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PSA: macOS 14 Sonoma Beta 4 Not Installing Properly for Some Users

read the problems with install, especially with the location services. I turned off location services before install and everything went well. I don't know if that helped or not but all programs and widgets and everything is where it should be and working. after install I turned location services back on and rechecked, and everything working as before.

Well, that was a bit premature. this morning after the computer wokeup..i had plenty of problems with safari and other programs. I ran virus barrier scanner for malware just for the hell of it. nothing showed up. then I ran disk first aid from the disk utility. it fixed a few problems and now, so far, things seem fine.
 
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M1 Max 14" MBP, can't get the install to finish. I get to the main login screen. After logging in, progress bar starts, goes maybe 15% across and stops. The clock on the login page doesn't advance: freezes. I left it there for several hours, nothing. Went back to Beta 3. Disabled FileVault and tried again, nope. Back to Beta 3. Currently running a backup. In prep for the next attempt, I disabled Advanced Data protection and turned off location services. I'll let you know how it goes after the next attempt. But if that doesn't work, I'm going to go the route of DFU and the Beta 4 IPSW and then restore.
 
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2021 16" Macbook Pro M1 Pro - no issues here doing the latest beta. It did restart five or six times so there were a few blank screens for a minute or two though. Perhaps that is some of the issues reported?
 
Anyone else with MacBook Air M2 13"?

It's not my main machine, but it is for app development and testing. I just don't want to have to spend all day TS if I don't have to
 
mookc1 said:
M1 Max 14" MBP, can't get the install to finish. I get to the main login screen. After logging in, progress bar starts, goes maybe 15% across and stops. The clock on the login page doesn't advance: freezes. I left it there for several hours, nothing. Went back to Beta 3. Disabled FileVault and tried again, nope. Back to Beta 3. Currently running a backup. In prep for the next attempt, I disabled Advanced Data protection and turned off location services. I'll let you know how it goes after the next attempt. But if that doesn't work, I'm going to go the route of DFU and the Beta 4 IPSW and then restore.
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I was able to install the update! Not sure if it was disabling location services, disabling Advanced Data protection, OR removing my Avast VPN client, but it installed with no issue this time.
 
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2020 M1 NBA. I was planning to resist updating, but this morning my machine had already downloaded it, and just asked if I want to restart to install. Now I am in a cycle of starting up about an 8th inch on the progress bar, and then a shut down. If I hold my power button, the cycle can start over ; not sure how many times to try it.

Only panicking a little – so far — but would appreciate not too much talk about widget functionality on this thread. There are other threads about the new release. This is just about the start up and install issues and I’m eager to read all I can.
 
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if anyone can direct me to instructions on how to downgrade to a prior beta, I’d be grateful. Recovery mode keeps telling me I need migration assistant, to restore from my pre-upgrade back up — but I can’t access migration, assistant, if I can’t start my computer, can I?
IMG_6072.jpeg
 
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mookc1 said:
I was able to install the update! Not sure if it was disabling location services, disabling Advanced Data protection, OR removing my Avast VPN client, but it installed with no issue this time.
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I had the same symptoms on an Intel Mac Mini (2018 I think). I just connected to it from work and disabled Location Services, verified that Advanced Data Protection is off, and checked to see if the Avast VPN client was installed. The only item needing attention was disabling location services. Running the update now. I will advise as to success or failure.
 
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Completely borked by M1 Mini - black screen after install and multiple reboot attempts. Re-installed beta (3) in recovery mode. Trying again with beta 4
 
Realityck said:
What type of display is involved and using hdmi, usb-c, or thunderbolt?
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I actually thought that might be my issue with my Mac Mini, so hooked it up to my TV via hdmi. still didn't work. I vaguely remember an issue from many years ago where the Mini was slow if the computer wasn't hooked to an HDMI monitor. I think OWC used to sell an adapter that went into the port with some circuitry to fool it.

But like i said, changing the monitor didn't solve my issue last night.
 
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I'm going
mookc1 said:
I actually thought that might be my issue with my Mac Mini, so hooked it up to my TV via hdmi. still didn't work. I vaguely remember an issue from many years ago where the Mini was slow if the computer wasn't hooked to an HDMI monitor. I think OWC used to sell an adapter that went into the port with some circuitry to fool it.

But like i said, changing the monitor didn't solve my issue last night.
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I'm going to go one better and remote in with no monitor. When I restored Beta 3, my VNC server started up by itself and I could remote in from the original login screen. So will try the same with beta 4 and only a network cable plugged in.
 
Well the restore back to beta 3 has worked and it's like nothing happened. I have turned off beta updates for now so I don't continually see there is an available update. Guess I'll wait for the next beta or a fix for this one.
 
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nikhsub1 said:
Well the restore back to beta 3 has worked and it's like nothing happened. I have turned off beta updates for now so I don't continually see there is an available update. Guess I'll wait for the next beta or a fix for this one.
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Can you help me find how to restore to Beta 3? When I try to restore from Time Machine it says I need Migration Assistant, which I can’t access since I can’t start up! Thanks.
 
mookc1 said:
I had the same symptoms on an Intel Mac Mini (2018 I think). I just connected to it from work and disabled Location Services, verified that Advanced Data Protection is off, and checked to see if the Avast VPN client was installed. The only item needing attention was disabling location services. Running the update now. I will advise as to success or failure.I
Click to expand...
The update on the Mac Mini at home got hung up again. Good news is that I go home for lunch! While there, I dug though the extensions in Settings and found that while I thought that I had uninstalled Avast (AV and VPN), there were still some extensions listed. I downloaded the AV and VPN installers, re-installed, and then immediately used the vendor provided uninstall program which is included as a menu option when the program is installed. I rebooted, and attempted the update installation. It worked. I'm now running Sonoma Beta 4.

Just my experience. My update issue is now resolved. Hope this helps someone.
 
srbNYC said:
Can you help me find how to restore to Beta 3? When I try to restore from Time Machine it says I need Migration Assistant, which I can’t access since I can’t start up! Thanks.
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Shut the machine down - then HOLD the power button when it boots up, you will get boot options (if this is an Apple Silicon chip) click the gear on the right side, you will get the option to restore to Sonoma Beta - choose that. It will say it is going to take some amount of time, it will go much faster than what it initially says. If you have an Intel mac I believe you need to shut down and hold command + R while booting to get to recovery options.
 
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threw it on my MacBook Air test platform with the M1 and it installed fine. the PB 16" and M1 Mac mini are both waiting, and might skip 4 for now. my work 14" is still on Ventura lol fun to play, and fine if I get into problems with non-work computers!
 
nikhsub1 said:
Shut the machine down - then HOLD the power button when it boots up, you will get boot options (if this is an Apple Silicon chip) click the gear on the right side, you will get the option to restore to Sonoma Beta - choose that. It will say it is going to take some amount of time, it will go much faster than what it initially says. If you have an Intel mac I believe you need to shut down and hold command + R while booting to get to recovery options.
Click to expand...
I did that and it seemed to restore to the same beta, which really surprised me—or at least display the same startup issues.. I erased, did a new Monterey install. Now I’m restoring from Time Machine, and then I’ll install Sonoma 3. Happy Wednesday.
 
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