My iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) installed Ventura 13.0 upon its release. The iMac works fine, no problem whatsoever.
But since then no update of the macOS could be installed. I cannot reinstall. I cannot erase my HD. FirstAid reports no errors on my HD.
I've had similar problems in the past and had better luck from the Safe Mode because I evidently have some 3rd party software that interferes with the downloading and installing so try the following:
#1 - boot into Safe Mode according to Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support.
NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3-5 minutes as it's doing the following;
• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed
• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)
• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically
• Disables user-installed fonts
• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files
#2 - go to the System/Software Update preference pane and begin the download.
#3 - run the installer from the Safe Mode.
I've had similar problems in the past and had better luck from the Safe Mode because I evidently have some 3rd party software that interferes with the downloading and installing so try the following:
#1 - boot into Safe Mode according to Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support.
NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3-5 minutes as it's doing the following;
• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed
• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)
• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically
• Disables user-installed fonts
• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files
#2 - go to the System/Software Update preference pane and begin the download.
#3 - run the installer from the Safe Mode.
Have you installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your Mac?
It downloads the latest update, which is I think 13.2.1 now, tries to prepare it and after some time a dialogue pops up with a message that it could not do it. This update was about 1GB in size. If I try again, it downloads a version that is 11GB, but the outcome is the same.
Thanks. I tried Safe Mode, but it did not help. The same messages and outcome. Also, Safe Mode did not report any problems with the current state of the iMac.
Regarding SW, I only use MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, Kindle, and Nikon NX Studio. It has been like that since the beginning. There were no changes since I installed 13.0.
When 13.0.1. became available, it failed to install. Since then, the iMac reported no updates, although auto update mode has been enabled. For 13.2.1 I initiated an update.
What happens when you tried?
My iMac installed Ventura 13.0 upon its release. Since then no update of the macOS could be installed.
