ashishmusale
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: update to 10.9.3 hangs

I updated to OS 10.9.3 and it asked me to restart. It went into software update launcher mode and just hangs there for hours. Any idea whats happening?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.3)

Posted on May 17, 2014 8:11 AM

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ashishmusale

Q: update to 10.9.3 hangs

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  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo May 17, 2014 2:17 PM in response to ashishmusale
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    May 17, 2014 2:17 PM in response to ashishmusale

    Force shutdown and restart. That usually solves a mucked up installation.

  • by ashishmusale,

    ashishmusale ashishmusale May 17, 2014 5:31 PM in response to baltwo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 17, 2014 5:31 PM in response to baltwo

    I tried that multiple times didn't help. I also downloaded the dmg for the update and still it hangs.

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo May 17, 2014 5:44 PM in response to ashishmusale
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    May 17, 2014 5:44 PM in response to ashishmusale

    Then, boot into recovery mode and reinstall the OS. That'll put a fresh copy of the latest version you had installed. When or if that finishes, try the update again. If still not joy, a trip to an Apple repair station or a call to AppleCare is in order.

  • by Mark Muellner,

    Mark Muellner Mark Muellner May 18, 2014 9:07 PM in response to ashishmusale
    Level 1 (25 points)
    May 18, 2014 9:07 PM in response to ashishmusale

    I was getting stuck on the same screen. I then tried to just shut down and got the same blank softwareupdatelauncher screen again. I wonder if a window just doesn't open? I hit return and a window popped up asking me if I want to install updates and then shut down. I clicked update and the process started. Computer shut down and upon restart finished the install process. 10.9.3 install is now complete.

  • by SMac85,

    SMac85 SMac85 May 19, 2014 2:41 PM in response to Mark Muellner
    Level 1 (10 points)
    May 19, 2014 2:41 PM in response to Mark Muellner

    I don't know what caused you to think of hitting the "Return" key, but I am glad you did.  I tried your procedure, and--shazam--the update installed.  Thanks for posting your response.

  • by Mark Muellner,

    Mark Muellner Mark Muellner May 19, 2014 8:08 PM in response to SMac85
    Level 1 (25 points)
    May 19, 2014 8:08 PM in response to SMac85

    I kept forcing shut downs and each time right before it would shut down I would hear a alert tone so I figured maybe there was an open window hidden. Press enter and go figure!

  • by asmithhome,

    asmithhome asmithhome May 19, 2014 8:43 PM in response to Mark Muellner
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 19, 2014 8:43 PM in response to Mark Muellner

    this solved my problem, thanks SMac85!

  • by ashishmusale,

    ashishmusale ashishmusale May 20, 2014 5:08 AM in response to Mark Muellner
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 20, 2014 5:08 AM in response to Mark Muellner

    Thanks Mark.

     

    I was frustated with that screen appearing everytime I restart, so I just pressed some keys randomly and it then showed me the message of "Installing software". It must be the return key!!

  • by Silvstaal,

    Silvstaal Silvstaal May 25, 2014 9:41 AM in response to ashishmusale
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 25, 2014 9:41 AM in response to ashishmusale

    Saw the hang. Didn't have time to figure it out. Has been bugging me since first hang.

    Your solution worked like a charm. Thank you!

  • by Douglas Maltby1,

    Douglas Maltby1 Douglas Maltby1 May 25, 2014 3:50 PM in response to ashishmusale
    Level 1 (80 points)
    May 25, 2014 3:50 PM in response to ashishmusale

    I had same issue and multiple times it stopped at the software update launcher. I tried many updates to 10.9.3 via App Store and Combo updater. The restart then stopped at the software update launcher. I tried just "return" and Apple menu, logout and return but neither continued to actually do the uodate.

     

    The solution came from the below 10.5 upgrade fix article - delete all the /Library/Updates files

    http://appleinsider.com/articles/08/12/19/apple_details_fix_for_hanging_software _update_installs

     

    "To resolve the issue, Apple recommends that you quit Software Update and then navigate to the directory on your hardware where the contents of pre-installed software updates reside. To get there, select "Go to Folder" from the Go menu in the Finder and type in "/Library/Updates" without the quotes, then click Go."

     

    After I deleted the /Library/Updates and re-updated via App Store, the 10.9.3 update downloaded again and restarted perfectly.

     

    The haning software update launcher issue seems to have been caused by a corrupt or incomplete download of 10.9.3. Simply deleting the /Library/Updates files allowed the update to continue and restarted correctly.

     

    After many times updating and restaring for this issue many times, I thought I'd update this thread with what precisely fixed the issue for me.

     

    Doug

  • by Simatupang,

    Simatupang Simatupang Jun 15, 2014 5:23 AM in response to ashishmusale
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 15, 2014 5:23 AM in response to ashishmusale

    Thx Ashismusale. Return key really works