I want to update to 11.2.3 on the Mac mini

cp from OH, your comments jogged my memory about an article titled, "How to use safe mode on your Mac", https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262. But before doing that, I checked the Login Items on both of my admin user accounts. I found that one had "Norton Security VPN" as a startup, and the other admin user had NO startup logins.

When I proceeded to startup in Safe Mode, then both of my admin users could login without any troubles whatsoever, so given the information above, I am not sure what could have been the problem, Norton 360 Security software or something else. I know that Norton can get in the way occasionally when making changes to (3rd party) software, but I don't fault it so much as it has, I believe (over time), been a great benefit to the family's online experience.

I try to regularly backup via Time Machine all of our computers, so it is not so much trouble to wipe|fresh-install, and it has saved our butts on occasion by preserving some of our personal favorite data; still, I prefer an install in place IF possible.

"How to use safe mode on your Mac", https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262, (circa Jan.2018) used to contain this information:

"Safe Mode (sometimes called safe boot) is a way to start up your Mac so that it performs certain checks and prevents some software from automatically loading or opening. Starting your Mac in safe mode does the following:

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (kexts are being deprecated by Apple)

• Prevents startup items and login items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files"

I realize that some of the information is dated (or being made obsolete via technological advances, eg, Apple Silicon), but as a long-time Apple consumer|user (beginning 1985, with all kinds of Apple products), our family have enjoyed the durability of the Apple products & the simplicity of the Apple ecosystem.

I have also enjoyed being able to at least make a strong conjecture as to the source of problems when they come up, and to make my way to a work around, or better yet, a resolution to the hang up, with the available online resource materials — IF one is willing to take the time to become educated, though, one still must disengage from the emotional side of the problem, & look at it objectively (easier said than done).

Sorry for the rant — I believe that updating is the next best thing (possibly via Safe Boot), and will let you know how things turn out.

i_rina, cp from OH, ryane77, & the community: "Thank You" for the prompt & probing questions to help me focus more precisely on some of the particular aspects of the issues.

I have been slow to respond just to give the system time to verify the stability of the solution. I did update to "macOS Bit Sur 11.2.3 11.2.3", via System Preferences Software Update, and all of the inconsistencies have disappeared (without removing the Norton 360 security software). Consequently, I consider the two issues resolved, & case closed.

For one thing, it was a voyage of discovery, where bits & pieces of information come to light as one goes thru the process, & then these are applied to the problem; so apologies not needed (but still appreciated), it is a partnering effort that gets one to the final destination. Again, Thank You for all the continuing effort to help others through their Apple computer problems.

With some afterthought about ways to see what was happening, I remembered that I also had Alsoft's DiskWarrior to repair the file permissions with, etc, and could have also used it in a pinch, IF the system ever became unbootable in order to save data files (extreme case).

And for those who may want something more elaborate than Time Machine, they could use also Bombich's Carbon Copy Cloner to manage their data needs, where the backup is bootable IF necessary in a production environment. I have used both, and they are excellent, specialized utilities for problematic cases.

I am a little outdated & rusty with current operating system trends, so these ideas came slowly as a means to an end of bringing the OS back into proper operation; however, I also thought it was important to pick the brains of the community for any changes that I might not be current with (just in case — security is not my forte).

Will try to update to 11.2.3 after wife finishes work, & hopefully that will remove all of the inconsistencies. Thanks.

Actually, I am experiencing TWO different oddities:

1) IF i am attempting to log in to the macOS Big Sur with an admin user, and the wifi is enabled, it prevents me from doing so (jiggles,etc). Once the wifi is disabled (by logging in with a standard user & disabling wifi, logging out &), then I have no trouble logging in as an admin user.

2) Should software update (system preferences) show "macOS Big Sur 11.2.3 11.2.3" (with the stutter #)? I generally log in as an admin user to do all of my software updates, but do most of my work as a standard user, so I was surprised to see that I could NOT log in as an admin user while the wifi is enabled. Should I be concerned?