Hi Ronni I am pleased - very pleased - to report success. High Sierra has successfully installed. Security Update 2018-001 also installed. With three different model Macs I had three completely different experiences!
Thank you for your guidance through this exercise. There are some slightly odd things still happening, but I will let the iMac (and me) settle down before I look at what I hope will be simple separate issues. The actions I took between the Download and Installation seem innocuous, but - -. 1. The download completed successfully via the “software updates available” notification route. It presented the expected install window. This failed at the “Install on Mac HD” step with a black screen. This seemed to be the point that the “helper” file should be downloaded. 2. I shut down the Mac and did an SMC reset before starting the Mac a few hours later. 3. I deleted the Macs Fan Control app. This was set up purely as a monitoring utility and not to alter fan speed settings. But it was an active process that has its tentacles into the deep workings of the system. I also have MFC installed on the late 2012 iMac and the High Sierra installation went without any hitch on that computer. 4. I launched “Install macOS High Sierra” from Finder, not from Launchpad (I think). 5. The install process paused at the “Install on Mac HD” step; the screen went black. After a few seconds I got an alert tone (single steady tone) then a few seconds later it displayed a window to authorise download of the High Sierra “helper” file. And proceeded to install without further trouble. Thank again for your advice. No doubt I will be asking for more help at a later date! Cheers (times 3) Alan > On 2 May 2018, at 10:16 am, Alan Smith <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Ronni > > I am pleased to report progress. But still not success. The Install macOS > High Sierra app has downloaded but will not install. Details of recent > events follow. > > Do you want to continue with this original thread? Your assistance is > appreciated but you may wish to close off your help file. I could start a > new posting later, but I’m not ready to immediately respond. At least it > seems there is hope: I haven’t created a door stop and the biggest iPod in > the world is still limping along. > > Early this morning I woke the iMac on my way to boil the kettle for coffee - > and got an Apple Notification that software updates were ready to install. I > responded with my usual “later - tell me again tomorrow”, then opened App > Store to see what software it was. High Sierra! Was this meant to be? I > had almost finished the pre-installation checks and clean up of apps etc, so > was “near enough". I selected “Install” from the update list. > > High Sierra downloaded a 5.23 GB file in one step. Earlier attempts at > downloading involved several steps - download of an installer file of about > 23 MB and then a small helper file before the real download began (but never > arrived). > > The Install macOS High Sierra window opened so I clicked the Continue button. > I accepted T&C but the "Install on Mac HD" button did not respond. > > There is a corresponding Console activity log entry when I press the Install > button. This refers to "InstallAssistant_plain: unable to simultaneously > satisfy constraints" and then has several lines of details, including details > about NS autosize and Mask layout. > > Here are two of the things I’ve done as part of Mac clean-up. They may show > some light on the original “endless loop” problem and the new “will not > install” problem. > > 1. I downloaded three apps from App Store to test if general apps were > failing too. The apps downloaded but one crashes on launch. The associated > Console log messages include NS Mask layout failures. Not quite the same > message as given by the High Sierra Installer, but perhaps the same area. > > 2. Apple Hardware Test via original install cd returned a 4 MEM error. I > located and removed the faulty Amicroe 4 GB RAM module. 2009 Mac now reduced > to 8 GB of RAM. > > I have not pursued or made web searches for clues on the new behaviour. My > internet access completely failed around 9:00 am. This since returned but no > iiNet network status entry to explain it. > > Hope this sheds some light on things. > > Cheers > Alan > > >> On 29 Apr 2018, at 12:02 pm, Ronda Brown <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> >> Hi Alan, >> Spotlight takes quite a long time as it has to Reindex the drive. >> Also when it has finished. >> Check your hard drive do a Repair in Disk Utility. Just use Disk Utility on >> the iMac to Repair the drive, might be a couple of ‘niggles’ need repairing >> on the Drive. >> >> Cheers >> Ronni >> >> Sent from Ronni's iPhone 7 Plus >> >> On 29 Apr 2018, at 10:43 am, Alan Smith <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> >>> Hi Ronni >>> >>> An update, just for information. >>> >>> Couldn’t resist getting on with the job. I did a complete restoration >>> from the