Level 1

9 points

10.5.5 Update stuck - is it worth all the trouble ?

I have just downloaded the latest update ( 10.5.5 ) and then rebooted my iMac , next the software Update
box appeared on screen as usual, saying .. Installing 1 item , configuring Installation .
Then the Blue progress bar started to move to the right , went about 1/4 of an inch and stopped there, I left the iMac running for Two hours and the progress blue bar had not moved. I then turned off the iMac , re booted , re connected to the internet , clicked software up date, the 10.5.5 update was shown again, I then clicked to download this update, then the do you want to shutdown now notice appeared, so I shutdown again and the whole same process started again as before . So basically It seems that the update 10.5.5 has been downloaded onto my iMac, but gets stuck on the .. Installing 1 item - configuring Installation part.

I have gone through the Zap PRAM and Repair Permission , but that seems not to have resolved any thing
I did un plug any external USB items while the - Installing 1 item - configuring Installation part was in operation.

and Ive gone through the Apple web page ... Mac OS X 10.5: Troubleshooting installation, startup, and login issues , ..... but cannot see any thing that relates to my problem

I have had a long look through this forum for an answer , but no luck yet only,other people with different 10.5.5 update problems.

I only have a dial up internet connection which makes this large update a pain in the backside to do, so If I have to re install this 10.5.5 update again its going to drive me back to drink .

Other that that the iMac is running fine.

Should I have waited a bit longer before trying to update to 10.5.5 , it it really worth all the trouble ?

I am fairly new to Apple Mac's and I never thought that there would ever be a problem with a simple update
to my first ever Mac , a bit disappointing really .

so any help would be most appreciated which hopfully will re boost my confidence in the whole new Mac experience

Thanks

iMac 24 inch 2.8, Mac OS X (10.5.4), My First Ever Mac

Posted on Sep 22, 2008 6:04 AM

45 replies

redstain Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 22, 2008 9:33 AM in response to R C-R

R C-R , thanks for the ....

*Perhaps you have a friend in another location with high speed access that could download the update, burn it to an optical disk, & mail it to you*

Yes I have a friend who has ADSL connection in Bangkok, can I ask you ...

if My friend sends me a DVD with the Update on it,how would I then install the Update from the DVD to my iMac

and if I install an Update from a DVD , would this in any way conflict with the 10.5.5 Up date I have already downloaded to my imac, ( which I cannot find at the moment ) ..?

Thanks

redstain Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 22, 2008 10:09 AM in response to Alexandre

Hi Alexandre , Thanks for the advice, my iMac is only a few Months old and had 4 GB of RAM, I think ive found why the iMac gets stuck in the - *Installing 1 item , configuring Installation* mode, Ive just had a look to see if I can find the 10.5.5. I downloaded on my iMac , and ive found a ( a.receiptdb ) document which is 242.1 MB in size, so I am thinking this ( a.receiptdb ) is actually the 10.5.5 updtae download , but its only showing the size of 242.1 MB and the 10.5.5 Update download is 321 Mb in size, so this could mean I did not download the complete 10.5.5 Update . I am hoping this is the problem. I am not too sure if the a.receiptdbis in fact the 10.5.5. Updtae download , but its the only thing showing that was downloaded at the same time. can any one confirm for me that the a.receiptdbis in fact an Update ..?

Thanks

R C-R

Level 6

17,794 points

Sep 22, 2008 10:19 AM in response to a brody

I suppose the point I'm trying to make can best be summarized by saying that the risk of encountering problems with updates is not the same for all users & so neither are the appropriate steps to take to prevent them.

All I do is make sure my backups are secure before applying any update. For me, this provides adequate prevention without compromising the "it just works" convenience that is the primary reason I prefer Macs over PC's. I tend to think that this strategy is best for the majority of Mac users with similar priorities (which I think is the majority of Mac users), but each user should choose to do whatever they think best, not what you or I do.

R C-R

Level 6

17,794 points

Sep 22, 2008 10:49 AM in response to redstain

Just ask your friend to go to http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx1055comboupdate.html, click on either of the two "601MB" links with a downward pointing arrow next to them, & wait for the download to complete. In your friend's designated download location (usually the "Downloads" folder if the download is to a recent Mac), there will be a file named "MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.5.dmg" once the download process completes. That should be burned to a disk -- a "dmg" file is a disk image -- & sent to you.

Then, all you have to do is double click on that in the window that opens to show the DVD's contents & the image will automatically generate a "virtual disk" on your desktop. Open that as if it were any other disk, double click on the update package it contains (named "MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.5.pkg"), & the installer will run automatically.

The 10.5.5 combo updater will update any version of 10.5 from 10.5.0 through 10.5.5 to 10.5.5, including one that is already at 10.5.5, which is why you must use it. (The "delta" updater -- what you downloaded through Software Update -- will only take 10.5.4 to 10.5.5 & will refuse to update any other version.)

A side benefit of the combo updater is it replaces everything that has been updated in 10.5.5 with a fresh copy, not just the bits & pieces that differ between 10.5.4 & 10.5.5.

You may use it as often as you like (until you update to a newer version of the OS than 10.5.5) without fear of conflicts.

redstain Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 22, 2008 10:55 AM in response to R C-R

R C-R , Thanks You for your help and advice - its very much appreciated by this Mac newbie.

R C-R

Level 6

17,794 points

Sep 22, 2008 10:56 AM in response to redstain

The a.receiptdb file is the receipts database file that keeps track of all your installed Apple downloads. It is not the update.

redstain Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 22, 2008 11:03 AM in response to R C-R

Thanks again R C-R , I would really like to confirm to my self that infact the 10.5.5.Update download did in fact fully or not fully download onto my iMac, could you please tell me where I can look to confirm that the 10.5.5. download did install its self on my iMac -- Thanks again

R C-R

Level 6

17,794 points

Sep 22, 2008 11:07 AM in response to redstain

You are most welcome. I do ask one favor in return:

Please return to this thread & post an update to let us know how well this worked for you. We are all just a bunch of users trying to help each other, & we really don't know how well we are doing without follow ups.

