User profile for user: Apple_Communities_7589_2167
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Monterey 12.1 upgrade of a 2018 Mac Mini trashes the machine so it will not reboot or enter recovery mode.

Tried to upgrade a MacMini (2018) with the 12.1 Monterey upgrade. This failed repeatedly (6 times so far). Message is “Failed to prepare the software update. Please try again. with no detailed explanation as to what went wrong ! The download appears to have worked OK. The update appears to start “59 minutes to go…” until it gets to 35 sends remaining then stops for 5 minutes then the above message.


Then it started failing to reboot with error code 3403F.


Apple support recommended making a Monterey installer on a USB disk. Downloaded and made a Monterey boot disk but it doesn't work. Reboot with CMD-R asks for a password and then the starting up horizontal bar appears but the machine switches itself off after about 20 seconds.


Apple should not release upgrades that make a machine unusable.


This machine runs our business database so this crash is business critical/catastrophic. (Yes we have hourly backups on three disks but we do need a machine that boots !)

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Dec 17, 2021 2:36 AM

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User profile for user: Apple_Communities_7589_2167
Apple_Communities_7589_2167 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Posted on Dec 17, 2021 8:41 AM

So eventually I managed to get a bootable machine and key data restored.


My summary is:


  1. Apple support should have recognised that the Monterey install had trashed the internal disk making it unbootable.
  2. Apple support recommended an Internet recovery (which they did) but then should have recommended the erase option (and how to find it) which they didn't.
  3. Having done the erase then installing Monterey from the internet worked, albeit slowly and then restore from a time machine backup worked. I chose to restore only my main user and NOT the system. The database and web servers will be rebuilt from fresh installers.


Pie Lover's comments immediately above would have been helpful but by then we were already well down the road with the successful internet recovery.


Thanks to all and I hope this saga will assist others and Apple to make their upgrades safer in future.


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User profile for user: Apple_Communities_7589_2167
Apple_Communities_7589_2167 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Dec 17, 2021 8:41 AM in response to BlueberryLover

So eventually I managed to get a bootable machine and key data restored.


My summary is:


  1. Apple support should have recognised that the Monterey install had trashed the internal disk making it unbootable.
  2. Apple support recommended an Internet recovery (which they did) but then should have recommended the erase option (and how to find it) which they didn't.
  3. Having done the erase then installing Monterey from the internet worked, albeit slowly and then restore from a time machine backup worked. I chose to restore only my main user and NOT the system. The database and web servers will be rebuilt from fresh installers.


Pie Lover's comments immediately above would have been helpful but by then we were already well down the road with the successful internet recovery.


Thanks to all and I hope this saga will assist others and Apple to make their upgrades safer in future.


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User profile for user: BlueberryLover
BlueberryLover
User level: Level 4
1,248 points

Dec 17, 2021 6:01 AM in response to Apple_Communities_7589_2167

I have a Mac mini (2018). I installed Monterey 12.0.1 and then recently updated to version 12.1. Previously, I was running Big Sur 11.6.1.

I used a USB key with bootable installer for Monterey 12.0.1 and then used the Migration Assistant to transfer user files, system settings, and applications (from a Time Machine backup).


A couple of points:


  • You mentioned using cmd-R to select the bootable installer. Isn't this the key sequence for Recovery mode? Pressing the Option key after restarting (after powering down) allows you to choose the boot volume
  • After booting from the bootable installer, you may want to use the Startup Security Utility to check the settings. I use Medium Security.
  • If you can't boot from the bootable installer. Boot into Recover, launch the Startup Security Utility, and select "Allow booting from external or removal media" and then try to boot from the bootable installer.



In my case, the whole process took about 1 - 2 hours despite using a Time Machine backup stored on a fast SSD (Samsung T5 500GB).


Hope this helps and good luck.


- Pie Lover





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User profile for user: Apple_Communities_7589_2167
Apple_Communities_7589_2167 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Jan 10, 2022 5:49 AM in response to Apple_Communities_7589_2167

Apple support eventually recommended a logic board swap and this was done.


The returned machine had everything wiped and a Monterey 12.1 installation.


 We have done extensive testing of the returned machine with different monitor combinations.


Running under Monterey 12.1 we observe the following:


1.    All and any of our VGA monitors

(3 tested) are recognised and work OK when plugged in using a USB C to VGA

adapter.


2.    A monitor that has both VGA and DVI connections will be recognised and work OK when connected via an HDMI to

DVI cable connected either to the HDMI port on the Mac Mini or via the HDMI port

on the USB C adapter.


3.    Two different VGA adapters were tested with the same results.


4.    When the machine is rebooted, a VGA connected monitor is no longer recognised. 

It will be recognised again if disconnected and reconnected.


5.    Connect a monitor via the Mac Mini HDMI socket or via the HDMI port on the USB C adapter in both cases using an

HDMI to DVI cable and the monitor is recognised, including across a reboot, and operates OK.


