macOS Monterey installation has stuck at the very last stage

Question

macOS Monterey installation has stuck at the very last stage

Hi,

I'm trying to upgrade to macOS Monterey from macOS Big Sur Version:11.6 (20G165). But the installation is stuck at the very last phase, which states "About a minute remaining" for more than 3 to 4 hours as I write(and it continues...) Please refer to the screengrab mentioned below.

I've even tried to cancel the installation process once, shut down the Macbook Pro, turned it on, tried installing it again, but the process has stuck again at the same stage as mentioned above.

The only thing I missed is, to update the latest security update(macOS Big Sur 11.6.1) and thought to save 2.56 GB download and installation time ;) Also, I thought it might have been taken care of by the Monterey upgrade. Not sure, if this should be an issue at all.

Also, whenever such a security update or new version upgrade installation starts, my machine generates noise(exhaust fan) continuously, either until the process completes or until I stop the machine.

In case if you may require, here are my laptop's details: MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)

Please help.

Thanks,

Prabagaran L.

Posted on Oct 28, 2021 6:26 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

prabagaran_p2 Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 30, 2021 1:47 AM in response to prabagaran_p2

Hi,

Yay!!! Finally, it went through ;)

Completed the Big Sur update(11.6.1)
Received another minor security update(forgot to take a screenshot) - Updated.
Downloaded Monterey again - It stuck at the same stage once again, last night.
I've shut down the machine last night.
Powered on today
Initiated the installation and it went through, though it took a couple of hours to complete.

Thanks again to everyone who has shared your recommendations!

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Answer 2

Oct 28, 2021 8:41 AM in response to prabagaran_p2

Well done Apple!!! The most painful upgrade I've ever had with any Apple product.

I started with the message

Not very helpful! What I discovered after much googling is that the problem was related to a firmware upgrade that can only be applied when the MBP contains an original Apple disk. Mine had an OWC SSD replacement. Here's how managed to complete the upgrade.

Remove my SSD and replace with original Apple disk. Fortunately I still had this old drive
Use System recovery to install Yosemite (Ughhh!)
Run the recommended security updates BUT no OS's offered by the Mac update option.
Get Monterey from the App store
Do the install, this was successful
Remove Apple Original disk and replace with OWC SSD.
Boot up and panic A LOT. I got the black screen with ? mark, ie no bootable drive.
Try first aid on my system disk and reboot. Again I got the black screen with ? mark, ie no bootable drive.
More googling and no useful suggestions found so in desparation reset NVRAM
Reboot and hooray black screen with message 29 min remaining. I recognised this from the install on original Apple disk.
Complete the install and Monterey installed.

Any other problems? Yes. I seem to have lost permissions on some of my shared folders from my Windows VM in Parallels (I do have the latest Monterey version of Parallels). More investigation to do but at least I have Monterey.

Apple: This amount of hassle for an OS upgrade is outrageous. You need todo better

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Answer 3

Oct 28, 2021 7:15 AM in response to prabagaran_p2

Thanks, @Illaass - When I checked the storage, it states "Flash Storage". So, it should be SSD, I suppose.

Thanks for the instructions @P. Phillips - Yes, 113GB free space, as I write. Also, for now, I've canceled the installation(Monterey) and going with the Big Sur 11.6.1 update. I'd try the upgrade after it. If it should still fail, I'll try your recommendations and post the outcomes here.

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Answer 4

PRP_53

Level 10

91,867 points

Oct 28, 2021 7:01 AM in response to prabagaran_p2

Try the shutdown by any means including the Power Button. Disconnect ALL External Devices. Connect to charger. Restart and immediately hold the SHIFT key until the Apple Logo is presented, the, release.

Safe Mode does a Repair Disk, clear cache files and only loads Apple Software, extensions and fonts. It will boot slowly - normal.

It may or may not allow the upgrade process to complete.

Question - how much Empty Space was available on the drive Before attempting the upGrade. 36 GB Empty Space should be enough but 50 GB would be less risky.

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Answer 5

Oct 28, 2021 8:37 AM in response to prabagaran_p2

The best thing to do is revert back to Big Sur and download a new MacOS Monetary file.

Best would be to create a bootable Installer of Monterey, and after creating a backup with TM, do a clean installation after erasure of the disk to clear it of the old junk and glitches....This is the old and trusted type of upgrade that I have been doing to my MacBook Pro13 early 2015 and it has never failed till date.

I did this only two days back.

Hope all will be fine

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Answer 6

lllaass

Level 10

210,459 points

Oct 28, 2021 6:56 AM in response to prabagaran_p2

Do you have an Apple SSD installed? For some Macs, the Monterey upgrade includes a untake to the Mac's EFI firmware. It appears to do that upgrade you need an Apple SSD installed.

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