Problem with MacOS update 10.15.7 2020-001

Hello all,

I have an 2003 iMac, with 10.15.7 installed (Catalina) on an external SSD drive. The iMac boots on an external disk. Usually all security updates install correctly on the external SSD disk. For the last one, the installation seems ok, but the iMac reboots always on the internal HD. When I reboot on the external disk, the security updates seems not installed. I redo this operation multiple times, without success: the lastest update is proposed for installation, but when I do it, it does not install on the external disk...


What is happens ?

Thanks in advance


iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Dec 15, 2020 4:42 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 16, 2020 8:23 AM

Also had issues with this 10.15.7 2020-001 update. Here is what worked running an Imac 2013 from external SSD.


  • When starting the update, still on black screen, it had a brief reboot.
  • After that the Mac failed to load from SSD every time.
  • As my internal drive is a clone the Mac was only starting up with the internal disk, and not recognising the SSD as target disk.
  • Pressing option key wasn't working to select SSD disk.


What worked for me:

  1. I unplugged everything connected to the Mac and plugged my SSD in a different USB (the closest to the edge)
  2. Did a PRAM reset (once)
  3. Switched on, loud startup sound and the Mac loaded my internal drive with the clone, then I shut down after loading
  4. Switched on again and pressed option key (the SSD disk appeared)
  5. After loading the SSD I noticed the update was still pending on Systems Pref
  6. Shut down again
  7. Switched on again to check it would load from SSD, and it did!
  8. Performed the update with no problem after that


Hope this helps..

Similar questions

151 replies

Jan 1, 2021 6:30 AM in response to GavrielTech

Not into conspiracy theories, but believe you are correct. This about money, and another action by Apple to control you Apple devices and create a fatal disease for your older, reliable, durable, up grade able, Apple product. Apple wants my 2013 iMac in the trash bin and replaced with their new lease me Apple products. This is a dispute over who owns your Apple products.

Jan 1, 2021 8:32 AM in response to SkyFires

Apple did make it clear that they won't support models as they go, meaning during updates under Catalina, they just did not say what machines, when.


Conspiracy theories have nothing to do with my comment, Apple wants to provide a high standard, its their market and many who dont adopt to newer devices miss out with out knowing it., I know I did as I had an iPad 2 and finally upgraded to a iPad Pro v2 and love it.

Jan 2, 2021 2:11 AM in response to AugustinT06

This is part of what finally after 1,5 days trying everything saved me, too.


  1. Deleted the system part of my SSD (so not the "xyz-data" volume, just the system volume
  2. Installed disconnected everything else from USB, only leaving this SSD plugged, as said to the 1st port of my iMac close to the thunderbolts (or called 4th or whatever you want)
  3. Installation successful, so I re-connected other drives.
  4. Then, after a next restart, problems seems to re-appear, booting from internal. Disconnected everything again, shut down
  5. SMC Reset (unplug from power, in case of desktop machines)
  6. NVRAM Reset (alt-cmd-p-r on immediately after powering on, hand keep them pressed together until your Mac really chimes and starts another time (yes, our fingers might hurt, get prepared)
  7. To be safe and avoid one more time booting from internal, pressed alt after that, to call boot-manager
  8. In Finder, reconnected drives again
  9. What happened then to me: Only the first port with system SSD delivered the used speed. The other three port were ****** slow as a floppy disk (well, 20 MB/s, instead of 420-450 what I usually have on the other SSD or 15o on another 7200 HD)
  10. Another restart, again, disconnecting all, and again resetting NVRAM
  11. Now it's working, usb bus port speed seems to be fine again (checking now the last drive, my Time Machine Drive, which I can't check with Blackmagic disc-tool, cause it's read only)


What I avoid until any further update about this update:

  • No Shut-Down, setting my Mac to sleep instead
  • Ignoring this security update (well, I don't like to ignore, but anyway, I won't ride this ****-trip again


See another post with my system specs for more:


https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252193478

Jan 2, 2021 10:03 AM in response to CapsuleFab

I keep saying the same thing over and over about the EFI issues and Apple, think EFI as a computer for your car and what garage can fix it other then the dealer if you lost your keys or need to re program a part you replaced.


Apple and most tech companies have been turning to this trend to prevent frauds while at the same time your files maybe trapped on a encrypted drive soldered unto a motherboard bricked from a Catalina update and only a Genius Bar can help you with this.....and within time and way they are operating its likely impossible, my solution was to bring the computer to a apple reseller, in a town far away from a Genius Bar...they usually tell you the dirt on Apple but dont get me wrong, ALL tech companies fallow this trend now. you won't be able to even swap parts of your computer with out problems, not even soldering a bigger drive, more ram is possible.

all components register IDs and this Chip2 set is another ball game.


Certain countries prohibit this and Genius bars do return Catalina bricked computers but reports from people show they swore parts are not the same, swapped, re programmed to work with the same motherboard., example one owner posted comments on a reddit thread accusing the Genius Bar of lying about her magsafe power supply claiming it was only supplying 5v when this was debunked online by a number of techs warning people that their machines can get bricked and which countries take action., unfortunately the US won't.

So unless you buy a new machine your at risk if you upgrade to Catalina.

Jan 3, 2021 6:09 AM in response to GavrielTech

Well since my iMac is 2013 vintage I suppose that makes it seven years old. But performance wise I would say it isn’t much slower than a new equivalent. Mine is an i5 at 2.9 ghz compared to i5 at 3.4ghz? I know there improvements in clock cycles and the like... But nothing mind blowing.


Thing is I only really use it for web, e-mail, music and photos rather than 3D or video work.


I will definitely not be trying to put that security update on now I have my iMac back where it was! And I might get a new iMac in the summer especially if they go M1.

Jan 3, 2021 7:18 AM in response to GazzaMataz

It's def slower, I know it by experience, 'cause it was my 2013 iMac too, which suffered, and I can compare it with other iMacs around ;-) But anyway, it's a lovely workhorse, and I still love him, so don't have plans to replace this one before summer neither, same as you.


However, I think it's a good decision not to install this update for now, unless you do have too much spare time these days ;-) Let's wait, when Apple is going to fix it, as there are more and more having the same (or similar) issue.

Jan 4, 2021 2:51 AM in response to ElkyOne

Just did a quick look at the Cinebench scores for the iMac 2.9ghz (late 2013) vs the iMac 3.0ghz (current 6-core) and 2.9ghz scores 1167, 3.0ghx scores 2171 so nearly twice as quick and better GPU plus a few extra ports.


Sorry to sidetrack slightly :-) But going back to the topic in hand I am wondering now if my old SSD has failed, it's less that two years old so if it has I am surprised.

Jan 6, 2021 8:21 PM in response to GazzaMataz

Congress is responsible for allowing this, its a political issue.


In certain countries tech companies are obliged to repair anything they are responsible for damaging (not in the USA) thanks to lobbying.... its why France slapped fines etc,


but sometimes 200 million dollar fines are worth it...Apple makes more then 450 million an hour and 60 billion a year...the feedback link only reaches web masters....are you suggesting some ideas to improve the Apple website? Anything else goes to the trash bin,

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.

Problem with MacOS update 10.15.7 2020-001

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.