User profile for user: mishlich
mishlich Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Yosemite Clean Install Problems

Hi,


I have recently tried to do a clean install of the Yosemite OS but the install was unsuccessful and I have had nothing but trouble since. If you have any ideas on how to fix my problem, I'd be very grateful. Perhaps you have or have had the same problem and have some other ideas on how to fix it.


(Note: Recently I have not used TimeMachine as it kept on corrupting my external HD, so I have backed my files up manually on another volume but no previous OS backup to revert to)


This is what I've done:


Attempt 1: Bootable USB


I created a bootable USB of Yosemite (via Terminal etc.). I was able to install Yosemite and it restarted. On restart, it continued to install the other system files, but suddenly stopped as it "could not extract files from BaseSystemBinaries.pkg". I restarted the Mac and it continued to install the other system files, but after a while it came up with a message saying "couldn't attach disk image". Then I tried once again and it came up with some other error message. I went into Disk Utility, erased the disk and the Macintosh HD partition and attempted to re-install Yosemite from the USB after another restart. Despite having erased the disk, the installation went straight back to installing the excess files (I guess once you get to that point, it remembers and you can't get out of it until the process completes). Unfortunately, once again, error messages came up. (Note: USB was formatted for Mac Os X Journalled thingo)

Attempt 2: Internet

I removed the USB and it said I could install the extra files from the net. I entered my WIFI code, AppleID password etc and the download started. Unfortunately I do not have 293 hours to wait until the download completes, and after waiting two hours and noticing the download had another 394 hours to go, I decided this was not going to work.

Attempt 3: Downgrade


I hunted around in my old CDs and DVDs and found a bootable DVD of Mac OS Lion. It installed completely and I was so over the moon! I Then thought - ah, perhaps I can upgrade from Mac OS Lion to Yosemite. I copied the Yosemite Installer from the USB on to my Mac and started the install. All went well until the computer restarted and proceeded to install the excess files - once again, I had problems as the "BaseSystemBinaries.pkg" couldn't be opened.


Attempt 4: Confused


I figured that I would easily be able to downgrade again considering it worked last time. I did exactly the same things - erased the disk in Disk Utility etc, but for some reason, the install failed and each time I tried to restart, the Mac returned to the same place (a bar "installing Mac OS Lion) and failed shortly after.


Thoughts


1) How do I get the Mac to forget or erase the previous install attempt so I can attempt another fresh install. It remembers which stage of install the installer is at be it for Yosemite or Lion. It keeps returning to the same stage and fails. Even after erasing the disk and partition, and resetting the PRAM.


2) Could my Yosemite Installer be corrupt? How on earth could it become corrupt after installing from the internet? What if I had not attempted a clean install, upgraded. I'd be in the same position and if I hadn't backed up, lost absolutely everything...

iMac

Posted on Oct 18, 2014 10:46 PM

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26 replies
User profile for user: mishlich
mishlich Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Oct 23, 2014 1:49 AM in response to mishlich

The Yosemite Installer failed. In attempting to finish the install, my recovery partition, has for some reason disappeared. I am relieved to learn this as I had previously thought I had accidentally deleted it. So, I am stuck in a cycle of "finishing off the install" which never finishes. A different message popped up saying "The OS X installation couldn't be completed". It asks me to click restart to start installing OS X again (which fails again), or to start up the computer using a different disk (and there isn't one)...


This was using a freshly downloaded copy of Yosemite and updating from Mavericks.

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User profile for user: 60wpm
60wpm
User level: Level 2
146 points

Oct 23, 2014 2:09 AM in response to mishlich

I don't know. I'm considering trying the same thing 😮 (Clean Install and, for me, migrate data from my Time Machine).


PERHAPS, this useful link about doing this might help, at: http://osxdaily.com/2014/10/18/clean-install-os-x-yosemite/


SPECULATION. I wonder if the USB you're using for the Yosemite installation is okay -- I'm going to use an extra external hard drive. Phote of it's icon/disk image attached.


Good luck.


User uploaded file

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User profile for user: arthur
arthur
User level: Level 5
5,254 points

Oct 23, 2014 3:24 AM in response to mishlich

What a nightmare. Very different from my experience, which was:

  1. Got rid of apps and files I didn't want any more
  2. repaired my HD and permissions
  3. Time Machine backup of the previous installation (Yosemite public Beta)
  4. Downloaded Yosemite installer from the App Store
  5. installed Yosemite over the previous OS.

    booted into safe mode before running the installer and for the first boot of the new OS

The whole process was flawless and took less than an hour.

Some thoughts/suggestions:

  1. Where are you getting these installers? You wrote, "I found a copy of Mavericks". What does that mean? Where did you find it? If you are downloading these from some unsavory source then who knows what you are getting.
  2. Your preference for concocted USB installers also seems iffy. I have not had much luck with trying to make bootable USB installers from the directions I find on the web. If you are going to do this I would try DiskMaker X, the most current version (4B4). http://diskmakerx.com/
  3. I wonder if your hard drive is failing.

