Security Update 2020-002 freeze during the restart process

In the Apple Support Community search field enter: High Sierra Security Update 2020-001. You'll get several posts from people who had issues with that piece of junk with some useful advice and workarounds. Once upon a time, I would immediately install an Apple security update. Now, they've become so consistently buggy that I wait at least two weeks and see what the issues are, if any. I've passed on several because of reported issues. Not much point in having the latest security on the Mac, if it doesn't boot. I'm very disappointed at the lack of adequate testing on these updates before releasing them.

I get issues with my Mac mini 2011. It starts the installation and restarts then on the white screen with the progress bar it just stops and goes to an error screen and restarts into a loop. The only way I can get back to my Mac is to restart while holding the options key and selecting my hard drive again instead of the MacOSInstaller Partition. The update is completely screwed. Unfortunately already wiped my HD and lost a lot of data :(

I've seen some serious instability on my Macbook Air since installing Security Update 2020-002. Mozilla/Firefox browser showing blank favorites panel, VLC media player crashing, Screenshots taking blank content. Very very buggy, i'm trying to see if i can back down to Security Update 2020-001? WIll this make matters worse? So disappointing to force us to install a seemingly highly vulnerable update like this.

There were similar issues with the 2020-001 update. You can find a lot of help by searching on the Apple Support Community site for 2020-001 Security Update High Sierra. One user solved a similar issue that your having, although on the prior 001 update, by using the Terminal. I haven't tried this myself, but other users who did reported that it worked for them. Here is his posting:

When trying to install this update for High Sierra 10.13.6 (Mac Pro 5,1) the computer attempts to shutdown, the screen goes black indefinitely, but it never actually shuts down or updates. A hard reboot gets the machine back on and running. However, any attempts at completing the update or even trying to do a standard shutdown/restart result in same problem. The computer simply not longer shuts down properly.

Standard troubleshooting tools like Reset Pram do nothing.

I was able to resolve the issue and restore the computer to proper working order by eliminating the current 2020-001 update process via the following terminal command.

sudo rm -f /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow.plist

sudo rm -f /private/var/db/.AppleUpgrade

sudo rm -f /private/var/db/.SoftwareUpdateAtLogout

sudo reboot

This fix was authored by nohillside.

Try hold the option key just after the boot up sound and then select your normal hard drive from there. When you get back into your system go to system preferences, startup disk and reselect your drive. Sometimes reselecting it resets the boot up commands and works.

Thank you for the great tips! I wasn't aware of this route. Will keep in mind in the future. I ended up reinstalling the entire operating system on a clean erased disk, as I have two backups of my drive. I have the same update in the App Store asking me to update now! Will give it a try and see what happens.

Yup same exact issue. Except when I get the black screen of death it makes a loud beep. iMac mid '11. Required reinstallation of the operating system at that point but restored to the previous operating state??.. weird

I issue "sudo software update -ia --restart"

I get the black screen too. I wait about 35-40 minutes then just press power button to power down.

When I turn it on, everything back to normal except the new window is asking to enable Siri. I am sure this window has nothing to do with the issue.

Here's a copy my March 28th post. Just change the search criteria to 2020-003 and you'll get several posts about major issues. Another piece of poorly-tested junk.

In the Apple Support Community search field enter: High Sierra Security Update 2020-001. You'll get several posts from people who had issues with that piece of junk with some useful advice and workarounds. Once upon a time, I would immediately install an Apple security update. Now, they've become so consistently buggy that I wait at least two weeks and see what the issues are, if any. I've passed on several because of reported issues. Not much point in having the latest security on the Mac, if it doesn't boot. I'm very disappointed at the lack of adequate testing on these updates before releasing them.

Terrible and dread, bad bad, in fact was released first one between May 26 / 29 that was pretty good, really good, then at June 1st Apple releases another one, and it was terrible, very very bad..... excessive heat, and excessive CPU load with a lot of apps. In fact i had some issues with 2020 002 before, but when Apple releases the first 2020 003 a lot of issues was fixed, the new one update actually this one is terrible!

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251225686?answerId=252570259022#252570259022

Buggy update - crashed on 2 of my machines. I am gonna what a while on this one.

Good advice. :)

Same issues for me. Now my iMac won't shut down or restart. Does anyone know how to remove the update files downloaded? Thanks

I also had this issue this is a good advice

Thanks for the info