How Do I Update OSX Running On A Bootable External SSD?

Question

How Do I Update OSX Running On A Bootable External SSD?

I am running a secondary bootable external SSD off of my MacBook Pro 16" M1 Max. I use the internal SSD for work, and then I shut down that system and reboot from the external SSD for personal use. I am unable to install the downloaded update for Monterey. Updates for apps are no issue, but the OS won't install.

How can I easily update the OS as needed without having to totally reformat the entire drive from scratch and erasing everything on it?

Thanks for the help!

MacBook Pro Apple Silicon

Posted on Jul 13, 2022 8:04 PM

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Answer 1

Owl-53

Level 10

100,771 points

Jul 14, 2022 4:46 AM in response to newdaynewlife

This may require manually downloading the Full Version of Monterey while booted into the External Drive and then applying the update from there.

That or doing the same while on the Internal Drive and pointing the installation to the Attached External Drive

High now as writing the current version Monterey 12.4 is the latexes though a Release Candidate of 12.5 looms on the horizon. Just when it will drop to Public Release - only Apple knows.

Terminal command to pull the full version 12.4 below.

It will create a new application is Applications folder and Will Not Auto Launch

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 12.4

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Answer 2

Jul 14, 2022 6:57 AM in response to newdaynewlife

My external Intel Monterey volumes can be updated as usual by a) applying the incremental update when booted from it or b) by applying the Full Monterey installer (usually I do it from a bootable USB flash installer).

Method a) is somewhat faster. Sometimes it might fail even when done from the internal work disk (especially in early Monterey versions). Then usually it helps if the update is done in safe mode and via Ethernet instead Wi-Fi.

I usually boot into safe mode via an external volume by Option-booting, selecting the external boot volume and holding Shift when clicking it until the progress bar appears.

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Answer 3

Jul 14, 2022 3:02 PM in response to Owl-53

Thanks so much for responding. Here's where I am at.

I am booted and logged into my external SSD, the internal ssd has been unmounted through Disk Utility. I created this external SSD by cloning the internal SSD when I bought the computer, so I am the authorized owner.

Now, I've jumped into Terminal and used the prompt:

sudo softwareupdate -i -a -R

Terminal appears to successfully download the Monterey 12.4 update, but here's where I hit a wall. I get the prompt window on the top right corner that reads "Updates Not Installed - Some updates could not be installed", I then click this window open which takes me to the Software Update window in System Preferences. It reads, "An update is available for your Mac" to the right of that text is the button/icon "Restart Now". I click that button then a small window opens in the center of the screen with the image of a pad lock and shield, below the image it reads, "System Preferences - Software Update is trying to authenticate user. Enter the password for the user "xxxxxx" to allow this." I the enter my password and click OK, the window closes and then I'm back to the Software Update window in System Preferences and it goes into a cycle with no end. Thoughts?

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Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

100,771 points

Jul 15, 2022 1:18 AM in response to newdaynewlife

Having never attempted what you are trying to achieve this is pure guess work.

Judging from at least two Respected Contributors above statements - it should work.

Though, why was it necessary to use the sudo softwareupdate -i -a -R command at all.

Generally, the command is to bypass the Ownership Issue when installing Monterey.

That indicates to me, the User Account on External Drive is a Non Admin Account of this computer.

Perhaps @ tbirdvet and @ Matti Haveri can shed additional insights

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Answer 5

Jul 15, 2022 10:30 AM in response to Owl-53

Hello Again, I stumbled upon another discussion thread where the issue was somewhat similar. I am embarrassed to say that I don't have the technical prowess of most here, I saw the Terminal command, the discussion thread said it worked, so I thought, hey give it a try. I didn't even think to consider the ownership issue and bypass issue, I was just trying to jam through the update and be done with it. My bad for not reading the thread as thoroughly as I should have. Hopefully, I didn't screw things up worse. The administrator user account for the computer is the same user name and password as the internal SSD. My purpose in splitting the system was to keep the internal SSD for strictly work/business and the external SSD for personal use. I am able to update all the other software apps without issue. Could it be a permissions setting somewhere I need to access and grant?

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Answer 6

Owl-53

Level 10

100,771 points

Jul 15, 2022 1:44 PM in response to newdaynewlife

Q - " I created this external SSD by cloning the internal SSD when I bought the computer, so I am the authorized owner. "

A - What means was the Internal Drive Cloned to the External Drive ? Was Carbon Copy Cloner used ? Was a Legary Clone performed ?

A - What version of macOS Monterey is installed on the Internal Drive - 12.4 ?

A - If so, would suggest Formatting the External Drive via image below and then performing the Legacy Clone as per instruction in link above

A - This would avoid the situation the computer is in right - trouble updating the External Drive

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Answer 7

Jul 15, 2022 7:38 PM in response to Owl-53

Hello Again, Thank you for being so patient and helpful.

I used a program named "SuperDuper!" to make a bootable clone of my MacBook Pro. I know of Carbon Copy Cloner, but that program was not used. I am not familiar with the term Legacy Clone, so I suspect that I did not perform that task.

When the clone was made, the Internal SSD was operating Monterey 12.3.1, so the External SSD is also Monterey12.3.1, then I allowed the update to take hold on the Internal SSD, and it updated to 12.4 without any issue, but when the External SSD was positioned for an update, it would download, but not install.

I will visit the link in your suggestion and hopefully this will solve my update issue. It looks like Apple is making this process more complicated than it needs to be. Very unfortunate.

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