I cannot install Catalina on my MacBook Pro. When trying to quit the installer, I have not choices on the Startup Disk and I got stuck in a loop of automatically trying to install the new OS and Not free Space. I need to know how to solve it! Help me please!!!
MacBook Pro with Touch Bar
Recently answered here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250711825?cid=em_apple_email_question_correctanswer_go_to_the_discussion_en-us&answerId=251355788022#251355788022
I was facing the same issue and was on the verge of reformatting my macbook.
Here's what fixed the issue for me. I'm not sure if step 1 was necessary, but since I did this en route to fixing the loop of death, I'll list it here for you to consider.
Within 5 minutes, the backup restored. All my files were intact, even though I had explicitly moved out/deleted about 30G of files while trying to debug the installation issue.
Totally agree, the ball has been dropped by Apple here, quite check for disk space then safe to proceed... not difficult
If your stuck as I was use option 2 and recent Time Machine to recover
All I need is how to get out of this **** loop and log in via a Safe Mode to be able to free up space. I had 21GB free at the start, and this install does not check disk free space before installing and now I am left with a useless a MacBook Air all thanks to badly written code by Apple. How come something as simple as this be overlooked after so many updates over the years? Help please!
I spoke with Apple Tech Support, multiple people told me that a Time Machine backup would be on an external HD if I set it up. If it searches for a backup with your external HD (or without) for more than 5-6 minutes, there is likely no backup on Time Machine. All they recommended to me is paying a third-party to recover data on my HD, wiping the HD, and starting over.
Step 2 was a life saver for me. I had no idea the back up was even there!
If you want to talk to Apple, you will need to contact support. This is a user to user forum and we do not work for Apple.
how about „this update will require x amount of disc space. You don‘t have enough disk space. to avoid loosing your files or be stuck in a cycle of death free up x amount of space.“ ????
This document right here helped me when none of the suggested items in this post would.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOS/comments/c0x4k0/solution_for_catalina_1015_users_that_cannot_boot/
It’s mind boggling that an OS update allows you to get into this situation. I have the same problem and the fact that the installer kills the boot drive but is unable to actually install is amateur hour. I’m astonished that this was allowed to ship like this, someone should be fired.
This install hopefully hasn’t just tanked my week.
*notification to update Mac
*updates mac
*mac crashes and looses boot drive
*gets stuck in hyper loop
*assignment due in 3 hours
*cry’s
*attempts to reinstall mojave
*starts praying
*heck
Fun new issue, after restoring from a TM backup and freeing up 70GB redownloaded the update and started over. Came back to a message that Catalina couldn’t be installed and to try running diagnostics. Restart again into recovery mode but of course all the local TM backups are now gone. Which whatever, I have a whole set at home but since I’m traveling that does me no good. I’m not losing any data everything’s with a variety of cloud services but it’s awesome to waste hours of time on this. It’s a terribly rolled out update far below previous standards.
Yup this is a joke. Being limited on time enough as it is, finally getting around to update this and it puts me in a situation like this were it cuts into my time of sleep and missing classes, not very fun.
Am on track, thank you (so far so good). This is a big ball drop by Apple and if they had to pay everyone for the half-day lost, it would be a scandal. It shows how accustomed to their seamlessness I have become (‘what could possibly go wrong?’). Well, apparently this. Thank you again for taking the time to write this go-round. 😎 from Oz
I hope it helps and you can get back on track. I've probably spent 6 hours collectively today and last night on this problem and the time remaining estimate on my Time Machine backup currently says 3 hours... and for some reason it's increasing. It's 8:30pm here and I have to use the MBP to present to a client tomorrow morning.
Cheers from Canada.
Greetings from OZ!
I feel your pain of needing the MBP to achieve a work commitment ... mine is marking and course prep amongst other things. Thank goodness the iPad Pro is helping with emails in the meantime.
I am still finding issues, such as apps not opening easily despite rebooting. I am running CleanMyMac in the hope that it does something ... although I’ve no idea what! How is Canada, I miss it?!
All the best
Pitiful and lamentable from Apple. Not even check that the new OS will be able to install and not providing any way to roll back.
When it comes to impose rules to Applications developers they are very strong.
What a waste of time for hundreds, my be thousands of people.
Not enough free space on your disk to install macOS Catalina
