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Software Update Error Messages: An error has occurred - Can't load data from the Apple Software Update Server. or Didn't get a response from the Apple Software Update server. Receiving said messages intermittently for the past two days.

Software Update Error Messages: An error has occurred - Can't load data from the Apple Software Update Server. or Didn't get a response from the Apple Software Update server. Receiving said messages intermittently for the past two days.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Oct 23, 2015 6:06 PM

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7 replies

Oct 23, 2015 7:07 PM in response to WIVFIII916

Although the situation is far from clear (I called AppleCare again this afternoon and the Tier 1 agent with whom I spoke appeared to be aware of some 'notices' about server performance but had had no official instructions about what was happening.


The server status page still shows that the MAS is 'up', though exactly what this means seems unclear. 80% of the MAS functionality appears to be working normally - just updates are at best patchy, at worst unavailable consistently.


The best we can hope for is that enough users who are experiencing any kind of instability report it until Apple can work with a clearer picture of just how widespread and varied the problem is.

Oct 23, 2015 7:37 PM in response to WIVFIII916

Create a Test user account. Restart your Mac and log into the Test account. Don't bother with completely setting everything up. Skip as soon as you can to the Mac App Store and see how it behaves when you log into your account.


Late 2012 Mac mini, OS X El Capitan 10.11.1; Apple Watch, 38 mm silver AL, Watch OS 2.0.1; iPad Air 2 & iPhone 6+, iOS 9.1

Oct 23, 2015 8:22 PM in response to Dah•veed

With respect, this would be a waste of time; there is obviously something amiss with the Apple MAS system: too many people in too many places are reporting similar malfunctions in too many locations under too many circumstances with too many 'symptoms' under too many conditions with too many similar attributes for this to be a local failure.


(Not 'knocking' Apple, in case you're wondering, Dah•veed; a supporter and user for over 20 years. These things happen. I admire Apple technology a great deal. But company expansion in the last 10 years in particular must mean that a system like the MAS', which tracks millions of users' installations, at times goes wrong. All the evidence today and yesterday points convincingly to that, not to settings etc on users' machines.)

Oct 23, 2015 9:45 PM in response to Mark Sealey

There is no respect when you directly refute another user. I have not directly addressed you with the hogwash you pedal all over this forum, I'ld like the same from you. A new user account is standard troubleshooting procedure. It takes very little time to set up and test. Move on and leave me alone or I will be having a discussion with the Apple Support Communities Hosts about clamping down on your garbage posts.

Oct 24, 2015 8:39 AM in response to Dah•veed

Dah•veed


Your suggestion to create a second user account is indeed standard, and a good one when for which users will (and should) be grateful (as I would) when it's beyond doubt that the fault has developed on a user's machine.


In this case it does seem obvious - by Apple's own acknowledgement and the variety and quantity of posts reporting similar experiences (at least as far as 'Software Update Error Messages: An error has occurred - Can't load data from the Apple Software Update Server') - that there's something at best 'unstable' in the MAS environment on Apple's end atm.


No 'garbage', no 'hogwash', no 'pedal[ling]', no threats - all respectful terms they - just helping users narrow down their best course of action!


Specifically, it's also good, standard troubleshooting practice to avoid introducing more than one variable. Assuming that - as seems likely - Apple is working on a fix, and will soon have it in place, a user advised to take a second(ary) course of action will then - under such circumstances when an external fix is in place at the same time as a local one - be puzzled as to which it was that actually rectified a condition!

Oct 24, 2015 10:02 AM in response to Mark Sealey

You're living in a fantasy world. Did you escape matron? Are you down in her office on her computer writing this farce? There is no external fix in progress. There are no issues with Apple's servers. The issue is on local kits and these folks will be waiting weeks for your imagined solution from Apple.


Go to the tech websites, you know, the folks that love it when Apple has a fail. the ones constantly with doom & gloom in Apple's forecast. Not one of them has the tiniest article about this, something that they would jump on with gusto if it were true.


Leave me alone.

Oct 24, 2015 11:08 AM in response to Dah•veed

Ignoring your insults, you're right of course that major outages do get reported on many of the Mac sites, the ones I've been reading for almost 25 years as a fervent Mac advocate and proselytizer.


Those where failure appears to be sporadic, intermittent or random get less coverage, as I'm sure you know too.


Two Apple techs have confirmed that there is an issue and that it has been escalated to whichever good people at Apple are best placed to fix it - at least the Apple-originated error that I too am experiencing, 'Software Update Error Messages: An error has occurred - Can't load data from the Apple Software Update Server'). I mention this in other threads because there's little point in pretending otherwise; and in case it's related and may help. There will, of course, be circumstances where the fixes you so wisely suggest apply (too).


Not sure why you're so antagonistic, Dah•veed, towards other people offering help, like your good self.


There is room here for more than one approach to offering focused suggestions, as I'm sure you'll agree :-)

Software Update Error Messages: An error has occurred - Can't load data from the Apple Software Update Server. or Didn't get a response from the Apple Software Update server. Receiving said messages intermittently for the past two days.

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