Big Sur Update failure

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Level 1

9 points

Big Sur Update failure

Have been trying to update Big Sur from 11.2.1 to 11.2.2 on 2019 Macbook pro 15. Have spent over 11 hours over two days trying to complete the update that the system reports as being available. Have tried multiple times as a straight update from normal boot and via safe mode boot. Every time get the message . As a last resort have downloaded the Big Sur 11.2.1 12+ Gb file from the App Store ( 11.2.2 not being available for download even though system says for past two days that its available! ) reformatting the Macbook and performed a clean install... once thats installed tried once more to update to 11.2.2 Nett result same again " Download failed An error occurred while downloading the selected

updates. Please check your internet connection and try again".

Its obviously:

Not an issue with internet connection - download of the 12Gb v 11.2.1 file was done easily and that installed fine

Not an issue with drive space - clean install with nothing on a 256Gb drive other than the system

Not an issue with any software conflict - it was clean install with no additional software present

So basically now in a position where:

its a case of living with a machine that constantly reports an update is ready - but cant install until Apple eventually recognises that their system does not work and releases yet another update which will probably be just as buggy

or

Binning the machine and going back to pen and paper - far more reliable in the long run

What is wrong with Apple these days, far more interested in trying to come up with fancy new ways of making money that making reliable hardware and software

Posted on Feb 27, 2021 5:22 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

3Mountain3

Level 1

4 points

Mar 1, 2021 1:48 AM in response to dsms71

Mine is MacBook Air purchased in May 2020 with plenty of disk space.

I tried many times in downloading macOS Big Sur 11.2.2 with suggestions from this Apple Community but does not work base on individual suggestion.

I finally succeeded in installing the latest operating system by taking following steps:

stop using all the Apple gadgets, cellphones and watch
quit all the apps before shutting down lthe MacBook
Shut down the MacBook and wait for 10 seconds
Press and hold shift key to do a Safe Mode start
then install the macOS Big Sur 11.2.2
when the message that says 10 minutes remaining, wait for 10 minutes, the system stop (it stops possibly before 10 minutes)
press black power button (i can't remember how many times that I pressed on it with the finally workable solution). But I would assume twice because once for shut down the system and once for waking up the system again
then the system continue its download very quickly
the restart of the system takes 10 minutes or more but the download is already successful by then

I am sorry that I write it in such a detailed fashion because I am not a technical person and I believe there are many seniors like me who might need detailed step by step instructions to guide them.

I have to thank all those who reports how their installation works for me to try and error. Thank you!

I have your frustrations and if we think it positively, Apple is only trying to test our patience and knowledge of their product. With so many Apple products connected, it is harder to test any component of any product without upsetting other components of the rest of other products. Nothing is perfect and all the Apple analysts are humans too. Their speedily response to any problem, which lead to frequent system update, is well deserved our sincere thanks.

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Answer 2

dsms71 Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 27, 2021 6:12 AM in response to dialabrain

Unfortunatly dailbrain given I have tried over two days and hence machine has at times been off for well over 30 secs between tries that does not appear to have made any difference to outcome. As four other macs in use here, Macbook pro 13, iMac 21 and 27 and macpro have all upgraded without issue it all points to some hardware fault but having said that looking around for solutions on line there are any number of people all having similar issues with their macbook pro's could well be a certain hardware issue is aparrent in a number of machines. Given charges for hardware fixes its easier and chaeper in ong run to bin and replace. QC has gone down over time with some apple products and so many software glitches are also appearing to manifest, makes you think twice about things.

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Answer 3

dialabrain

Level 10

125,375 points

Feb 27, 2021 6:20 AM in response to dsms71

Well, I have 5 Macs running Big Sur as well. Unfortunately or fortunately as the case may be, a 15" 2019 MBP is not one of them so I can't check if it's a problem with that specific hardware/software combination.

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Answer 4

dsms71 Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 28, 2021 3:14 AM in response to dialabrain

Well the latest on this saga. Decided to give it one last try at updating via system recovery. What happened next is beyond comprehension. Hitting the recovery button to re install system the machine went blank, then a large black and white icon of the worls appeared and asked for network to be chosen, password entered and a download begins. Download completes and up pops the box saying the install of High Sierra is ready to commence!!! Where that came from is a total mystery but nevertheless the install competed and the machine booted up in High Sierra system.

With the machine now running High Sierra, downloaded from the app store the full Big Sur installer 11.2.1 app. On trying to run this once again the same message as I had previously appeard and the upgrade bombed but this time would not reboot to High Sierra so back now to recovery mode and again its downloaded High Sierra and is currently installing that agian!

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