iMac will download Sonoma 14.6.1 but Fails to Prepare ...

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Level 1

8 points

iMac will download Sonoma 14.6.1 but Fails to Prepare ...

My iMac showed there was an update available under Software Updates, it took a couple of times before it actually downloaded the software, but each time it freezes in the Preparing stage, then a message will pop up 20+ minutes later saying "Failed to Prepare Please Try Again." It has done this 5 times this evening ... I checked to see if my storage was getting low, I still have 440+GB available, my internet is not having issues ... I've restarted my computer multiple times ... any ideas?

iMac (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Aug 12, 2024 8:36 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Owl-53

Level 10

114,823 points

Aug 13, 2024 1:58 AM in response to csbryson

csbryson wrote:

It failed to prepare update in Safe Mode, too ...

Is there Third Party Security Software used and Installed on this computer ?

Having tried in Safe Mode may have disabled this software but maybe not

Use the Terminal command below to Manually download the Full ( 12.xx GB ) version of Sonoma 14.6.1

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 14.6.1

It only downloads the full version and does Not Auto Launch the installation

Look in Applications folder for " install Sonoma Application "

Perform a TM Backup Before proceeding

When ready, launch it like another application and follow the prompts

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Answer 2

csbryson Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 13, 2024 8:41 AM in response to csbryson

I tried one more thing before going the Terminal route ... I reset the NVRAM ... it worked, it downloaded the 13.64GB and not the 665MB it tried to at different times ... it prepared within the 20 minute timeframe and installed.

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Answer 3

dialabrain

Level 10

138,031 points

Aug 12, 2024 8:54 PM in response to csbryson

Try while in Safe Mode.

Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

114,823 points

Aug 13, 2024 9:22 AM in response to csbryson

csbryson wrote:

I tried one more thing before going the Terminal route ... I reset the NVRAM ... it worked, it downloaded the 13.64GB and not the 665MB it tried to at different times ... it prepared within the 20 minute timeframe and installed.

Good work there

So judging from the above, this would have been a upGrade.

To have downloaded the Full Version of Sonoma 14.6.1 would be about what you have mentioned

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Answer 5

csbryson Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 12, 2024 10:56 PM in response to dialabrain

It failed to prepare update in Safe Mode, too ...

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