SuperDuper bootable backup. There was a problem. >>> >>> Very slow on restarting first time after Restore. Not all menu bar app >>> icons had loaded. I allowed a few minutes but no progress. I started a >>> song in iTunes and it worked - for about one minute, then the system >>> crashed. “Your computer was restarted because of a problem”. The problem >>> report of the panic showed BSD process was mds. Comment was “a freed zone >>> element has been modified: expected (x) but found (y) etc”. So probably >>> just a Spotlight indexing issue. >>> >>> I did an SMC reset. Mac now looks ok, menu bar icons ok and iTunes music >>> has been playing ok for last hour. >>> >>> I can now gradually do all the little things before I try for another High >>> Sierra download. >>> >>> Cheers >>> Alan >>> >>> >>>> On 28 Apr 2018, at 8:58 pm, Alan Smith <[email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi Ronni >>>> >>>> I exclude ~/Music from TM backups because there is no need for it. I have >>>> several other copies of my iTunes music, apart from formal SuperDuper >>>> backups. On other devices I try to keep such libraries on an external >>>> drive to keep the actual computer clean and mean. The 2009 Mac iTunes >>>> library also has a changing content of videos copied from my master >>>> collection on an external drive. I keep a selection of favourite videos >>>> for those Apple TV times when I am immobile and the Mac mini is otherwise >>>> occupied with Eye TV recording or processing. I used to get video >>>> artefacts from time to time when the more powerful 27 inch iMac had to do >>>> all the work. By the way, most of my home network is wired ethernet. >>>> >>>> With three computers writing their Time Machine backups to one Time >>>> Capsule drive I found large backups worked but were were often delayed. >>>> Time Machine backups from three computers to the equivalent Netgear router >>>> were not reliably managed at all. I bought the Netgear because the Time >>>> Capsule showed early signs of failure. In practice I run dual backups for >>>> each computer using a local external drive plus the central Time Capsule. >>>> I even run a third TM backup for the main 27 inch iMac to a “network" >>>> drive on the Netgear router. It copes with a single data source without >>>> issues. >>>> >>>> The 2009 iMac local external dedicated Time Machine drive is a Firewire >>>> 800 WD My Book Studio. This is quick and easy to use. The SuperDuper >>>> backup shares a partitioned drive with the 27 inch Mac on a Seagate GoFlex >>>> drive that annoys me a bit. It always makes lots of clunky sounds >>>> whenever it is plugged in - possibly clogging up Spotlight with unwanted >>>> data! And I’ve used Time Machine Restore previously and found it quick, >>>> quiet and reliable. And I’ve not made a full Restore using SuperDuper >>>> before. >>>> >>>> Why would you re-install the complete os and data, including the iTunes >>>> files, anyway? >>>> >>>> My current thoughts about the problem is that is NOT an endless loop of >>>> one download after another. I think the real download fails very early in >>>> the sequence, but the App Server just keeps pumping out bytes but there is >>>> no “Install” file to write it to. >>>> >>>> Thank you, I received your H.S. Upgrade tutorial and all conditions are >>>> fulfilled or in hand. Must catch up with my real life so will not have so >>>> much time for this simple little task of installing HS for a while. >>>> >>>> And thanks again for keeping me at the task and for your prompt responses. >>>> >>>> Cheers >>>> Alan >>>> >>>> >>>>> On 28 Apr 2018, at 12:39 pm, Ronda Brown <[email protected] >>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Hi Alan, >>>>> >>>>> Why would you exclude your ~/Music folder from TM backups when you wanted >>>>> to use the 2009 iMac to listen to music? >>>>> Why didn’t you do a complete system restore using your SuperDuper! backup >>>>> that has your complete system backed up - that you did just before you >>>>> commenced trying to upgrade the iMac to High Sierra? >>>>> >>>>> 1. I would do a full system restore from the SuperDuper! backup first as >>>>> it has the whole computer system (including ~/Music folder) backed up. >>>>> >>>>> 2.Then if you received my tutorial ‘PREPARE TO UPGRADE TO HIGH SIERRA >>>>> 10.13 I sent to you “OffList” last night. Follow that, before attempting >>>>> to download and install High Sierra! >>>>> >>>>>> The full SuperDuper backup is 142.9 GB. The ~/Music folder is 118.7 GB. >>>>>> Therefore OS and data is 23.2 GB. >>>>> >>>>> My calculation is 24.2GB but it’s not really important. >>>>> >>>>> Cheers, >>>>> Ronni >>>>> >>>>> Ronni Brown’s iPad Pro 12.9-inch 256GB >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 28 Apr 2018, at 10:34 am, Alan Smith <[email protected] >>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hi Ronni >>>>>> >>>>>> The whole system was restored from Time Machine except for the ~/Music >>>>>> folder which is excluded in backup options. >>>>>> >>>>>> The