I would:

  1. Start from scratch with your Lion disks, wipe your HD, and install Lion
  2. download a fresh copy of the Yosemite installer
  3. make a backup bootable USB installer, if you want, with diskMaker X
  4. repair your HD and permissions with disk utility
  5. boot into safe mode
  6. run the installer (not from the thumb drive).
  7. boot into safe mode again for the first boot of Yosemite

I would try that a time or two, and if it doesn't work, maybe your HD needs replacing.

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User profile for user: mishlich
mishlich Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Oct 23, 2014 3:56 AM in response to mishlich

Thank you for your replies, 60wpm and arthur. 🙂


1. A friend of mine had a copy of Mavericks saved on his computer.

2. In regards to my bootable USBs, I have successfully reinstalled Mavericks from a USB and it's worked perfectly.

3. My hard drive may be failing - but only when I install Yosemite. It's quite happy at the moment with Mavericks running.

In regards to your suggestions, arthur (thank you by the way), I am no longer able to install Lion (for some reason, when I run the installer, it seems to remember I had an install process running and tries to continue, only to fail - so strange...).

So I guess I can do your suggestions with Mavericks. Previously I had downloaded a fresh copy and made a back up bootable USB installer just incase. I also made a Time Machine Backup (but when I later tried to restore from the back up, even that failed half way through - thank heavens I actually didn't rely on that originally as I would have lost everything!)

I admit I have never tried to boot in Safe Mode to install it so I will try that - for the start of the install and when it restarts.

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User profile for user: mishlich
mishlich Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Oct 23, 2014 5:07 AM in response to mishlich

I have just tried two things:


1) Install Yosemite on my external HD (just to see if I can blame the installer). It failed.


2) Install Yosemite from Mavericks using Safe Mode as suggested. I could start the Installer while I was in Safe Mode, but once it restarted to complete the install, it would not allow me to load up Safe Mode so it is now loading in normal mode (as far as I can see). It's much slower, so maybe it did open in Safe Mode...


If this fails, I will leave Yosemite for a month or two and also go and visit the people in the Apple Store. Until then, I will stick to Mavericks (providing I am able to re-install it in the case that this Yosemite install attempt fails).

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User profile for user: jono1949
jono1949
User level: Level 1
10 points

Oct 23, 2014 11:24 PM in response to mishlich

Hi,

I have had virtually the same experience.

  1. Upgrade install failed - error 'basessytembinaries.pkg'... Internet reboot and back to mavericks - 4 hours later.
  2. Reboot often hangs after 15 minutes; once I left it for 17 hours!!!
  3. Clean install (after TM backup) from USB installation stick (made using Terminal) formatted HD (with zeros to make usre it was clean. Clean install failed - same error 'basesystembinaries'
  4. Tried the USB stick on wife's iMac - worked a treat - upgrade install in about an hour
  5. Tried the USB stick again on my Macbook Air (11") - not a problem - upgraded at treat - working beautifully - thank goodness as my iMac has been out of commission for most of the week.
  6. Advised by Apple Chat to install Snow Leopard and upgrade from there. Regrettably I don't have SL on disc so they are sending me one - from the USA!
  7. Decided I couldn't wait that long so, thought I would try another download and install from the App store (it is now 3 days later and thought they may have fixed the bugs. No change, same error and an interminable time to reboot.
  8. I have checked and rechecked the HD for errors etc - none
  9. Following on from the SL idea, I used internet reboot to download and install a copy of Lion (the original OS with this Mac). Guess what - same story...
  10. I have now reinstalled Mavericks and am sticking to that until i am convinced that the problem can be fixed. My case is currently with 'senior advisers and engineers' at Apple. they say they have never heard of this one... I am surprised.


I joined the Apple club about 4 years ago after years of frustration with Microsoft and Windows. Between myself and my wife we have bought in that time:

  • 2 iMacs
  • 2 Macbook airs
  • 2 iPads
  • 1 iPad mini
  • 1 iphone 3GS
  • 2 iphone 4S
  • 1 iphone 6
  • 1 Apple TV

This is the worst I have had in all that time. I just hope they fix it, because from what I have seen of Yosemite on my Air, it looks good...

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User profile for user: 60wpm
60wpm
User level: Level 2
146 points

Oct 23, 2014 11:59 PM in response to mishlich

SINCE MY FIRST POST, I follow the same instructions from: http://osxdaily.com/2014/10/18/clean-install-os-x-yosemite/


I HAVE NOW SUCCESSFULLY INSTALLED YOSEMITE. Looks good. Everything in place, including all my menubar items. My most used app, Adobe Photoshop CC 2014 works (Amen) and all it's 9 or 10 plug-ins there and work. So I'm feeling a-okay about it right now.


Topic1. What happen to me;

Topic 2. What I'd suggest


Screen Shot 2014-10-23 at 8.49.21 AM.jpg


TOPIC 1. HERE'S WHAT HAPPEN TO ME (Thus far): I did NOT use a USB drive for my clean install (as osxdaily mainly suggested).

I used an external drive I had available (250GB).