R C-R

Level 6

17,794 points

Sep 22, 2008 3:11 PM in response to redstain

The simplest way way to verify your OS version is to select "About This Mac" from the Apple menu. You will see the OS version below the large "Mac OS X" text.

But remember that if you have the 10.5.5 combo updater available, you can run it even if the version shown is 10.5.5 & it should repair any damage to any of the components it contains, as well as making sure the "optimization" step is performed.

Alexandre

Level 3

854 points

Sep 22, 2008 9:51 PM in response to redstain

Hiya again,
R C-R gave good advice and I would try the standalone installer, like i said.
Also, if your mac is that new, Apple Phone support should be of great assistance.
If you explain to them your trouble and point out the problems and also highlight the fact that your internet speed is not very good (long download time), they may be able to advise you of alternative possibilities.
You need to be patient though, as usually, support calls can take up to 1 hour or so if you need to be transferred to back office etc (but they will attempt to solve your issue there and then).
Good luck. 🙂

lamarche

Level 2

245 points

Sep 22, 2008 10:02 PM in response to redstain

If you dont have the opportunity to do the download because of your dial up, do you have someone that could do the download off of the Apple Download site, like the combo or the stand alone and send it to you on a thumb drive? You could then do the up grade that way

Mike

b4g

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2008 10:49 PM in response to R C-R

Certainly while I agree with you about updating all your software (I come from the Windows world after all) it does seem that 10.5.5 is a bit of a trouble. I've been using my Mac for a month (yes, I just switched) but within minutes of upgrading, I got my first Kernel Panic. It was a rather rude shock to be honest.

And is it just me, or does 10.5.5 actually run slower than 10.5.4? I used that for a good month before upgrading and it was nippy to say the least. Things have just started to slow down and that makes me a sad Mac. =(

redstain Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 22, 2008 11:56 PM in response to lamarche

This is my current situation with the 10.5.5 Update download

1. I have downloaded the Update and when this was complete, I was asked if I wanted to restart my computer now, I clicked yes restart now.

2. The computer shutdown .

3. The computer rebooted and the box appears on screen .. Software Update- Installing 1 item
then the small blue progress bar moves to the right about 1/4 on an inch .

4. The blue progress bar does not move any further after an Hour.

5. I shutdown the computer

6. I reboot and every thing seem's to be working OK

7. I reconnect the computer to the internet

8. I click on the  and then Software Update

9. The software Up date box appears ,

10. The software up date box now shows that the 10.5.5 Update is available to download

11. I tick the 10.5.5 and click the Install now

12. then the same happens all over again as in 3 - 4 above

13 . I am back to the same situation where The blue progress bar sticks and does not move any further

14. I have clicked  and about this Mac and it shows 10.5.4

15. I have looked in my downloads file and cannot see any thing related to the 10.5.5 Update I have downloaded.

I would like t try this ...

download the 10.5.5 Update again to my iMac using the Apple Update ,( smaller size than a combo ) just in case the first download was corrupted in some way , to do this I need to delete the first download file ( which keeps getting stuck ) so can some one please tell me where to look for the first 10.5.5 download attempt so I can now delete it and attempt to download it again , if that does not work for a second time, then I will have to go another route as suggested.

Or ..as my iMac is running OK is it better to wait until the next update and try again then

R C-R

Level 6

17,794 points

Sep 23, 2008 3:28 AM in response to redstain

so can some one please tell me where to look for the first 10.5.5 download attempt so I can now delete it and attempt to download it again...

Automatically downloaded update packages usually are placed in /Library/Packages (a subfolder of the main Library folder at the root of the hard drive) or in the user Downloads folder. They are deleted after a successful update (unless you choose one of the save package options in the Software Update application).

Or ..as my iMac is running OK is it better to wait until the next update and try again then

Well, something isn't running OK in your iMac or installing a software update would not be giving you these problems. They are unlikely to go away just because Apple releases a future update -- IOW, the problem is not in the 10.5.5 update itself but in something in your system. One reason I (& Apple) recommend using the combo update is, as I mentioned, that it replaces more OS components than the 'delta' update.

However, it is beginning to sound like you have some problem that should be addressed first. Have you run Disk Utility's two tests? Start by running the Verify Disk test on your startup drive. It may reveal some problem with the file system. If it finds a problem, follow the instructions to reboot from the installer disk & attempt to repair it. Then the update may go smoothly on the next try. You can also run the Permissions repair step.

Two things that I perhaps should have asked about earlier might also be factors:

1. How much free disk space do you have? If your drive is more than about 85% full, it could be the problem.

2. Have you installed anything from a third party vendor that modifies the behavior of the OS, especially anything that "enhances" the user interface like by adding menu items at the top of the screen?

These & other items are mentioned in the previously mentioned troubleshooting installation problems article. If you haven't read that, please do so now & follow its suggestions.

RodneyW

Level 4

3,041 points

Sep 23, 2008 3:33 AM in response to redstain

With regard to the original problem (hanging at "configuring installation") I suspect that your download is actually corrupt.

Software Update usually stashes the downloads in /Library/Packages and/or in a temporary directory (you have to know your way around Terminal to explore the -Caches- directory for that).

Rather than downloading it through dial-up, are you in a position to get a friend in a city to burns a CD with the updater and send it to you? For such large files, dial-up is terribly unreliable.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

10.5.5 Update stuck - is it worth all the trouble ?