newly restored 2009 iMac with OSX 10.9.5 Mavericks is 23.99 GB. >>>>>> The full SuperDuper backup is 142.9 GB. The ~/Music folder is 118.7 GB. >>>>>> Therefore OS and data is 23.2 GB. >>>>>> >>>>>> How is this so? I have three Macs. >>>>>> >>>>>> The 27 inch late 2012 iMac (High Sierra) is my workhorse. This was >>>>>> bought to replace the 21.5 inch late 2009 iMac (Mavericks) which had an >>>>>> argument with lightning and lost its ethernet port. The “new" computer >>>>>> developed a problem during 2017 - it shuts itself down after being >>>>>> active for around 5 days and requires an SMC reset before restarting. >>>>>> Not very useful for EyeTV recording and AppleTV etc. I eventually took >>>>>> it to the Apple Genius Bar for repair. Not happy about that experience. >>>>>> Suffice to say they didn’t fix it. Hence - - >>>>>> >>>>>> I bought an SSD Mac mini as my media machine. Stays powered on 24/7 for >>>>>> EyeTV recording and processing, and for Apple TV. Most data (movies >>>>>> etc) are on an external high capacity hard drive. Hence - - >>>>>> >>>>>> The 2009 Mavericks machine became my kitchen computer which I use it for >>>>>> Safari, playing music and occasional Zoom video meetings. I only >>>>>> occasionally shut it down even 'tho it is a gas guzzler compared to the >>>>>> later model Macs. >>>>>> >>>>>> Yes, Ronni, I did Restore (almost) the whole system! >>>>>> >>>>>> I will restore the Music folder from the SuperDuper backup. I will >>>>>> check out the computer and prepare it for High Sierra. May take a few >>>>>> days. >>>>>> >>>>>> What is your advice for the next step? Try a new App Store download? >>>>>> >>>>>> Cheers >>>>>> Alan >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> On 28 Apr 2018, at 7:58 am, Ronda Brown <[email protected] >>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi Alan, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I asked you to Restore the whole system! It will take much longer than >>>>>>> 20mins. >>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Restore the complete contents of your hard drive from the Time >>>>>>>>>> Machine backup you did before you commenced trying to upgrade to >>>>>>>>>> High Sierra. >>>>>>>>>> Or Restore from the SuperDuper you did before you commenced trying >>>>>>>>>> to upgrade to High Sierra. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Time Machine automatically backs up your entire Mac, including system >>>>>>> files, applications, accounts, preferences, email messages, music, >>>>>>> photos, movies, and documents. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Restore From Time Machine Backup: Restore your Mac from an external >>>>>>> hard drive or Time Capsule that contains a Time Machine backup >>>>>>> <https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201250> of your Mac. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> How to restore your hard drive from a Time Machine backup >>>>>>> Whether you're having major problems with your current hard drive or >>>>>>> upgrading to a new Mac, Time Machine can help you get back to business. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Power up your Mac and hold down the Command and R keys to enter the >>>>>>> macOS Recovery Partition. Your Mac should boot to a screen that says >>>>>>> macOS Utilities. >>>>>>> Select Restore from Time Machine Backup and click Continue. >>>>>>> Read the info on the Restore Your System page and click Continue. >>>>>>> Select your Time Machine backup and click Continue. >>>>>>> Select the most recent backup of your hard disk and click Continue. >>>>>>> Your Mac will then restore the Time Machine backup; once it's done it >>>>>>> will restart. >>>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>>> Ronni >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Ronni Brown’s iPad Pro 12.9-inch 256GB >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On 28 Apr 2018, at 7:07 am, Alan Smith <[email protected] >>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Correction and update! >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> There is probably no missing data or folders. I forgot that ~/Music >>>>>>>> is excluded from TM backups. Also I don’t use Mail on this iMac so >>>>>>>> the Contacts app would have no cards. Sorry for this. I assume >>>>>>>> Recovery Mode looked at the total history data of Time Machine to >>>>>>>> calculate the remaining restoration time. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I will proceed with normal testing of apps and data - and will wait >>>>>>>> for Ronni’s advice before I attempt a new download of High Sierra. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Alan >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On 28 Apr 2018, at 6:23 am, Alan Smith <[email protected] >>>>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hi Ronni >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I did a restore from Time Machine via Recovery mode for data at 25 >>>>>>>>> April, but got a strange outcome. