App Store Updates seems confused

Question

App Store Updates seems confused

The App Store told me to install the update OS 10.8.4. I clicked the UPDATE button and a dialog appeared that started with "Would you like to continue?" Below this was the following message: "OS X v10.8.3 is already installed on this computer. Use the Updates page to install the 10.8.3 update or if you would like to download the full OS X Mountain Lion installer click Continue." There are two buttons: on the left "Continue" and on the right "Cancel". The "Apple Menu/About This Mac" dialog told me that OS X Version 10.8.3 was installed. I clicked the "Continue" button. Approximately 4.4-GB of software was downloaded and Mac OS X version 8 was installed. Now the "Apple Menu/About This Mac" tells tells me that OS X Version 10.8.4 was installed.

However, the App Store still tells me that I need to install OS X Mountain Lion Version 10.8.4. I click the UPDATE button and get almost the same message, which starts with "Would you like to continue?", below which it says: "OS X v10.8.4 is already installed on this computer. Use the Updates page to install the 10.8.3 update or if you would like to download the full OS X Mountain Lion installer click Continue." There are two buttons: on the left "Continue" and on the right "Cancel". This time I clicked "Cancel".

I find this message confusing. Why should I be asked to install v10.8.3, when I have already installed v10.8.4? And why does the App Store not know that I do not need to update at all?

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jun 5, 2013 7:36 AM

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Answer 1

putnik

Level 4

1,179 points

Jun 5, 2013 7:45 AM in response to Robert in Hawaii

Yes the 10.8.3 should have been updated to 10.8.4. But you went to the wrong place for the incremental update. You should have gone to "Software Update" that would have taken you to the Updates tab and checked out your computer for necessary updates. It would have told you it needed the 10.8.4 point update (350Mb or so). Instead you went to the Purchases tab of the App Store and got the latest version of the full installer (4.46Gb).

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Answer 2

Jun 5, 2013 8:02 AM in response to putnik

I did use "Software Update", which took me to the App Store Updates page, where I clicked the "UPDATE" button and get the dialogs I quote above.

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Answer 3

putnik

Level 4

1,179 points

Jun 5, 2013 8:47 AM in response to Robert in Hawaii

As I said, the Update tab should have given you the point update and the Purchases tab lets you re-download the full installer. If it was otherwise, maybe you should give your feedback to Apple, in case it happens to others.

https://ssl.apple.com/support/feedback/

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Answer 4

babowa

Level 9

78,097 points

Jun 5, 2013 9:18 AM in response to Robert in Hawaii

Additionally, the app store will always tell you that you can download 10.8.4 (or whatever version) because it will always be available for you to do so if/when you need it. That will never change as you can download this as many times as you want/need on any Mac that you own and control - so it will always show as available to download.

Ahh, the finer points of the new digital only delivery system - it is confusing at best. (If your Mac came with 10.8.3, the original version may also be available via the internet recovery method).

For various reasons, I chose to download the full installer last night and I got the same questions (and it still shows as download now).

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Answer 5

Jun 5, 2013 1:10 PM in response to babowa

Well, like I said the problem I have is with the Updates page, not the Purchases page.

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Answer 6

babowa

Level 9

78,097 points

Jun 5, 2013 2:10 PM in response to Robert in Hawaii

Yes, I realize that, but jsut wanted to add that information as an FYI.

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Answer 7

Eric Root

Level 10

684,015 points

Jun 5, 2013 2:20 PM in response to Robert in Hawaii

I got the same messages, but I'm now no longer showing an update. I agree it is confusing. You can try hiding the update to clear it showing you still need it.

App Store – Hide Updates

App Store – Hide Updates (2)

App Store Purchases - Hiding/Unhiding

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Answer 8

Jun 5, 2013 4:12 PM in response to Eric Root

I hope somebody can figure out how to fix it, since it caused me to download over 4 GB of software just to upgrade from 10.8.3 to 10.8.4. Now that I know that is going to happen, as a workaround I suppose one can just bypass the App Store and download the updates from the Apple downloads page and install the OS X updates manually.

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Answer 9

babowa

Level 9

78,097 points

Jun 5, 2013 5:47 PM in response to Robert in Hawaii

I usually use that route; however, make sure that any particular download was actually detected by Software Update so you don't download/install something that your system does not need and may cause problems (there have been reports of people installing unnecessary firmware updates which borked their system).

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Answer 10

Jul 3, 2013 10:42 AM in response to Robert in Hawaii

I am getting this error, except that I already have 10.8.4 installed, so it is even more confusing.

This is not the first time i've had it with various versions of Mountain Lion (and possibly Lion). It seems to disappear in a couple of days.

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