I am running my MacMini successfully from an external SSD boot drive. It boots at startup without any problems. However, when I do updates, or try to upgrade the OS the update fails when the Mac restarts during the update. The restart fails and reverts to the grey utilities screen. When I select the external drive to restart it does a fresh restart without the update. Any suggestions?
Mac mini, macOS 10.14
Hyper-focal wrote:
I don't think the issue is with finding the startup disk as it seems to be getting this far. The installer log suggests there are some missing files.
Reinstall macOS Mojave over the top of the current macOS Mojave version on the SSD.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904
I'm trying to upgrade to Monterey, but this issue is causing me the problem.
Then try and upgrade to Monterey.
Hyper-focal wrote:
I don't think the issue is with finding the startup disk as it seems to be getting this far. The installer log suggests there are some missing files.
Reinstall macOS Mojave over the top of the current macOS Mojave version on the SSD.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904
I'm trying to upgrade to Monterey, but this issue is causing me the problem.
Then try and upgrade to Monterey.
Follow these Apple Support steps to change your startup disk: Change your Mac startup disk - Apple Support, specifically this section:
Change your startup disk for every startup
On your Mac, choose Apple menu> System Preferences, then click Startup Disk
.
If the lock at the bottom left is locked, click it to unlock the preference pane.
Click the icon of the disk you want to use, then click Restart.
Cheers,
Jack
Thanks for confirming.
Please Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support, then Change your Mac startup disk - Apple Support again. In addition, please let us know what external SSD you are using.
Also, is there a reason you are still using macOS Mojave on your Mac mini (Late 2014)? It supports macOS Monterey, and I regularly use a Mac mini (Late 2014) using macOS Monterey that has an external SSD as its startup disk with no issues.
Jack
I don't think the issue is with finding the startup disk as it seems to be getting this far. The installer log suggests there are some missing files.
The SSD is Sandisk Extreme 1TB.
I'm trying to upgrade to Monterey, but this issue is causing me the problem.
Thanks den.thed, I have made a copy of my Mojave boot disk on a spare HDD. I then erased the SSD and made a completely new install of Monterey, which seems to be working. I'm currently transferring my apps and data to the new install. Hopefully that will do the trick.
You're welcome.
Yea' that should actually be faster, easier and work better than trying to reinstall Mojave, then upgrade to Monterey..
While I would not freely recommend it to the average or below average user because of the potential data loss and other problems. I'm glad to hear that you are setup, willing and able to go this route.
Which version of MacMini and what versions of macOS?
Did you boot to the internal drive and then assign the external as startup?
2014 Mac Minim running Mojave
Booting from the external drive only, which is assigned as startup. (No boot installed on internal drive)
Thanks Jack. I have already set this up and it works fine for normal startup. It's just during updates that it fails part way through the restart process.
External SSD Boot Drive