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> After about 20 minutes with around 15% restore and estimated 2 hours >>>>>>>>> remaining, I got the “Restore Succeeded” window with a “Restart to >>>>>>>>> Continue" banner. This proceeded normally to login and then to >>>>>>>>> prompts similar to a new OS installation. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> The desktop display looked normal superficially. The Dock showed >>>>>>>>> some apps that had been removed some time ago. The Finder sidebar >>>>>>>>> showed the default options, not my preferences. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I opened a few apps. Some seemed OK but Contacts only has 2 cards >>>>>>>>> (Apple inc and Me) and iTunes gave a “no library found” message. The >>>>>>>>> “Music” folder in the Home directory is empty - no iTunes folders! >>>>>>>>> Finder shows 975GB available on the 1TB hard drive. I was expecting >>>>>>>>> around 850GB free. iTunes would probably account for most of the >>>>>>>>> missing data - say 65GB music plus some movies and videos. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I have not attempted any data recovery or conducted detailed tests of >>>>>>>>> apps. I will wait for your comments before I proceed. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Cheers >>>>>>>>> Alan >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On 27 Apr 2018, at 8:13 pm, Ronni Brown <[email protected] >>>>>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Hi Alan, >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> On 27 Apr 2018, at 6:21 pm, Alan Smith <[email protected] >>>>>>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> It might be best to go back and install the backup you did in >>>>>>>>>>>> Mavericks 10.9.5 before you commenced trying to upgrade to High >>>>>>>>>>>> Sierra. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Do you mean reinstall the OS via the Recovery utility or a complete >>>>>>>>>>> copy of OS and data from Time Machine (or Super Super)? >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Restore the complete contents of your hard drive from the Time >>>>>>>>>> Machine backup you did before you commenced trying to upgrade to >>>>>>>>>> High Sierra. >>>>>>>>>> Or Restore from the SuperDuper you did before you commenced trying >>>>>>>>>> to upgrade to High Sierra. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> The SuperDuper Manual will show you How To Restore from SD Backup. >>>>>>>>>> If you need more details I did a PDF Tutorial for a client some time >>>>>>>>>> back … "How to Restore from a SuperDuper! Backup.pdf” >>>>>>>>>> If you need details how to "Restore the complete contents of your >>>>>>>>>> hard drive from a Time Machine backup” I’ll post details to the list. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I have been doing support work since 5:30am this morning, so I’m now >>>>>>>>>> signing off for tonight. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>>>>>> Ronni >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> 13-inch MacBook Air (April 2014) >>>>>>>>>> 1.7GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost to 3.3GHz >>>>>>>>>> 8GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM >>>>>>>>>> 512GB PCIe-based Flash Storage >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 >>>>>>>>>> >>>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml >>>>> <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml>> >>>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml >>>>> <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml>> >>>>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>>>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug >>>>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>> >>>> >>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml >>>> <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml>> >>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml >>>> <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml>> >>>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug >>>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>> >>> >>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml >>> <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml>> >>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml >>> <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml>> >>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug >>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml >> <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml>> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml >> <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml>> >> Settings & Unsubscribe - >> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug >> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>> > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - > <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>
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