User profile for user: b9y
b9y Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Latest Sonoma update has killed my 16" MacBook Pro

Hey all.


Today I tried upgrading to the latest Sonoma version via system settings, I had the last Sonoma before.


It kept failing, citing an error. So I tried again, and again. I restarted the Mac, and tried again. Eventually it started to download and install further but then my Mac decided to restart itself.


It got stuck in a boot loop where it was going back and forth, resetting, showing the error message screen.



I decided to boot it up in recovery mode and look at the disk repair option. I got this:




Right, it said it was repaired to I tried to reinstall Sonoma. Now, I can't find the HD icon to reinstall...what was somehow now Catalina to. Why? Not sure. Anyway, I started to install but again the Mac just shut itself off and then showed a circle with a line, and then a link at the bottom "/startup".


So this time I erased the HD. Started again. Couldn't back up anything.


It first tried to let me reinstall Sonoma, but then reset again and THEN showed Catalina. Then it reset again and allowed me to install Sonoma..but it didn't, that reset again.


So now after Catalina has been installed finally, I'm stuck on the terms and conditions page with no way to go forward.


What..is..happening?! Thanks!


MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 14.2

Posted on Feb 25, 2024 2:10 PM

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User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
Community+ 2026
User level: Level 9
70,550 points

Posted on Feb 25, 2024 7:01 PM

b9y wrote:

So now after Catalina has been installed finally, I'm stuck on the terms and conditions page with no way to go forward.

Go back a step or two and skip logging into the AppleID. Then you will be able to accept the Term & Conditions. This has been a bug for several years now. If you are already booted into macOS, then sign out of the AppleID to accept the Terms, then you can sign back into your AppleID.


You can provide Apple with product feedback here

Feedback - macOS - Apple


As for the reinstall issue, just make sure you erase the whole physical SSD (Intel Macs only) when you perform the clean install. Within Disk Utility you may need to click "View" and select "Show All Devices" before the physical SSD appears on the left pane of Disk Utility. Erase the physical SSD (Intel Macs only) as GUID partition and APFS (top option).


FYI, The picture is usually associated with a Kernel Panic. Kernel Panics can be caused by hardware issues or even issues with third party software (usually anti-virus apps, cleaning/optimizer apps, and third party security software).


In the future please rotate your pictures to the proper upright orientation because it is very difficult to read sideways or upside down pictures. In fact, many times I will ignore such images even if they may contain critical clues or ignore the thread completely. You can easily rotate pictures on an iPhone or iPad using the instructions in the following article.....I would imagine Android devices would have a similar option:

https://www.iphonelife.com/blog/5/tip-day-how-rotate-photo

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2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
Community+ 2026
User level: Level 9
70,550 points

Feb 25, 2024 7:01 PM in response to b9y

b9y wrote:

So now after Catalina has been installed finally, I'm stuck on the terms and conditions page with no way to go forward.

Go back a step or two and skip logging into the AppleID. Then you will be able to accept the Term & Conditions. This has been a bug for several years now. If you are already booted into macOS, then sign out of the AppleID to accept the Terms, then you can sign back into your AppleID.


You can provide Apple with product feedback here

Feedback - macOS - Apple


As for the reinstall issue, just make sure you erase the whole physical SSD (Intel Macs only) when you perform the clean install. Within Disk Utility you may need to click "View" and select "Show All Devices" before the physical SSD appears on the left pane of Disk Utility. Erase the physical SSD (Intel Macs only) as GUID partition and APFS (top option).


FYI, The picture is usually associated with a Kernel Panic. Kernel Panics can be caused by hardware issues or even issues with third party software (usually anti-virus apps, cleaning/optimizer apps, and third party security software).


In the future please rotate your pictures to the proper upright orientation because it is very difficult to read sideways or upside down pictures. In fact, many times I will ignore such images even if they may contain critical clues or ignore the thread completely. You can easily rotate pictures on an iPhone or iPad using the instructions in the following article.....I would imagine Android devices would have a similar option:

https://www.iphonelife.com/blog/5/tip-day-how-rotate-photo

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Latest Sonoma update has killed my 16" MacBook Pro

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