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Cant update MACOS, Pages, Keynote or Numbers

Big Ron

Big Ron

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 7, 2012
425
106
United Kingdom
I can't remember when this all started but all of a sudden I can't update Pages, numbers or keynote.
The download would start but just hang there. I deleted those three apps and tried a fresh download but it just hangs. I get the error message: 'Use the Purchased page to try again'.

Also, since MACOS 10.13.4 I have had to use a combo installer, any attempt to install an update also results in a stalled download.

Other things download and update ok but not the ones listed above??
 
So, you haven't tried a Clean Install? (Backup first!)
I'm sure you can find step-by-step procedure on Apple's Support web page.
 
hmm...
Download the latest High Sierra installer from the App Store.
Create a USB installer from that app. DiskMakerX is a good tool to do this, and it would also be a good excuse to purchase a new 16GB flash drive (cheap now!) just to keep that installer when you need to use it again.
Boot to that installer.
Reinstall macOS. You won't lose anything that is already installed - this process will prune out your system, and will usually fix issues that you may be having with your system.
If THAT simple reinstall doesn't fix the update problem for you, then Gregg2 has the next step ^^ (AND, you would already have the full installer to use for that erase and install.)
 
Thanks to DeltaMac and Gregg2 for your replies.

I will try that next time I am at my desktop, just out of interest, would an update to Mohave also have the same effect?
 
If you are already having challenges with your system, upgrading to a beta-test version (macOS Mojave) would, in my opinion, not be a good plan.
If you upgrade to beta, yes, that may have the same effect of getting your system working properly again, but you would be on a (still) unfinished version - that is usually working pretty well (and is my main system), but there's still issues, such as incompatibility with a few plug-ins, and some software goes bonkers (unusual crashes, etc) which is not surprising from a beta system, unfortunately. (also why it is not a final release yet :D )
 
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Great advice, as I only occasionally have to use Numbers, Pages & keynote, I might ignore the Betas and wait until Mojave is finished and released in September. Should a significant update to High Sierra come out, although frustrating, I know from experience that I can always update it using the combo installer.

I will have to monitor my system post an update to try and work out why it stopped working in the first place.

Thanks for taking the time to answer.
 
Tried a OS update and it didn't have any effect. I guess that I will now have to wait for the Mojave update, unless anyone knows any nifty terminal commands I could try?
 
I didn't erase and re-install a fresh macOS install.

I re-installed over my existing version. I was working on the logic that if an 'overlay' of macOS didn't work - I would wait until Mojave then update it. If I still have a problem then I would opt for a erase and install of Mojave.

I was really wondering if there was anything I could try that isn't so destructive.

Thanks for replying.
 
Try adding a new user account (in your Users & Groups pref pane), then log out, and log back in to your new user. Try the App Store from that new user (you would also log in to App Store to try this out.)
 
Although in the Windows world a "clean install" is the first solution to all problems, on MacOS it's an absolute last resort. Having said that, it sounds like you've got a few issues with your MacOS installation. So maybe it's time to consider it.
 
Yes understood

I have now completed an erase of the HD and a complete ire-installation of MacOS and I am pleased to report that everything is working as it should - I can update normally so thanks to all of your advise macrumors.

Interestingly after initiating the process via CMD+R, followed by an erase then install MacOS, it reinstalled High Sierra 10.13.6, not that I am bothered but I thought it would have installed whatever version was lying in the recovery partition when I bough the Imac last year.

However bottom line is that it is all ok - ready for Mojave.
 
When you do system updates, the recovery system will update also. "Dot" updates (10.13.3 to 10.13.4 as an example) may not always update recovery system, but a system upgrade (from Sierra to High Sierra, for example) will certainly also upgrade the recovery system.
That recovery system will allow you to download and reinstall with whatever system you have NOW, and not the system that originally shipped with your Mac. The original system (if that is still available) can be reloaded through Internet Recovery (which boots though Apple's servers)
 
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