Level 1

50 points

Cannot install OS Mac High Sierra

I downloaded High Sierra from the Mac store and received the following error message during the installation process:

The path /System/Installation/Packages/OSInstall.mpkg appears to be missing or damaged. Quit the installer to restart your computer and try again.

I don't know how to quit the installer since I am stuck on this screen. I have rebooted several times, only to come back to this screen/error display. I tried a Safe Mode restart but have been stuck in it for over an hour.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

macOS Sierra (10.12.6)

Posted on Sep 26, 2017 9:36 AM

Top-ranking reply

AFNG

Level 1

14 points

Posted on Sep 26, 2017 11:43 AM

Mine gave the same error message. After rebooting a few times and getting to the same spot, I found a post that said to hold down the shift key (Boot into safe mode) to get past it. I did this and the progress bar froze at about 90%. I hard rebooted it after about 10 minutes of inactivity and tried it again. The second/or third time of trying to boot into safe mode finally progressed. A different looking progress bar appeared followed by the normal progress bar. After that a progress bar appeared telling me that Installation was occurring. ~40minutes later everything was installed and seems to be working fine.

I have no idea if this impacted anything, but while I was on the first screen with the original error message, I clicked the menu bar at the top and connected to my wireless network. Like I said, I have NO IDEA if this impacted anything, but it was something that I did and my system completed the installation successfully.

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51 replies

Jcw7897

Level 1

12 points

Nov 22, 2017 9:29 AM in response to ReubenvonCoco

Plug in your external hard drive, boot into recovery mode then create a new disk image

https://macreports.com/how-to-back-up-your-mac-that-wont-boot/

Feb 18, 2018 5:45 AM in response to Smorgie

This happened to me and I clicked on the apple on the top left corner and selected to restart using disc. It restarted and did not bring up the error screen. Nothing seems to be lost, but I’m not sure if I will have any other issues

ji274

Level 1

9 points

Mar 14, 2018 9:30 PM in response to Sorit@Houston

After browsing all the options and trying a few the only one that worked for me was ur advice of holding down the shift while clicking restart on the error screen. I must say that I plugged my Ethernet in just in case something didn't complete downloading or authenticating and I kept my finger on the shift for a long time like 3 minutes until the progress bar completed and finally took me to my login screen.

I'm glad the shift key solution fixed this without any technical know how or needing to go through complex loopholes and at worse making a trip to there Genius Bar and worser: being given the option to reinstall OS and lose all data and worse than that buying new hardware. Thanks for the shift key advice! Saved me a ton of trouble time and cash!

Oct 20, 2017 4:47 AM in response to Marco2510

This method works for me and It works the very first time. Just hold down the shift key and hit restart. Thank you! Why? Dont know but hey it works!

Mar 24, 2018 1:14 PM in response to Smorgie

Same happened to me. Clicked on the drive and selected restart and it was fine when it restarted.

Smorgie Author

Level 1

50 points

Sep 26, 2017 11:46 AM in response to AFNG

What you describe is the exact same sequence of things that I just experienced. My installation finally completed about 3 hours after I started the process. Now I will see if there was any "damage" done in the process.

It's ridiculous that this is what it takes to upgrade to the new version. I am going to hold off upgrading my other two machines until Apple has time to work through this. Thanks for the reply.

Jcw7897

Level 1

12 points

Nov 19, 2017 5:37 PM in response to robotix

I’m having the same issue with not being able to install High Sierra. I’ve tried to boot into safe mode but it isn’t working. I get to the log and then utilities and choose startup disk but it’s not showing anything in that startup disk box. I’m trying to somehow save all of the documents before I resort to formatting the disk and reinstalling everything. Any help is greatly appreciated

Nov 22, 2017 5:41 AM in response to Jcw7897

This might be a dumb question but I'm having the same issues you had, and have a HDD that I've previously backed up to (but not recently, so I need to do it again), but how to I backup everything to the HDD while on the error screen? I did the "command f" that someone else mentioned and tried to do the Macintosh HD First Aid (but was told the Macintosh First Aid process failed) and am on the Disk Utility screen...

I'm really confused and nothing seems to be working!

Nov 22, 2017 9:56 AM in response to Jcw7897

Does it matter that the External harddrive already has a backup on it? It's a 1TB HDD and my laptop is only 500GB, and with the other backup there's still 878GB free, so can I just use this one?

Sorry, I tried calling Apple and they said I'd just have to wipe everything, so I'm hoping they're wrong!

ldambra

Level 1

8 points

Feb 18, 2018 11:06 PM in response to janlynfromomaha

Please do me a favor.

Click the Apple and select About This Mac.

See if you‘re running 10.13.2 or 10.13.3.

My laptop was bricked and wouldn’t boot or do anything until I completed the procedure you responded to,

I’d like to know if you successfully upgraded to 10.13.3 or if you’re still at 10.13.2?

Thanks for your response!

Oct 6, 2017 12:46 AM in response to Smorgie

AFNG's solution worked for me as well !

Oct 16, 2017 6:11 AM in response to woodmeister50

I tried this but no disk appeared.

Oct 22, 2017 7:47 AM in response to woodmeister50

I get no options when I do this. The box is blank.

Nov 8, 2017 11:03 AM in response to Smorgie

I have the same problem but I can't fix it with safe mode, when I restart and hold shift key my computer just turn off after 2 minutes, any solution? Thanks

Nov 8, 2017 11:56 PM in response to jonathanfromboksburg

Hi,

I'm facing the same issue, my SSD doesn't show up, how did you mount it back ?

Thanks.

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Cannot install OS Mac High Sierra