My Catalina installation has frozen for my 2012 imac 27"

Smudger330 wrote:

And judging by the amount of questions on here I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE AM I!!! and this is an OLD OS!!! so by now... YOU SHOULD HAVE FIXED THIS ISSUE!

My Catalina installation is stuck with “Estimating time remaining...” Can you please, in simple terms, tell me how to either

1 solve this PRE KNOWN BY APPLE issue

2 revert back to my old OS if (10.14)

I URGENTLY NEED HELP WITH THIS

Thanks

User wrote " 2 revert back to my old OS if (10.14) "

Scorched Earth Method 

This method will WIPE ALL Data and there is No DATA Recovery - Period.

>> Only works on Intel Based Apple Computer <<

To perform this action will require booting from a Bootable Installer. 

The Bootable Installer can Only be performed on an Apple Computer 

This will have to be performed from a Qualifying Computer to run the version of macOS to be made on the Bootable Installer.

Example : Bootable Installer of Mojave would have to be done on a computer that Qualifies to run Mojave.

Notation: If the computer being used to perform this action is Too New or Too Old to qualify to run the version of macOS - this computer can’t be used.

Alternative is, to gain access to a Qualifying Apple Computer from a family member, friend or associate.

Shutdown computer and disconnect all external drive Except the newly created Bootable Installer.

Restart and immediately hold the OPTION key until the Startup Manager appears and choose the USB Drive. 

It will present options >> Disk Utilities >> View >> View ALL attached Drives. 

Choose the Upper Most Drive ( not the volumes indented and list below ).

The drive normally is called Apple Media or Apple SSD - that is the drive to Erase and format as APFS with the GUID Partition Map. This applies to macOS 10.14 Mojave and above. 

➡️ If going this far back >>>>> Formatting for macOS 10.13 High Sierra and below requires HFS Journaled with the GUID Partition Map

Once that is done >> backup out of Disk Utilities and choose install macOS. 

Follow the prompts and it may automatically reboot several time. 

Upon a final reboot - Setup Assist will present with the newer version of macOS.

It can seemingly stall for hours, is it still not moving?

Do you have any backups?

Good work, thanks for the report my friend! :)