for Sierra, which is what recovery mode wants to install). I made an installer disk with a later OS but I just received 🚫 again upon selection. Ran first aid again and it passed. Backed out of disk manager and selected install MacOS. Then after about 3 mins. received the error “an error occurred while preparing the installation. Try running this application again”. Tried several more times, receiving the same error every time.

The log reveals even more errors including:

I have installed MacOS several times before, including on the same device.

#apple_enthusiast

threaded - newest

sevon@lemmy.kde.social on 19 Jun 19:55 next collapse

I’ve had that unhelpful error popup blocking os install. In my case it was bad system time. Check the clock.

Ulrich@feddit.org on 19 Jun 20:47 next collapse

Would a bad system time not make the dates and times in the log incorrect?

Ulrich@feddit.org on 19 Jun 21:20 collapse

So I looked into it. The time zone was indeed incorrect. The systemsetup and sntp commands are unavailable since there is no OS installed, so I used the date command and changed it manually (assuming there is some level of tolerance there?) and no such luck.

<img alt="" src="https://feddit.org/pictrs/image/746d8cf2-2ca6-4c67-9b4b-98be8fe8156f.jpeg">

sevon@lemmy.kde.social on 20 Jun 12:14 collapse

There should be some tolerance. I used the builtin recovery mode though, so it got the time from network.

Nindelofocho@lemmy.world on 20 Jun 16:29 next collapse

Have you tried a different SSD?

Ulrich@feddit.org on 20 Jun 18:52 collapse

I don’t have anymore 😮‍💨

Nindelofocho@lemmy.world on 20 Jun 21:37 collapse

:(

Shizu@lemmy.world on 21 Jun 15:20 next collapse

Could it be that the installation medium is corrupt? It says something about not being able to mount a dmg which is probably on the installation medium.

Ulrich@feddit.org on 21 Jun 15:25 collapse

Yes, I’m just not sure why or what to do about it. If I run the “first aid” it says everything is fine…

Shizu@lemmy.world on 21 Jun 15:35 collapse

Well I would try to recreate the installation medium. Maybe download a different version of macOS.

Ulrich@feddit.org on 21 Jun 16:16 collapse

I’m not using an installation medium, it’s just downloading from recovery mode.

AtariDump@lemmy.world on 21 Jun 18:47 collapse

I’d put money on failing storage device.

I’d put less money on bad memory.

Ulrich@feddit.org on 21 Jun 20:02 collapse

Thanks. I’ll have to get another storage device. And I was already planning to swap storage from another device anyway.