Catalina update failure

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Level 1

8 points

Catalina update failure

Mid 1012 MacBook Pro running 10.15.4 functioning normally with an EFI password and attempted an update to 10.15.5. During update my mbp seemed to "hang", so I left it to finish the update. When I came back to it it had a grey screen with a flashing folder & ?. Tried restarting, same result. Other things I've tried: cmd-r, option-cmd-r, option, reset nvram, reset smc, d, option-d, safe mode, and much more. I was able to get a screen showing the drives and tried selecting each one of them, however, they all resulted in the flashing folder & ?. Created a usb boot drive, selected it, resulted in a grey screen with globe, triangle !, apple.com/support, -2100F. Nothing I've tried will allow the update to continue or allow my mbp to start up normally as it did before attempting this update. Any suggestions?

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on Apr 23, 2020 9:00 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

TheLittles

Level 10

195,711 points

Apr 23, 2020 9:39 AM in response to jessinak

Jessinak Said:

“Catalina update failure: Tried booting from USB Boot drive and resulted in grey screen, flashing folder, ?. Cmd-R boot results in grey screen, flashing folder, ?.[...]”

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Thanks for the update!

Did you Reset the SMC and NVRAM?

If not, try resetting them, and keyboard setting can become manipulated, technically. Resetting both will make get Mac’s keyboard get to how it should be, along with the ports.

Use Ethernet:

If resetting both did not work, then try all of these recovery processes while using a hardwire connection: connect your Mac directly into your router, using Ethernet. Doing so, you will likely get a connection to the Internet. If no drivers are installed, then Wi-Fi might not be working.

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Answer 2

Apr 23, 2020 9:05 AM in response to jessinak

Thank you for posting your question here on Apple Support Communities! It looks like your drive could have some corruption but this is relatively easy to fix. Just boot your computer into recovery mode, more information on that can be found here, and then go into Disk Utility, select your disk and run First Aid on it, more information on that can be found here. Hope this helps and good luck.

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Answer 3

TheLittles

Level 10

195,711 points

Apr 23, 2020 9:11 AM in response to jessinak

Jessinak Said:

“Catalina update failure: Mid 1012 MacBook Pro running 10.15.4 functioning normally with an EFI password and attempted an update to 10.15.5. [...] Any suggestions?”

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Reset your SMC and your NVRAM:

Sometimes changes are made to the system and then settings (i.e. for the keyboard) become manipulated, technically. So, reset both on your Mac. Maybe the keyboard just needs to be reset?

Did you Ever Backup Your Mac?

If you ever backed up your Mac, then try a Recovery from that. Boot into Recovery Mode (Command + R upon boot), and then Store from it.

Diagnostics Test:

Boot up your Mac, holding down the D key upon boot. Let it run and see wht you get in the Report.

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Answer 4

jessinak Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 23, 2020 9:20 AM in response to TheLittles

Tried booting from USB Boot drive and resulted in grey screen, flashing folder, ?.

Cmd-R boot results in grey screen, flashing folder, ?.

D boot results in a dark blue screen, upper corner shows (left to right) American flag, wifi symbol, (98%). This screen will not change or allow you to do anything. Also tried Option-D, and results in a grey screen with globe, triangle !, apple.com/support, -2100F.

thx

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