How come the past 2 macOS updates have resulted in my computer booting into recovery mode?

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Level 1

33 points

How come the past 2 macOS updates have resulted in my computer booting into recovery mode?

How come the past 2 macOS updates have resulted in my computer booting into recovery mode? Wait let me explain and wait for the kicker...

Over a month ago I Was on the phone with Apple regarding an issue of my Notes not syncing on my iphone and/or iMac desktop. Apple pointed out that my OS wasnt up to date and suggested that I do a backup of my computer and then update to the latest OS. So I did a time machine backup and updated to the latest OS and when I came back to the computer it was on the "MacOS recovery" screen. I chose the 'install from the time machine backup' option in recovery mode. I think it gave me issues and that particular backup wouldnt take. So at some point I think I hit shut down or restart and the computer booted up to the latest OS with no issue.

Fast forward to today 5/26/23. My system settings said there was a new OS to update to. So I hit update and walked away. And came back a little while later to a dark gray screen that said "MacOS recovery" again. Seemed really odd that this is the second OS Update in roughly a 2 month period where it concludes with the "MacOS Recovery" screen. The accompanying error said "Your computer started up in Recovery because a failure occurred during installation. An error occurred migrating user data during an install. Reinstall macOS to resolve the issue." I clicked ok. And I was at a screen that gives you 4 options to choose from (such as restore from time machine, reinstall ventura, something else and disk utility). I ran disk utility and it didnt find anything. So I chose the reinstall ventura option. After it had concluded it's reinstall I think I got this same error again. Now here's the kicker.....I ignored the error this time and chose "shut down". And when the computer booted back up, it booted to my normal computer (not recovery mode) as if nothing had gone wrong at all. and it's now on the latest operating system Ventura 13.4, so its almost as if that recovery notice was a total fluke. Like why tell me it cant reinstall Ventura OS when the os is already installed and working fine if you just hit shut down?

I called Apple and asked to speak with a senior advisor (Robert). He agreed that it sounded extremely odd. He vaguely looked at some logs but told me theres no way to figure out whats going on without replicating the issue. And insisted that I go visit the Apple discussions website. He wasnt much help. I'd really like to know whats causing this and how to fix it so that I dont get a recovery screen the next time I do an OS update.

MY COMPUTER SPECS NOW:

iMac Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020
Processor 3.6 GHz 10-Core Intel i9
Memory: 64gb
macOS: Ventura 13.4

Posted on May 26, 2023 3:39 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

James Brickley

Level 5

5,692 points

May 26, 2023 8:45 PM in response to rachinc1

Sounds like a problem with your recovery mode volume and / or data the installer is tripping over in some unexpected way.

Run another backup and perform a clean macOS installation from scratch. i.e. completely erase the internal disk and re-install macOS. You can try restoring from Time Machine but you may be re-introducing the problem if you restore everything. Might be better off, installing macOS, skipping the Time Machine restoration. Installing all of your applications then use Migration Assistant to only restore your data and not the applications.

You have an Intel w/T2 Security Chip iMac. So you'll need to boot into Recovery Mode and go to the Utilities -> Startup Security and ensure you allow booting from USB. Then you can create a bootable flash drive with Ventura 13.4 installation. Hold the Option key when booting and choose the flash drive to boot the installer. This will allow you to run Disk Utility, click View and Show All Devices, highlight the internal disk and Erase it. (hopefully you do not have a Fusion drive)

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

If you have to, you can use Internet Recovery:

Hold ⌥ + ⌘ + R while powering on until you see a globe on the screen indicating Internet Recovery.

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Answer 2

May 31, 2023 5:33 AM in response to slylabs13

Every persons setup is different. Since we are not seeing a large number of Macs being ‘bricked’ after a dot release update. There must be some software you are using that is the root cause of your problems. The most likely culprit would be security related software or something else that uses kernel / system extensions. Perhaps even some malware.

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Answer 3

Jun 26, 2023 2:12 PM in response to rachinc1

I ended up doing a complete wipe and reinstall of the OS after getting the user profile copied to another SSD. I have been installing apps I use as needed, and if I want anything from the old profile I can typically just copy/paste what I need. So far I have not reinstalled the Paragon kext and now that my suspicions are aroused, I think I will refrain.

