Software Update from Monterey to Ventura fails trying to Authenticate: "you need to be an owner"

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Level 1

4 points

Software Update from Monterey to Ventura fails trying to Authenticate: "you need to be an owner"

I have read other threads on this topic but the recommended solution of using the following Terminal command is not a solution at all...

FIRST: allow Terminal Full Disk Access in System Preferences > Security and Privacy > Privacy > Full Disk Access, click the “+” to add Terminal which is in /Applications/Utilities.

SECOND: open Terminal, run this command, press Return, and if prompted enter your Admin password and hit Return again...

sudo softwareupdate -i -a -R

Although that Terminal command does indeed download Ventura, the only way I can install it is via the "Upgrade now" button in Software Update, which prompts me for my Mac's password, and fails every time. Everywhere else in the OS that asks for my Mac's password accepts my password without issue! Only MacOS Software Update fails to accept my password, first complaining that I am not an owner, which is ridiculous. Users & Groups show me as an Administrator!

So here's the complete story...

I have a 2TB USB-C SanDisk Extreme Portable 2TB SSD freshly formatted in Disk Utility (MacOS Monetary) as APFS. I used CCC to clone my 16" MBP's internal 2TB SSD to the SanDisk external in the normal way, which does not copy the OS over (i.e., it's not bootable). But as per CCC's instructions, it's possible to make that external bootable after the CCC copy is done, by simply installing MacOS. So I installed Monterey, which is what is on my MBP's internal SSD too. I was then able to boot from my SanDisk external drive just fine, and it's basically a bootable clone of my internal SSD. Everything works as expected except Software Update.

Why did I make a bootable clone? Because before I update my internal SSD to Ventura, I want to confirm all will be well on an external drive I don't care about. By testing a new OS on an external, I spare myself a lot of grief. That is why I made a bootable clone to the SanDisk external.

But like I said, Software Update in MacOS Monterey on the SanDisk external SSD complains I am not an owner, and that magic Terminal command line everyone is talking about doesn't do anything but download the Ventura installer to my drive. Where is that installer saved? I have no idea and Googling that info is a dead end.

So because I cannot find that MacOS Ventura installer app, I am forced to use System Preferences > Software Update > Upgrade Now. But like I said before, I cannot do that because it presents me with an authentication dialog. I type my password for the Mac correctly, yet the dialog shakes and rejects it! That is why I am posting here today.

I used Disk Utility's First Aid on my SanDisk external but it cannot find anything wrong.

Please tell me how I can install Ventura on my external SSD in light of this.

Thank you.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Nov 2, 2022 11:20 PM

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Answer 1

Owl-53

Level 10

100,249 points

Nov 4, 2022 02:24 AM in response to JDW_

The " Owner Account of this computer " has that privilege to add, remove, upgrade or downgrade accounts. This would include adding more Admin Accounts and / or downgrading an ADDED Admin account

Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac

Normally the " Owner Account " is the very first Account used when the Computer was Very First Setup as New and out of the box.

Adding additional Admin Account can be done there after.

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

100,249 points

Nov 4, 2022 07:42 AM in response to JDW_

The only assumption made was there was a computer issue which the user was trying to sort out.

Further, that the recipient of the free advise would receive it in that spirit " free advise "

As this does not appear to so it is best I not take up any more of your time.

Then have a few suggestions ;

1 - Get Support Choose a product and we’ll find you the best solution.Start now and open an Apple Support Ticket as they are Apple Employees to deal will these types of issues .

2 - Have the computer evaluated by the Professionals who have the Special Hardware / Software and Expertise to diagnose the issue and offer possible solutions

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Answer 3

JDW_ Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 3, 2022 02:45 AM in response to JDW_

No replies sadly, so I'm continuing to brainstorm about how to fix this on my own.

I downloaded a standalone Ventura installer which bypasses the infuriating System Update altogether, but that installer refuses to install saying it has an "incomplete install" on it. That makes no sense. I did a perfect install of Monterey on it, and it boots into Monterey just fine.

I then tried copying the "Install MacOS Ventura" app into the Applications folder of my internal SSD, booted from that internal SSD and tried it again, but the standalone Ventura installer still refuses to install on my external SSD citing the same crazy reason. It said I needed to "erase the volume" for it to install.

In Disk Utility, I see the Data volume and System volume. I tried to delete only the System volume, but it refused to allow me to do so. I ended up having to erase my entire external SSD. I used CCC again to clone my internal SSD to the external, but when I tried the Ventura standalone installer again on the External, the installer complains:

"Unable to set target system volume for preflight."

I'm dead in the water right now.

Folks, I know some of you out there are far more brilliant than I am, which is why I posted here in the first place. I look forward to hearing your kind and helpful recommendations.

Thank you.

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Answer 4

JDW_ Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 4, 2022 05:44 AM in response to Owl-53

You seem to be making the assumption that my existing account is somehow not "the owner account of my computer" which "has the privilege to add, remove, upgrade or downgrade accounts." There is but one account on my computer -- the one I created "when my computer was first setup new and out of the box." That account, displays within User's & Groups with two checkboxes ticked/enabled:

• Allow user to reset password using Apple ID (checkmarked)

• Allow user to administer this computer (grayed out but checkmarked)

The second, grayed-out feature of my account is grayed out because if it wasn't grayed out, it could possibly allow someone to eliminate all Administrator accounts from MacOS, which MacOS disallows.

The reason I even started this thread was because despite the fact I have a genuine OWNER ACCOUNT, it is not working as expected, as per my previous posts. My query to the experts in this forum is to gain a better understanding of how to resolve this problem. So if you could please provide specific advice on that, I would certainly be grateful.

Thank you.

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Answer 5

JDW_ Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 4, 2022 05:56 AM in response to William Tomcanin

Actually, I now have both "Install macOS Monterey" & "Install macOS Ventura" sitting in my Applications folder, for reasons I explained earlier. But as I stated in an earlier post, I now unfortunately get the following message when trying to install either on my external 2TB SanDisk SSD:

unable to set the target system volume for preflight

I therefore do not know what to do to resolve that. I look forward to hearing your advice on that point.

Thank you.

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