6.    The Mac Mini will operate without any monitor connected and can be accessed using screen sharing.  This supports our requirement for the Mac Mini to be in a “locked box” environment.


 Hope this helps anyone in a similar predicament !


Detailed test results have been written up and are available on request from Apple Development.



 



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User profile for user: Owl-53
Owl-53
User level: Level 10
104,353 points

Dec 17, 2021 4:23 AM in response to Apple_Communities_7589_2167

From what previous version of macOS is this Monterey 12.1 being installed from ?


Have seen, some people, attempting to jump from older version of macOS like outdated Bug Sur 11.3.1 directly to Monterey and had failures. Once they updated Big Sur to more recent versions ( like the latest Big Sur 11..6.2 ) and then move to Monterey - had better success rates.

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User profile for user: Owl-53
Owl-53
User level: Level 10
104,353 points

Dec 17, 2021 4:32 AM in response to Apple_Communities_7589_2167

Apple_Communities_7589_2167 wrote:

We were upgrading from Big Sur 11.6.1.

Then that disqualifies that as a the source of the issue IMHO


" Then it started failing to reboot with error code 3403F. " searching for that error message seems to indicate the machine is booting into Internet Recovery Mode and a network connection is missing or not functioning ?

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User profile for user: Apple_Communities_7589_2167
Apple_Communities_7589_2167 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Dec 17, 2021 4:39 AM in response to Owl-53

Apple UK are getting the hardware menders to pick the machine up for testing. However, in my view based on 30 years of looking after Macs etc, this doesn't look like a hardware issue. We have got Internet Recovery to start 3 or 4 times and get through the download and install, so unlikely to be a network issue. Then reboot fails.


Using Apple Configurator 2 under Apple Support guidance didn't work either.

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User profile for user: Apple_Communities_7589_2167
Apple_Communities_7589_2167 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Dec 17, 2021 5:11 AM in response to Owl-53

Revive or restore an Intel-based Mac with Apple Configurator 2


https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/apple-configurator-2/apdebea5be51/2.13/mac/10.15.6



Apple Configurator 2. Downloaded from App Store to the M1 Mac mini.


Succeeded in doing “Revive”.


Doesn’t make any difference.


Internet Recovery


After doing an internet recovery, found the Erase option and tried that. Reboot failed. Set startup disc didn’t see either the internal disk or the externally connected USB drive that has a bootable Monterey install app on it.


Internet Recovery again


Starts OK. We get the “This may take a while message”. Counts down to 0:01 and then get Apple logo and booting bar. Get a bigger Apple logo followed by Language chooser. Goes to Activate Mac and says select a WiFi network. It doesn’t recognise the network.


Got to Activate Mac. Got to Apple ID logon. Got “Your Mac is Activated”.


Got to recovery. Chose install Mac OS Monterey. Installer recognises Bothe the internal disk and the external disk. Chose the Internal. Wait 2 hours 30 !


Still doesn't look like hardware to me. More likely the Monterey installer trashed the disk !


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User profile for user: leroydouglas
leroydouglas
User level: Level 10
200,310 points

Dec 17, 2021 3:37 AM in response to Apple_Communities_7589_2167

Apple_Communities_7589_2167 wrote:

Tried to upgrade a MacMini (2018) with the 12.1 Monterey upgrade. This failed repeatedly (6 times so far). Message is “Failed to prepare the software update. Please try again. with no detailed explanation as to what went wrong ! The download appears to have worked OK. The update appears to start “59 minutes to go…” until it gets to 35 sends remaining then stops for 5 minutes then the above message.

Then it started failing to reboot with error code 3403F.

Apple support recommended making a Monterey installer on a USB disk. Downloaded and made a Monterey boot disk but it doesn't work. Reboot with CMD-R asks for a password and then the starting up horizontal bar appears but the machine switches itself off after about 20 seconds.

Apple should not release upgrades that make a machine unusable.

This machine runs our business database so this crash is business critical/catastrophic. (Yes we have hourly backups on three disks but we do need a machine that boots !)



Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line https://getsupport.apple.com/


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User profile for user: leroydouglas
leroydouglas
User level: Level 10
200,310 points

Dec 17, 2021 5:27 AM in response to Apple_Communities_7589_2167

Apple_Communities_7589_2167 wrote:

As you can imagine,
... talking to Apple support for the last 36 hours.
...been through the Apple Configurator 2 process and carried out a revive.
...Apple UK are getting the hardware menders to pick the machine up for testing.

No improvement. Monterey upgrade has thoroughly trashed a machine that has worked reliably for the last two years.


Sorry not a mind reader, so no I did not imagine...


"Apple should not release upgrades that make a machine unusable."

you can submit your Apple Feedback - https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos.html


It would be appreciated if you post any follow up insight after Apple UK reports back.

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Monterey 12.1 upgrade of a 2018 Mac Mini trashes the machine so it will not reboot or enter recovery mode.

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