Level 1

0 points

Install Xcode from the App Store = Deleted System

Not entirely positive this is an App Store related issue, but... it's certainly an issue.

Last night, I bought the $4.99 Xcode app from the App Store. Once it was done downloading, I told it to go ahead and install, and... about halfway through it's install I noticed my applications were deleting one by one. Frantically, I shut my system down with a hard shut down. Upon reboot, sure enough, the HD wouldn't reboot.

I reinstalled my system from a Time Machine backup, still wouldn't boot, but I overcame the booting issue by reinstalling OSX over the restored drive.

Once I got everything back up and running, I thought to myself "surely, an App Store download of Xcode couldn't cause such irradic behavior" so with a morbid curiosity (and knowledge that i can restore if need be) I gave it another shot... and sure enough: just like before, about halfway through the Xcode install, my apps and system library files started disappearing. Less panic'd I stayed around as long as I could before doing the hard shut down. Leaving Safari open saw it slowly loose necessary files to run (fonts, images, etc) not that the app itself was around anything anymore anyway.

Truly odd behavior, and it'll keep me from installing Xcode unless there's a real solution to the problem out there. So I put it to you, Apple faithful and forum moderators... thoughts?

Mac Pro (early 2009), Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 15, 2011 11:01 AM

64 replies

Apr 8, 2011 6:32 PM in response to D.J. Glisten

FYI there is a parallel thread on this topic over in Snow Leopard Install area:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=13336887

Apr 8, 2011 6:35 PM in response to D.J. Glisten

And oh yes, in case this has not been noticed, the install process erased all my mounted volumes, including Windows partition on internal drive and ALL external USB and FW drives. The only volume that survived was unmounted at the time.

harv47

Level 1

27 points

Apr 9, 2011 10:44 AM in response to Frustrated Dylan

2. I downloaded and installed XCode 4 from the developer site (costs $100 if you're not already a developer).

I suspect that the issue was solved by installing the developer site XCode download because it's a .pkg file, rather than an .app file. I think because the app is installed in the Applications directory, that it had different privileges and path than the .pkg install.

Thanks, F. Dylan. I think you answered my question. I've had a copy of XCode (xcode314 2809 developerdvd.dmg) waiting to be installed since early February. I know I didn't (and wouldn't) pay $100 -- US or Canadian -- for it.

Apparently what I've got is XCode 3. After taking all the precautions others have suggested, I'll cross my fingers, take a deep breath, and start the install.

Thanks again for the added info.

harv47

harv47

Level 1

27 points

Apr 9, 2011 10:59 AM in response to junglepayne@mac.com

junglepayne@mac.com wrote:
FYI there is a parallel thread on this topic over in Snow Leopard Install area:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=13336887

In that thread, someone else tried to install the developers' download. Same disaster.

Sigh...

harv47

Apr 10, 2011 11:01 AM in response to enriquevs

I wanted to learn coding too. I am dounloadng Xcode righty now but now i am scared to install...

Apr 10, 2011 11:04 AM in response to D.J. Glisten

Xcode it downloading right now. I have read all this forum and am wondering if i should install or just leave it... It is a family computer and has a BUNCH of files on it. So should i install Xcode or forget about it?

Apr 10, 2011 11:49 AM in response to D.J. Glisten

Since the root problem has not been solved, it would be helpful to get some more info. A few years ago this kind of problem happened because the install script for some program (I can't remember) was missing some quotation marks. At this time the installer was incorrectly processing volume names that had spaces in their names. So, my suggestion for those that have experienced the problem is to report the names of the volumes that have been wiped by the XCode install. Maybe a pattern will emerge to help troubleshoot. Just a thought and thanks for the warning on XCode 4.

Also, someone with a copy of the install .dmg and the know-how, should mount it and open the contents of the installer package and see if they can make sense out of the install script to determine which command actually is likely causing the delete.

Apr 10, 2011 11:54 AM in response to Arun.Sundaram

Don't be a fool. Back-up your system!

Apr 10, 2011 12:20 PM in response to Joe Borzellino

Drives wiped:

Macintosh HD (internal)
Carcosa (external FW - system elements of Time Machine corrupted)

Apr 10, 2011 12:26 PM in response to Arun.Sundaram

Arun Sundaram:

Don't run the installer until you have made a cloned, bootable backup to an external disk that you don't have connected when you do the install. Don't rely on Time Machine as a restoration tool for this as the system elements were damaged on mine before I killed the installer.

Shirt Pocket's SuperDuper! will do you a one off clone in it's demo version for free. There are others such as carboncopycloner

You should also know where your OS X disks are in case you have to boot from it.

If it does corrupt, attaching the external drive with the system on should be enough to allow a successful reboot; you then open drive utility, erase the internal HDD and re-clone the back up drive you booted from back to the internal drive.

But don't install without a backup.

sirtimp

Level 1

0 points

Apr 10, 2011 5:20 PM in response to Joe Borzellino

After downloading from App Store, drive wiped was Macintosh HD
Running 10.6.7
I have seen people here suggesting to re-download the '10.6.7 combo update' - I had not done that (but since have)
As you might suspect, I haven't tried again after the combo update

tforcade

Level 1

10 points

Apr 12, 2011 8:30 AM in response to D.J. Glisten

Adding my experience to the pile. Downloaded the Xcode app and attempted the install which hung at about 50% complete.

System was gone, computer unresponsive necessitating power off. Not only did the failed install fry the OS, requiring a reinstall and a disk repair via Disk Utility, it also corrupted a directly connected disk array, as well as two networked hard drives. By corrupted I mean missing files as well as missing folders.

Data recovery (such as it was) via Data Rescue revealed scrambled data mixed in with Apple tutorial and example files, logos, icons, from apps never installed on this volume. Happily a Time Machine back up wasn’t affected and I was able to restore at least apps and user settings.

This was so unbelievable (as a long time Apple user I wondered if somewhat had dosed my coffee) that having disconnected all drives and with the system restored I actually tried it again with the same results.

DO NOT INSTALL XCODE from THE AP STORE until you receive confirmation that the problem has been resolved. If you insist on installing anyway at least do a TM back up on an external drive and disconnect that drive and/or eject any other networked drives.

Apr 12, 2011 6:14 PM in response to Maximilian S. Maurer

Done. Should i copy all my files on to a flashdrive? And i am using a brand: iomega is that ok?

tforcade

Level 1

10 points

Apr 13, 2011 7:30 AM in response to Arun.Sundaram

+Done. Should i copy all my files on to a flashdrive? And i am using a brand: iomega is that ok?+

Assuming that your flash drive is large enough to hold everything that matters to you AND a complete Time Machine (or equivalent) back up of all apps, prefs, etc. Please remember that this install could corrupt your computer and the contents of any hard drive--either directly connected or networked. Also be sure you can locate your Mac OS Install DVD so you can reinstall the OS. Just verify that you have a complete backup and that the flash drive/harddrive is NOT either directly connected or networked to your computer during the install. You want to isolate your computer during the install, just in case. Regarding the Iomega vs. any other flash card I don't know.

Apr 13, 2011 7:37 AM in response to D.J. Glisten

Has anyone heard anything from apple? I didn't when I submitted a support request. Maybe somebody needs to let the AppleInsders and MacRumors type sites know so that this can get some press. Seems like a big deal to me, maybe it's affecting such a small minority of people that Apple just doesn't care.

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Install Xcode from the App Store = Deleted System