Re-installing Mojave from USB, .dmg or app file?

[Doc69]

I have some issues with my 2018 Mac Mini and need to re-install Mojave. I tried CMD+R but that defaulted to Catalina (probably since I have Catalina on other partitions/volumes). I also have a bootable flash drive with Mojave (says version 14.6.06), but I'm not 100% sure it's the latest 10.14.6. I tried to run the 10.14.6 ComboUpdater but that would not install. And I have the "Install macOS Mojave.app" file, which also says 14.6.06.

What is the best way to reinstall Mojave on top of my old 10.14.6, keeping all my data intact. What would happen if the installer file is older than the installed OS? Would I just get a warning about it? And is running the "Install macOS Mojave.app" while booted up from another partition the same thing as re-installing from the bootable flash drive or CMD+R?

 

[Taz Mangus]

Just run Install macOS Mojave.app, it will refresh the OS and system files but won’t touch your user data files.

 

[Doc69]

Just run Install macOS Mojave.app, it will refresh the OS and system files but won’t touch your user data files.

Thanks! Can I run installer while booted up in the same OS that I’m reinstalling, or should I boot into another partition and run the installer from there? Or is it just the same?

 

[chrfr]

I have some issues with my 2018 Mac Mini and need to re-install Mojave. I tried CMD+R but that defaulted to Catalina (probably since I have Catalina on other partitions/volumes). I also have a bootable flash drive with Mojave (says version 14.6.06), but I'm not 100% sure it's the latest 10.14.6. I tried to run the 10.14.6 ComboUpdater but that would not install. And I have the "Install macOS Mojave.app" file, which also says 14.6.06.

What is the best way to reinstall Mojave on top of my old 10.14.6, keeping all my data intact. What would happen if the installer file is older than the installed OS? Would I just get a warning about it? And is running the "Install macOS Mojave.app" while booted up from another partition the same thing as re-installing from the bootable flash drive or CMD+R?

If you start up holding command-option-shift-r, the computer will install Mojave from internet recovery.

 

[Doc69]

If you start up holding command-option-shift-r, the computer will install Mojave from internet recovery

When I do this, after the download progress bar is almost done, I get the following error message: "Apple.com/Support -1008F". And command+R starts the Catalina installer.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Thanks! Can I run installer while booted up in the same OS that I’m reinstalling, or should I boot into another partition and run the installer from there? Or is it just the same?

You can run it while booted to Mojave. What happened when you tried running the 10.14.6 combo update?

 

[Doc69]

You can run it while booted to Mojave. What happened when you tried running the 10.14.6 combo update?

OK, thanks. I'll do that then. When I run the 10.14.6 combo update I get the following error message:

 

[chrfr]

You can run it while booted to Mojave. What happened when you tried running the 10.14.6 combo update?

You can't install a combo update for Mojave over the top of Catalina.

 

[Doc69]

You can't install a combo update for Mojave over the top of Catalina.

My main OS is Mojave, which is on the Macintosh HD disk you see in the picture. That's where I want to do the reinstall. The Catalina install is on another disk. I have several installations of both Mojave and Catalina on different volumes and/or APFS containers on two different disks. The problems I'm having with Mojave seem to have started once I installed Catalina (on a different partition).

 

[Taz Mangus]

My main OS is Mojave, which is on the Macintosh HD disk you see in the picture. That's where I want to do the reinstall. The Catalina install is on another disk. I have several installations of both Mojave and Catalina on different volumes and/or APFS containers on two different disks. The problems I'm having with Mojave seem to have started once I installed Catalina (on a different partition).

Which OS are you running, Catalina or Mojave?

EDIT: Never mind.

 

[chrfr]

My main OS is Mojave, which is on the Macintosh HD disk you see in the picture. That's where I want to do the reinstall. The Catalina install is on another disk. I have several installations of both Mojave and Catalina on different volumes and/or APFS containers on two different disks. The problems I'm having with Mojave seem to have started once I installed Catalina (on a different partition).

You also can't reinstall a combo update over a version of macOS that's had security updates installed, so that's probably what's going on there.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Download the Mojave 10.14.6 full installer, from the Mac App Store, and run that while you are booted to your normal Mojave install.

‎macOS Mojave

‎MacOS Mojave delivers new features inspired by its most powerful users, but designed for everyone. Stay focused on your work using Dark Mode. Organize your desktop using Stacks. Experience four new built-in apps. And discover new apps in the reimagined Mac App Store.
 Dark Mode • Experience a...

apps.apple.com

 

[Doc69]

You also can't reinstall a combo update over a version of macOS that's had security updates installed, so that's probably what's going on there.

OK, thanks, that sounds plausible.

 

[Doc69]

Download the Mojave 10.14.6 full installer, from the Mac App Store, and run that while you are booted to your normal Mojave install.

Thank you for the link! By the way, how did you get that link? When I searched the App Store for 'Mojave', because I wanted to make sure I had the latest installer/build, nothing came up. Anyway, thank you again, I'll use this installer to do the reinstall tonight.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Thank you for the link! By the way, how did you get that link? When I searched the App Store for 'Mojave', because I wanted to make sure I had the latest installer/build, nothing came up. Anyway, thank you again, I'll use this installer to do the reinstall tonight.

I did a internet search for Apple Mojave installer and went to the link: How to upgrade to macOS Mojave - AppleSupport. In that link there is the section Download macOS Mojave and a link that will take you to the Mac App Store to download the installer.

 

[Doc69]

I ran the Mojave installer that I just downloaded from the App Store, but got the error message below. Anyone know what could be the cause? I will download the file again and give it another try.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Move the Mojave installer in the Applications folder to the trash, empty the trash, restart the computer and download the Mojave installer again.

 

[camelia]

. I tried to run the 10.14.6 ComboUpdater but that would not install.

What is wrong with the Compo Update for Mojave?
It bricks your Mac when you install the Cu for Mojave?

Thanks
Camelia

 

[Taz Mangus]

What is wrong with the Compo Update for Mojave?
It bricks your Mac when you install the Cu for Mojave?

Thanks
Camelia

See post #7.

 

[Doc69]

Move the Mojave installer in the Applications folder to the trash, empty the trash, restart the computer and download the Mojave installer again.

I downloaded the Mojave installer a second time and ran it once it opened automatically after the download. This time it worked. So everything is good now! The first time I downloaded the installer, I closed it after it had opened after the download finished, and then ran it later. I don't see how that would make a difference, but anything is possible with computers...

 

[Taz Mangus]

I downloaded the Mojave installer a second time and ran it once it opened automatically after the download. This time it worked. So everything is good now! The first time I downloaded the installer, I closed it after it had opened after the download finished, and then ran it later. I don't see how that would make a difference, but anything is possible with computers...

Glad it finally worked for you. Hope that resolves the issues you were seeing.