Persistent Update drive icon on desktop since latest Monterey update

Question

Level 1

5 points

Persistent Update drive icon on desktop since latest Monterey update

My box is a new M1 MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) with macOS 12.1

SSIA. A drive partition icon called update keeps showing up on the desktop even after ejecting it. When it is ejected, it returns in the next 1-2 hrs. The contents are a locked directory named "Controller", an empty folder named "Firmware", and two files - one file named "last_update_result.plist" and the other called "restore.log". Review of the log file makes me think this is a remnant from the update that did not get cleaned up. These files and folder dates are from back in November and December.

The question then is: how do I get rid of this short of data backup and fresh install of 12.1?

Interestingly, I have found several hidden volumes mounted including: Hardware, iSCPreboot, XART and even more interestingly a volume called Update that is separate from the one referenced above that contains the same folders and files listed above, but also a plethora of others. The files listed above exist there as well, but are dated today rather than Nov/Dec of last year. More evidence that the persistent desktop volume is some sort of orphaned remnant.

Ant thoughts would be welcomed.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.1

Posted on Jan 19, 2022 8:54 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,540 points

Jan 21, 2022 10:15 AM in response to blacksunix

It should be hidden, or at least not mounted to a place that would show in the Finder. It will be in the place you found.

The Update volume is where updates are staged before installing.

It could be the Update volume you see mounted was from a previous installation that has been orphaned.

Open Disk Utility and see what it lists for your volumes. The Update volume associated with the current install will not be shown.

If there is an Update volume, select it and click the Remove Volume button (–).

Reply

Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,540 points

Jan 21, 2022 2:54 PM in response to blacksunix

Do you know how one would use the command line to look into this further?

You can use `diskutil ap list` to show all of the APFS containers and volumes. From that you might be able to identify the rogue Update volume and use `diskutil ap deleteVolume` to remove that volume.

man diskutil will give you the usage.

However, in running those commands to see what I could offer, I don't have an Update volume.

I think it is created and destroyed as necessary, and the reason you see it is because it has not been destroyed.

I don't think leaving it alone would cause any problems, but I don't know what might happen if you removed it.

Reply

Answer 3

blacksunix Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 21, 2022 5:43 PM in response to Barney-15E

After thinking about it and noting that the Update volumes did not exist on any of my other Monterey boxes (just as you found) as well as not knowing how removal of the Update volume(s) would affect things going forward, I decided to wipe the disk and reinstall/restore from backup. Hopefully that will fix the issue. Thank you for your remarks and the diskutil tips.

Reply

Answer 4

blacksunix Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 21, 2022 11:29 AM in response to Barney-15E

Thank you for the reply, Barney. I had this thought as well. Unfortunately, none of the aforementioned volumes show up in Disk Utility. I am able to see they all exist using a utility called Mountain (great utility for managing mounting and unmounting volumes - both local and networked - btw). I believe they reside in the Macintosh HD snapshot (I think, but am not completely sure) as "Other Volumes", but cannot access them in any meaningful way using any of the compiled apps that I have. I agree with you that it is a partial volume that was orphaned.

Do you know how one would use the command line to look into this further?

Reply

Persistent Update drive icon on desktop since latest Monterey update

Similar questions