monterey 12.1 installation failing from 12.01 (tried PRAM reset, safe boot, full installer - no luck so far)

Thanks Patrick! I had done a Disk Utility -> First Aid, but not during the recovery mode process. I did what you said, and the Software Update method seemed to get a bit further - it got through the restart process. However, coming back up, it seems to still be in 12.0.1. I will try additionally what Illaass recommends below.

Thanks Illaass! As I mentioned in the subject of this issue, and in my description, I did already try safe boot mode. I did delete the installer I had downloaded via

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 12.1

then booted into safe boot mode, and then tried to update via the Software Update method.

It is so strange - the install process seems to be going perfectly and concluding, but once it boots up, I'm still in 12.0.1.

Any ideas?

I chatted with Apple Support, and they said the next step in the escalation process would be to do a clean reinstall of the operating system, which would have the downside of wiping out all my files. Not a show stopper, since I could back up and then restore - but I'd greatly prefer to find another solution.

I am trying to download 12.1 from the app store (rather than the Software Update route) - but not sure that will be any different than the

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 12.1

approach I have already tried.

Any suggestions most welcome - seems so strange the the upgrade to 12.1 seems to be working so well, only to result in being back in 12.0.1.

Here is the latest thing I tried, with the error log message. Hope this can help someone diagnose, or others having similar issues:

njhillson@njhillson-mt ~ % sudo softwareupdate -i -a -R

Password:

Software Update Tool

Finding available software

Downloading macOS Monterey 12.1

Downloading: 100.00%

Failed

to download & prepare update: Error Domain=SUOSUErrorDomain

Code=201 "Failed to prepare the software update. Please try again."

UserInfo={NSLocalizedRecoverySuggestion=An error occurred

while downloading the selected updates. Please check your internet

connection and try again., NSLocalizedDescription=Failed to prepare the

software update. Please try again., NSUnderlyingError=0x60000175c240 {Error Domain=SUMacControllerError Code=7740 "[SUMacControllerErrorPrepareFailed=7740] Failed to perform Prepare operation: [MobileSoftwareUpdateErrorDomain(MSU):MSU_ERR_BRIDGEOS_PREPARE_FAILURE(45)_1_BOSErrorDomain:204_2_BridgeOSSoftwareUpdateError:19]" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Failed to prepare the software update. Please try again., SUMacControllerErrorIndicationsMask=0, NSDebugDescription=[SUMacControllerErrorPrepareFailed=7740] Failed to perform Prepare operation: [MobileSoftwareUpdateErrorDomain(MSU):MSU_ERR_BRIDGEOS_PREPARE_FAILURE(45)_1_BOSErrorDomain:204_2_BridgeOSSoftwareUpdateError:19], NSUnderlyingError=0x600001768300 {Error Domain=MobileSoftwareUpdateErrorDomain Code=45 "bridgeOS prepare failed" UserInfo={NSUnderlyingError=0x600001768480

{Error Domain=BOSErrorDomain Code=204 "An error occurred during

preflight." UserInfo=0x600000c6c200 (not displayed)},

NSLocalizedDescription=bridgeOS prepare failed, target_update=21C52}}}}}

Thanks Patrick, not using VPN. I do see the update in both System Preferences, and I can get it in the App Store if I search for "monterey".

Nothing seems to be working, so I will either wait for the next OS update, or do a full re-install of Monterey.

Very much appreciate your thoughts and help

Hi All!

I never had luck updating to 12.1.

Luckily, I was able just now to update to 12.2. Not sure what the problem was, but 12.2 worked easily the first time.

Yes, my hard drive is an Apple SSD.

Thanks Richard; I tried again just in case, and no change for me... will wait for the next update or do a re-install of monterey