macOS Big Sur Installation Failed: 'An Error Occurred While Installing the Selected Updates'

[hmgreen]

Not resolved, although I saw the update on the apple.com system status page. I had been on hold with Apple Tech Support and was finally told (earlier) that the partially downloaded file did not need to be deleted, and the message was because the server was down.

So now that the status was "resolved" I tried again and got the same error message:

I have tried this after restarting in safe mode with no difference in the result. I have a new phone coming tomorrow that I need to restore from backup on my MacBook Pro. I think I am done with this insanity until after that. My laptop works just fine without Big Sur, so I think I will wait until this is stable. This was an afternoon that I will never get back.....

 

[1243109]

Apple this morning released macOS Big Sur to the public, and since the software went live, it has had extremely long download times that have prevented many from being able to install it.

Even those who have made progress through the download have run into problems where the software downloading process is suddenly interrupted and must be restarted. Others have reported being able to download the update and then having the installation fail. Apple's site appears to be having some major issues due to the number of people attempting to download the update at once.

In addition to these Big Sur download problems, Apple's developer site is also down at this time, and as a result, some third-party apps are unable to be opened up at this time.

An error occurred while installing the selected updates


It's not clear what's causing the problem. It could be that the macOS Big Sur downloads are failing due to a developer site issue or the developer site could be failing under the strain of macOS Big Sur demand, but it is clear that those hoping to get the new software should hold off until things are more stable.

Apple's System Status page is listing an issue with macOS Software Updates and says that the problem is "currently being investigated."

Article Link: macOS Big Sur Installation Failed: "An Error Occurred While Installing the Selected Updates"

I continue to have the same issue. It keeps saying the installation failed. I don't know how long should we wait for Apple to actually resolve this issue. Their Apple Service System said the issue has been resolved... but it might be a while

 

[DCswitch]

Edit out your serial number, dude.

There is no reason to edit your serial on a genuine Apple. Only Hackintoshers need to edit out their serial number. A hackintosh needs an unused serial number. They don't take the serial from genuine Apple computers.

 

[crudo]

Out of curiosity, some members mentioned that the issue what due to an issue with Akamai : how did they figure this out ? Can't find this in my logs.

Console.app > install.log

2020-11-13 00:19:17+01 Bee com.apple.preferences.softwareupdate.remoteservice[4394]: SUOSUShimController: Install finished with error: Error Domain=PKDownloadError Code=8 "(null)" UserInfo={NSUnderlyingError=0x600001e15200 {Error Domain=NSURLErrorDomain Code=-1102 "(null)" UserInfo={NSErrorFailingURLStringKey=http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/50/49/001-79699-A_93OMDU5KFG/dkjnjkq9eax1n2wpf8rik5agns2z43ikqu/InstallAssistant.pkg, PKURLTransportErrorStatusCodeKey=403, PKURLTransportErrorResponseHeadersKey={
        Connection = "keep-alive";
        "Content-Length" = 407;
        "Content-Type" = "text/html";
        Date = "Thu, 12 Nov 2020 23:19:17 GMT";
        Expires = "Thu, 12 Nov 2020 23:19:17 GMT";
        "Mime-Version" = "1.0";
        Server = AkamaiGHost;
        "X-Cache" = "TCP_DENIED from a80-239-200-47.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com (AkamaiGHost/10.2.0.2-31441410) (-)";
    }, NSUnderlyingError=0x600001e16f10 {Error Domain=NSURLErrorDomain Code=-1102 "(null)" UserInfo={NSErrorFailingURLStringKey=http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/50/49/001-79699-A_93OMDU5KFG/dkjnjkq9eax1n2wpf8rik5agns2z43ikqu/InstallAssistant.pkg, PKURLTransportErrorStatusCodeKey=403, PKURLTransportErrorResponseHeadersKey={
        Connection = "keep-alive";
        "Content-Length" = 407;
        "Content-Type" = "text/html";
        Date = "Thu, 12 Nov 2020 23:19:17 GMT";
        Expires = "Thu, 12 Nov 2020 23:19:17 GMT";
        "Mime-Version" = "1.0";
        Server = AkamaiGHost;
        "X-Cache" = "TCP_DENIED from a80-239-200-47.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com (AkamaiGHost/10.2.0.2-31441410) (-)";
    }}}}}}

 

[andreiru]

The big unsure. Better luck tomorrow.