Still, an OS update should *NEVER* leave a device in an unstable state. Not sure how Apple can get around it, but there ought to be a way to recover. I suppose Apple can just say, "You should have made a complete backup." Hard to argue. Now I have an external SSD set as a TM backup running once an hour.

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Answer 4

jack

Level 2

270 points

Oct 5, 2023 8:03 AM in response to rachinc1

Interesting, I also had NTFS installed but not activated. I wonder if that's what's been causing the jump into recovery mode after every update? Uninstalled, will see if it changes anything on the next update.

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Answer 5

May 30, 2023 4:02 PM in response to rachinc1

OK this is the 3rd time, yes the THIRD TIME that running a minor Ventura update has bricked a boot drive. Twice on my mid 2019 Macbook Pro, and once on my iMac at home. If Apple monitors this, please, please please... listen very carefully: SOMETHING IS FRICKING WRONG!!!!!

A minor OS update should NOT, I repeat *NOT* make the OS unbootable! NOTHING has been able to recover the OS, although I was at least able to mount the volume in target disk mode and get my files.

You will say I should have a backup. I do, but not typically of the entire boot drive, and I have an actual job which typically does not involve restoring an entire boot drive from scratch.

Once again, there is something wrong with 13.4 update!

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Answer 6

rachinc1 Author

Level 1

33 points

May 27, 2023 8:17 AM in response to James Brickley

So hear me out: that idea to wipe the computer wasnt lost on me..... but easier said then done. due to my scheduling i just have one client after the other to work on lately and now just isnt the best time to wipe the computer. because then I have to contact several freelance clients and ask how to reinstall some proprietary software that allows me to remote into their systems. so I was hoping I could find a solution that avoided wiping the computer. (either that or i have to wait weeks until i'm free to wipe the computer)

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Answer 7

rachinc1 Author

Level 1

33 points

Jun 26, 2023 1:03 PM in response to rachinc1

First it happened to my iMac desktop computer, now fast forward to june 26th now it's happening to my m1 macbook pro. I think I was already on ventura but did another ventura update and now after the system update its booting up to a recovery screen

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Answer 8

rachinc1 Author

Level 1

33 points

Jun 26, 2023 2:14 PM in response to slylabs13

in my line of work i cant afford to be downloading applications on the fly as I need them. the deadlines and turn around times are too extreme. i called apple about this months ago and they werent helpful. i called again today and they too some diagnostics from my m1 macbook pro and they're going to show the diagnostics to the engineers to see if they can figure out the problem.

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Answer 9

Jun 26, 2023 4:38 PM in response to ku4hx

I think he thought I was saying I install the apps each time I need to use them. :-)

I meant to say that after the wipe and reinstall of the OS, I *only* download and install the apps I need. In other words, I am not trying to completely restore the SSD to the state it was in before the update failed.

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Answer 10

Sep 12, 2023 6:32 PM in response to rachinc1

I had a similar issue with my macbook pro. Every time I try to install the newest os update, my computer will get about half way-ish and then i get a glitchy white screen, then it boots into recovery mode. 2 days ago when it did that, I had severe issues with trying to reinstall. at 9:30 I tried to reinstall ventura, it took till 12:30 when it was 3/4 of the way finished, then it shut down and tried to do it again and booted from 12:35-7:55pm. some how it still installed the update, but clearly something is wrong. I'm taking it in tomorrow to get looked at, but hopefully theres luck and a solution.

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Answer 11

jack

Level 2

270 points

Oct 5, 2023 7:59 AM in response to rachinc1

I upgraded from Monterey to Ventura and it went into recovery mode but then rebooted into Ventura fine. But now every subsequent update I have applied launches recovery mode, which I just ignore and reboot and the updates are all there? I have no idea why this is going on, but it's pretty annoying. I'm on an M1 Max 16-Inch MacBook Pro topped off.

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Answer 12

mo-pop

Level 1

8 points

Oct 31, 2023 4:27 AM in response to rachinc1

I have the same issue as described in the initial post for several updates now on a M1 Pro Macbook Pro. I always just tried to restart and had no other issues. But this behavior is rather disturbing. I am hesitant to set up the whole machine from scratch, especially without knowing if this is really an issue and by what it is caused. Any comprehensible tips/solutions are welcome. Thanks.

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