High Sierra boot stuck at 100%

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Level 1

105 points

High Sierra boot stuck at 100%

Two days ago I tried installing a fresh copy of iTunes on my system. It stalled at exactly the same place. I tried three or four times and then re-booted.

After that the Computer (2017 27" iMac 1TB Fusion Drive) would not finish booting, the status bar would reach full, then nothing happened for hours.

I tried re-starting in recovery mode and it would not work. I tried safe mode and it would not work.

I unplugged all cables and devices, zapped the PRAM and was the able to boot into Recovery mode.

I then booted into Diagnostic mode and the results were normal. I ran Disk Utility numerous times and the results were normal.

I started looking around and realized my HDD was almost full for some reason. I discovered that my Lightroom catalog had bloomed to a ridiculous size, almost filling my internal HDD. I removed the catalog, ran Disk First Aid and and still no boot up.

Then, even though I know it should be completely unnecessary I optimized and rebuilt the volume using TechTool Pro from an external boot source. This process took a day or so and the HDD was now approx half full.

Still the same thing when I boot. Just sits at a full status bar. I can hear the HDD still working, but it doesn't seem able to finish the boot process.

Before going to a clean install, is there anything else I can try? Is there anything to the theory that there are large hidden flies leftover from the numerous iTunes installation attempts that are still making the computer "think" the disk is full?

Is there any validity to cloning the entire drive, initializing the internal HDD and cloning back the contents (I assume the issue will just be clone back?)

There is one thing I thought worth mentioning is that when I run Disk First Aid, the blue status bar that represents how full the device is goes from being half full to completely full a few times during the First Aid Run. I was going to note at what point that happens, but I have not done that yet.

Thanks very much for any thoughts or guidance on this issue.

iMac, macOS High Sierra (10.13.3)

Posted on Mar 2, 2018 6:33 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Mar 2, 2018 7:35 PM in response to Henry Cline1

A Troubleshooting Protocol to Identify Problems or Fix macOS El Capitan or Later

You should try each, one at a time, then test to see if the problem is fixed before going on to the next.

Be sure to backup your files before proceeding if possible.

Shutdown the computer, wait 30 seconds, restart the computer.
Disconnect all third-party peripherals and remove any support software like drivers and plug-ins.
Resetting your Mac’s PRAM and NVRAM
Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
Start the computer in Safe Mode, then restart normally. This is slower than a standard startup.
Repair the disk by booting from the Recovery HD. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Utility Menu appears. Choose Disk Utility and click on the Continue button. Select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) volume entry from the side list. Click on the First Aid button in the toolbar. Wait for the Done button to appear. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu. Restart the computer from the Apple Menu.
Create a New User Account Open Users & Groups preferences. Click on the lock icon and enter your Admin password when prompted. On the left under Current User click on the Add [+] button under Login Options. Setup a new Admin user account. Upon completion log out of your current account then log into the new account. If your problems cease, then consider switching to the new account and transferring your files to it - Transferring files from one User Account to another.
Download and install the OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 Combo Update or 10.12.6 Combo Update or Download macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 Combo Update as needed.
Reinstall OS X by booting from the Recovery HD using the Command and R keys. When the Utility Menu appears select Reinstall OS X then click on the Continue button.
Erase and Install OS X Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:

Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on Continue button.

When Disk Utility loads select the drive (out-dented entry) from the Device list.

Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.

Set the Format type to APFS (for SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)

Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.

Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.

Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Mar 3, 2018 9:54 AM in response to Henry Cline1

Then you will need to do major surgery assuming you can still boot from the Recovery HD.

Install El Capitan or Later from Scratch

If possible backup your files.

Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the CommandandRkeys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:
Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on Continue button.
When Disk Utility loads select the volume (indented entry, usually Macintosh HD) from the Device list.
Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.

This will install the version of OS X you had installed.

If the above fails then you need to make an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar for service. If you need to find an Apple Store - Find a Store - Apple.

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Answer 3

Henry Cline1 Author

Level 1

105 points

Mar 11, 2018 5:54 PM in response to shiv123

Good news and bad news. The same thing appears to have happened to my laptop, hard to figure out, but I reformatted my desktop and reinstalled a fresh copy of High Sierra and as always, I am very happy I did. The system is in incredibly responsive, LightRoom is working flawlessly and very fast and I was able to get rid of useless software and shareware I had collected. It always feels like a complete reformat is out of the question due to the hassle. But the truth is it is a gift.

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