 

[cmaier]

I'm sorry, but everyone on this forum that says that Apple is trash or stupid is just stupid themselves. Thousands of people are trying to download the 12GB Update, so of course the Apple servers are crashing. One must be very stupid to think that they have the capacity for every single user to download the Update at launch simultaneously. Just wait a few days, the issues will be either fixed by Apple directly or there won't even be need for that since traffic cools down and the servers will work just fine again.
I am using MacOS since Yosemite, and since then it always worked fine, never crashed and never lagged. Just be patient and stop being so stupid and giving Apple bad credit just for your inability to wait a bit...gosh

“Of course?”

This happens every year or so. They should have planned for it better.

 

[spencecb]

Again wondering if someone knows where the installer is stored...I can't find it. It used to be in Applications, but its not there and I can't find it in Alfred searching "macOS Big Sur" or any other installer name for that matter

Yes, does anyone know? I have a feeling that this might be an issue as well. Both of my Macs started downloading the update and failed several times, but each time they picked back up more or less where they left off. These things have to be store somewhere...

 

[c0ldc0ne]

This is definitely not fixed. Someone's gonna get fired at Apple today...

Did you get fired every time you made a mistake?

 

[m6jor]

the same error in Ukraine

 

[patimages]

Again wondering if someone knows where the installer is stored...I can't find it. It used to be in Applications, but its not there and I can't find it in Alfred searching "macOS Big Sur" or any other installer name for that matter

/library/update ...? There is also a snapshot com.apple.os.update (seen in disk manager) : not sure if it contains some update parts or just a restore image ?

 

[mitkomitashki]

macOS Big Fail

 

[Samuel Sosa]

The apple support system status says the Installation Failed problem is fixed...it is not. I am still getting the error message.

I saw that. Lies I tell you lies

 

[thisisnotmyname]

I never understood the concern about sharing a serial number? Can‘t imagine you could do a lot with it other than check the spec and AppleCare status?

Hackintosh users will steal it and that will cause issues for you with iMessage, Facetime, etc... that are tied to hardware.

 

[Ethosik]

Well I am going to watch a movie and try again in a few hours! Still no success.

 

[rmiller065]

I don’t know why if they fixed it - they didn't just make the version 11.0.2 and make everyone re-download the OS.
Clearly still an issue.

 

[farrokhi]

Seems like there are restrictions (enforced on CDN) for networks in some regions. From Europe:

% curl -I http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/50/49/001-79699-A_93OMDU5KFG/dkjnjkq9eax1n2wpf8rik5agns2z43ikqu/InstallAssistant.pkg

HTTP/1.1 403 Forbidden
Server: AkamaiGHost
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/html
Content-Length: 406
Expires: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 23:17:42 GMT
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 23:17:42 GMT
X-Cache: TCP_DENIED from a23-62-99-79.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com (AkamaiGHost/10.2.0.2-31441410) (-)
Connection: keep-alive

 

[Harmush]

Out of curiosity, some members mentioned that the issue what due to an issue with Akamai : how did they figure this out ? Can't find this in my logs.

Looked in Console, filter by errors and faults whilst hitting the update now button and it'll be in there.

 

[srazz]

What a joke.

 

[aleni]

AYBABTU has been my personalized license plate for nearly two decades across two states and numerous vehicles. Absolutely NO ONE gets it, and I look like an idiot even trying to explain it. I love it. 😂

God damn you’re old brother! 😂

 

[iamMacPerson]

I think it bodes well for the new software when the UPDATE SERVER crashes before it can even be released.

 

[crudo]

Where are the partial downloads stored? I'm definitely seeing lost space on my Mac hard drive from this. Anyway to clear?

Found some in /private/var/folders/zz/zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n00000s0000068/C/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate/swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/50/49/001-79699-A_93OMDU5KFG/dkjnjkq9eax1n2wpf8rik5agns2z43ikqu/InstallAssistant.pkg.partial but you can't delete them.

 

[1278701]

The last OS release was pretty **** with the Mac store / purchases issue. This is just beyond belief to be fair. Every time they try to release something new, it turns out to be a **** show.

 

[Rubik]

Out of curiosity, some members mentioned that the issue what due to an issue with Akamai : how did they figure this out ? Can't find this in my logs.

I am a little sceptic about this observation. I have never seen Apple using Akamai for software updates. Apple definitely uses their own IPv4 address space (17.0.0.0/8) for software updates and I am not aware that Akamai offers BYOIP.

 

[movieator]

Yea, a serial number isn't the same as your phone number, SSN, Credit Card number.

Fair point.

Disregard my prior post, people.

 

[xeemian]

Who else is seeing this?