Big Sur 11.3.1 installation failed: NSInternalInconsistencyException, reason: 'Invalid parameter not satisfying: aString != nil'

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Level 1

8 points

Big Sur 11.3.1 installation failed: NSInternalInconsistencyException, reason: 'Invalid parameter not satisfying: aString != nil'

Hello there,

I have a MacBookPro14, Dual-Core Intel Core i5, 2,3 GHz, 16 GB, and I can't install Big Sur. My current OS is Catalina10.15.7.

I can download the file successfully but when it tries to install it fails with the following:

Application Specific Information:
*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInternalInconsistencyException', reason: 'Invalid parameter not satisfying: aString != nil'
abort() called
terminating with uncaught exception of type NSException

I have enough free space (119GB).

I tried restarting the process many times, deleting all related files, but nothing works. I need some help here to understand what's going on and what to do.

Thanks.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on May 9, 2021 1:38 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Matti Haveri

Level 6

16,553 points

May 9, 2021 1:44 AM in response to sylviamoss

First do good backup(s).

Try to Shift-boot to safe mode and see if it works then.

If not, make a bootable USB flash drive installer, boot it, and try to update on top of Catalina. If that fails, erase the whole internal device (not just the volumes under it) as APFS and cleanly install Big Sur. Then restore from backup.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

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Answer 2

sylviamoss Author

Level 1

8 points

May 14, 2021 9:57 AM in response to Matti Haveri

Hello Matti H.,

Thanks for your help. I've tried all of the options. I erased everything and started the MacBook as it just came from the factory and the error persisted. I followed the steps in https://support.apple.com/de-de/HT201065 to make sure I erased everything.

I really don't know what to do and I'm disappointed at this point. I've been losing so much time on this the past few days.

[Personal Information Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 3

sylviamoss Author

Level 1

8 points

May 15, 2021 9:46 AM in response to Matti Haveri

In the end, making a bootable USB flash drive installer solved the problem.

I was having trouble booting with my previous USB flash drive, so I decided to buy a newer and better one it actually worked! I'm feeling relieved, thank you for your help.

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Answer 4

PRP_53

Level 10

91,237 points

May 14, 2021 10:12 AM in response to sylviamoss

Do not take my word - but kind of looks like a failing drive.

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Answer 5

May 14, 2021 10:24 AM in response to sylviamoss

Yes, hardware (drive, memory etc) failure might explain this. Can you boot from a USB flash drive? ... and install to an external drive from it (a failing internal drive might prevent that, though)?

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Big Sur 11.3.1 installation failed: NSInternalInconsistencyException, reason: 'Invalid parameter not satisfying: aString != nil'

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