Mojave install failue - stuck in loop.

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Mojave install failue - stuck in loop.

I am attempting to re-install Mac OS Mojave on my upgraded Mac Pro 5,1. The installation progress bar stalls (for hours) at about 90%, then produces an install fail log. Restarting re-enters the install loop. Hard Rebooting, restart-Option, or restart-Command-R does not escape the installer loop.

So I can't ever get to Disk Utility - and on the last fail - didn't recogize any startup disk, including an external USB Mojave installer. Note: the machine has a Redeon 8GB 580x - may be dodgy about boot screen in recovery mode? Modifier keys?

Backstory - This is a new-to-me machine and I am trying to wipe it clean and start over as a bad tech support experience with Adobe ... vandalized the OS. Apparently Migration Assistant does not migrate adobe apps - must be reinstalled from scratch. Okay fine, do-over... Apps, then migrate user. Start over with a clean install. That was the PLAN, anyway. ...

Mac Pro

Posted on Feb 7, 2020 7:25 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Kurt Griffith Author

Level 1

31 points

Feb 9, 2020 1:48 PM in response to Kurt Griffith

Follow up - That was the nudge I needed to get unstuck. I pulled the (relatively ancient) Graphics Card from the 2008 MP it's was intended to replace - and was able to break the install loop and get into Restore Mode. Was able to format the SDD to kill the stuck installer.

Then swapped the cards back, since a Metal Compatible card is needed for the Mojave Install. Had to create a new installer USB drive to get an up-to-date certificate and dodge "This installer is damaged and can't be used". Then rebooted into to Restore Mode (booted from the USB no problem)The installer ran as expected and now have clean new OS up and running in an Admin Account.

Am now back to configuring the poor beasite for deployment in my studio. Huzzah! IT'S ALLIVVEEEEEE!!!! But the next time an Adobe technician ask if they can remotely access my computer, it's gonna be OH **** NO. Vandals.

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Answer 2

HWTech

Level 9

61,166 points

Feb 8, 2020 4:59 PM in response to Kurt Griffith

Try booting into Safe Mode to see if that will allow you to get to the Desktop.

Yes using that video card unless it is flashed for use on a Mac will give you issues on the early boot screens since the display will be black until macOS loads the video driver. You may need to install an original Apple video card compatible with this system in order to get this computer setup. Once setup then you can go back to using the RX580.

When you reinstalled Mojave did you erase the physical drive first? To see the physical drive in Disk Utility you must first click on "View" within Disk Utility and select "Show All Devices" before the physical drive appears in the left pane of Disk Utility.

If a clean reinstall does not work, then perhaps you have a failing hard drive. If you can boot from a macOS volume, then you can run DriveDX to check the health of the hard drive. Any "Failing" or "Warnings" means the drive is either bad or worn out respectively and should be replaced. Feel free to post the DriveDX report here using the "Additional Text" icon which looks like a piece of paper.

If you don't have a macOS boot volume, then create a bootable Knoppix Linux USB drive using Etcher (Mac/Windows/Linux). Get Knoppix version 8.2 since I've had graphical issues with the latest v8.6. Option Boot the USB drive and select the orange icon labeled "EFI". The computer may appear frozen on the Apple boot picker menu while Knoppix boots, but this is "normal' so give Knoppix lots of time to finish booting.

Once at the Knoppix desktop click on the "Start" menu on the bottom left of the Taskbar and navigate to "System Tools --> GSmartControl". Within the GSmartControl app double-click on the computer's drive icon to open up the health report for the drive. Post the complete health report here.

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Answer 3

Feb 8, 2020 6:53 PM in response to HWTech

It was a fresh, refurbished machine from a tech shop. So pretty much bare naked, New SSD -OS and Admin user only, and blank HDDs Problems surfaced when I began the long process of installing the Adobe Apps - I am a Designer, mission critical - tho' creative pros increasingly resent being Adobe's b***hes. Their install process is, in my opinion, unsecessairly intricate, and based on their user forums, fragile.

It is certainly worth a try. Tho' I may have to borrow the graphics card from this workstation (mid 2010 MP 5,1 - stock ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024 MB) to try and get the boot options to work. However – restart-Option DID work the first time I tried to reinstall the OS. But now don't once the install failed, loops to retry the failed install. ... which fails.

I might also try creating a bootable Mojave installer to an empty HD drive, swapping out the SSD, and running the install. Then reinstalling and reformatting the SSD, and insall a new system in it. Sounds tedious, but I feel it SHOULD work.

I do have DriveDX, but have to get the poor beast at least booted to some level of OS to run it, of course. If I could Option-boot, I'd run the Installer I have on a USB Drive.

But some useful ideas. (... or take it to the tech shop that built if and cry at them. Still an option. But they're a two hour drive, and would be drop off, and pick up... 2 round trips. Tests a fellow's patience. )

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Answer 4

HWTech

Level 9

61,166 points

Feb 9, 2020 4:31 PM in response to Kurt Griffith

Yep, you must always be careful of others accessing your computer. It is a shame that vendors make using proprietary software so difficult to support. I'm glad you were finally able to get things working again. Congratulations!

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Mojave install failue - stuck in loop.

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