At the last minute I recalled another item I read while browsing: INSTALL YOSEMITE ON AN EXTERNAL DRIVE (rather than just a USB flash drive) . - So that's what I did; installing it on the drive I had prepared for the clean install. --


There was a problem came up> The installation seemed to hang up in the way several others have mentioned (a big X and a stalled blue progress bar).

I turned the computer off after a few hours. (another suggestion I read). Turned it back on.


Much to my surprise, my computer booted from this external drive and there was Yosemite -- I'm also able to access my apps and data from my built-in iMac hard drive. Some work. Some important ones give me an error message...so I need to check all that out.


I didn't plan this, never done it before but I'm pleased. I can get to see and use Yosemite (I like it's look, features, etc. so far), can access and test what apps work and what may give me a problem and, real cool, I can simply go back to booting up from my internal hard drive and all my Mavericks stuff is there.


TOPIC 2. WHAT I'D SUGGEST (for clean install) -- which I think is a good idea and part of this OP): Follow the osxdaily steps again (they worked for me). DON'T LATER RESTORE YOUR DATA ET. AL. FROM TIME MACHINE. -- Instead when Yosemite is going through it's first set-up it asks various questions and give you options to select or not - In this initial Yosemite start-up, select the option that indicates it will MIGRATE YOUR DATA FROM ANOTHER MAC OR FROM TIME MACHINE.


Thus> Don't try to Restore your info and apps from Time Machine later -- SELECT MIGRATING YOUR DATA FROM TIME MACHINE (or Mac or one of those options) during Yosemite's initial first start-up.


Also, Big Tip, not only do the expected preparations prior to attempted installation (upgrading your OS and major apps to their latest version, running Onyx or Cocktail or something like that, and backing up Everything in some way -- but when installing DISCONNECT all unneeded USB devices and especially USB hubs -- just keeping what you need for your keyboard and mouse; this can prevent a lot of problems, I believe (maybe caused by device drivers?)


CONCLUSION: If you get that hang up in the way several others have mentioned (a big X and a stalled blue progress bar).Turn off computer after a few hours and turn on again.



I think this method will work: as mentioned> MIGRATE DATA DURING YOSEMITE'S FIRST RUN. -- After I test out a few more apps I'm going next to install Yosemite on my main, internal iMac hard drive: it's over 600GB of data on it.


I hope this helps yourself (and others).


Let us know how it goes. Good luck.


P.S. - Yosemite is oh-so clean...a nice 'fresh start' compared to my iMac with a year's worth of this and that all over the place. Contrary to the bad rumors and trolls I think Yosemite is a 'mild' upgrade, meaning it doesn't NOT threaten existing apps and data. -- It's real problems are with the NEW things it introduces, like Handshake and Continuity, Apple Pay, etc. -- Between start and finish it was close to 24 hours.

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User profile for user: mishlich
mishlich Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Oct 24, 2014 6:26 AM in response to mishlich

So guys! Thank you all for your wonderful replies! It's good to know you're not the only one with a similar (or same) problem.


In the last few days, I have tried everything and with Mavericks up and working, I decided I'd give Apple Support one more call. (I can't take it in to the shop as they suggested last time as I can't afford a repair at the moment so that's why I'm trying my best to solve this on my own). Apple Support agreed I had done all I could, so they put me through to the big guys and they had two suggestions (to determine if my Mac is the problem or if my installer is the problem). Here are the suggestions.


1) Download the installer via a different RELIABLE internet connection. (I was concerned my connection may have been interrupted and somehow corrupted the Yosemite Installer). If you don't have a way of hooking the computer up to a different connection, perhaps you have a mac book pro that you can take to a friends house to download it via the app store that way. Or alternatively, ask a fellow Mac user to download the Yosemite Installer and give you a copy of it on a USB. Then if you have an OS up and running, drag it to your App Folder and launch. (Maybe create a bootable USB of the new installer just in case). If the new installer doesn't work, it's a problem with the Mac.


2) If you have another Mac computer (I have two other mac book pros), back them up (manually and then via time machine if pos....), transfer the original Yosemite Installer to it's App Folder and launch it. This way, if it works, we know that the installer is not corrupt.


I decided to try with the second suggestion as I haven't had access to another internet connection today. I have backed up a seperate computer and transferred the Yosemite Installer. I shut down the computer, and restarted it in Safe Mode. Then I launched the installer. The computer restarted and I pressed Shift to get it back in Safe Mode. (I think this worked but it's hard to tell). The installer (with the apple above the bar), loaded half way and then stopped. I waited for ages and read someone elses suggestion for disabling the WIFI and then restarting. SO, after a few restarts, I found a way to turn off the WIFI, and then I restarted again with SafeMode. It restarted, loaded the installer and proceeded to the Yosemite Installer. It took about half an hour but apparently has completed the install without any error messages. It has just restarted and the bar with the apple is loading again. I am supposing that if it worked, it will open up the "set up" section of the installer. I will report soon...


NOTE: I am assuming the installer completed because I turned off WIFI and installed it in SAFE MODE or one or the other or both.

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