Lion update today crashed MacBook Pro

Some of my reading indicates this might only be a problem for the MacBookPro. Many are doing a complete install from the DVD. This means erasing your drive and losing everything. Booting into the Recovery HD avoids this, retains all your files and prefs and gives you a new clean system.

I would hate to be on line at the genius bar today (as was recommended by the local Apple store).

Have exact same issue on 2011 27" iMac so not restricted to MacBook Pro's.

I had to restore from a Time Machine Backup to get back up and running although I guess restoring Lion from recovery partition over the internet would do the same job.

Most unlike Apple to have an update that causes such a "catastrophic" kernel panic as to make your Mac unbootable.

Happened to me on an early 2011 15" MBP. Used Software Update to update Thunderbolt and iPhoto, but I'm almost certain it is the Thunderbolt piece.

You probably don't have to reinstall Lion if you have a recent Time Machine backup. Just boot into recovery mode by holding down Command-R and then select the Restore from Time Machine Backup option. I had my hard drive plugged in before I booted. I'm not sure if that matters. Took me about 90 mins to restore 70 GB.

Major hassle and apparantly, the Update is still on Software Update.

I think the crash might be linked to Airt Port Update also. I didn't select iphoto or thunderbolt when my computer crashed. I would be careful for post Lion software updates until Apple resolves this

Same probelm here. Had around 30 kernel panics since 10.7.4 update and now I have this kernel panic on startup since the thunderbolt update. Incredible !!!!!

I'll try to reinstall Lion from recovery mode but just wanted to ask you guys if it's true that doing this will allow me to keep my files and softwares installed ?

Many thanks for the help guys

spectacular crash, kernel panic, in Lion on both iMac 27" and MacBook Pro in response to the multiple downloads yesterday, beware...don't do it until Apple gets the problem sorted out.

HI BoySetsTheFire

I'll try this but will it delete the installed apps ? or will it just replace the OS and keep my files, prefs and apps ?

cheers

Unfortunatley my machine ( 2011 Early MBP ) was brought to its knees by the same update(s). After trying all the possibilities I gave in and wiped it. Re-installed from scratch and after a little sweat and faith my trusty friend is back up and running strong! I don't know if going through a whole refresh is needed but I just wanted what ever poisin that made its way in completley erradicated from my poor MBP. Good luck to everyone, it is a very sad and frustrating occurence. On a side note the thunderbolt update is for machines that need to use TB for "legacy" ethernet; since our machines have ethernet I can only assume that is where the issue is coming from but obviously no hard proof. I should have thought about the update more before I let it install I guess, but you would think it wouldn't be made available to machines that don't need it. Lesson DEFINITELY learned,lol. Again, GOOD LUCK to all!!

OK, I'm back up and running again. I followed BoySetsTheFire advice and booted into recovery mode and re-installed Lion via the internet. Everything is as it was before. All my files, programs settings ect are there.

I'm very happy and hope everyone else has the same success. My PC is a 2011 iMac 27" and was running the latest version of Lion.

On a side note, this is the 1st issue I've had with my Apple iMac, compared to the hundreds of issues with previous Windows machines, however, the fact that a very small update for Thunderbolt has had such a massive negitive impact on possibly thousands of Macs, I am left very dissapointed in Apple. I find it hard to believe that any testing of this update was done before releasing. This is one of the biggest reasons for me crossing over from Windows to Apple in the first place.

Ben.

It is unusual for Apple, in all my time using Macs I have never experienced such a critical problem when applying their updates. Oh well, thank goodness for Time Machine and/or restoring OSX over the internet which made rectifying the issue slightly less painful (if not time consuming).

Just reinstalled lion on recovery mode. It worked for me. Everything is as it was. I'm in 10.7.4. So let's see in the future if I still have the kernel panic issue

If it helps, many others have experienced this problem, and it appears to be an issue with the Thunderbolt Update that Apple recently released. Here is more info on it and how to clear the issue (which is essentially several approaches to reinstalling OS X): http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57451440-263/thunderbolt-update-plaguing-ma cbook-pros-with-kernel-panics/

My first kernel panic caused by the latest Apple update also caused me to panic.

First, after downloading the updates, I was as usual asked to restart the computer to complete the install. Frozen grey wallpaper screen followed. Then I switched off at the mains and re-started the computer. Kernel panic followed and remained each time I switched off the computer and then tried to restart it.

Started the computer holding down the Alt/Option key and all my back-up disks came up including Recovery Disk. Used the latter to erase internal hard drive and reinstall latest Time Machine back-up. This put me back to 10.7.4 and everything worked as before i.e. before the latest software update.

Since kernel panics are usually hardware related and my computer and all its peripherals work, perhaps the earlier suggestion about Thunderbolt is correct.

Clearly something outside the norm for Apple, so will wait until either they re-issue the update and/or figure a way of safely installing it.

I've downloaded the update and now its asking me to restart my computer...

So my only chance here is not turn it off until the fix arrives?

Any way i can undo the partial install?

Like everyone else, same problem here Kernel Panic!!!

It was the latest update (confirmed today with AppleCare ) although reluctantly, crashed last night, fixed this morning

(alt key depressed on start up) worked great but this was before I knew it was the updates that caused the crash

unawares I reinstalled lion OS, from the recovery, everything went fine, about an hour+10mins, but then I was prompted to update??? SILLY SILLY BOY, did it again!!!! crash crash crash, I've now got it sorted and WILL NOT BE UPDATING ANY TIME SOON, this really shook me up, truly did not expect this from Apple, never had a problem before, one things for sure though I won't ever go back to (Windows) I know this will get sorted, I'm not worried anyhow!!!

Nice to talk to you all

Martin