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Setting up a new rMBP freezes on Filevault screen
- Thread starter ghanwani
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yeah I'm setting up a new 15" MBP and it hung on the file vast screen before I even had a chance to unclick the options.
I restarted andsetup a new account as above and it bypassed that file vault option screen straight to setting up new mac and then the desktop.
I restarted andsetup a new account as above and it bypassed that file vault option screen straight to setting up new mac and then the desktop.
So same thing happened to me, just after Christmas. It finally came out of the hang state and functioned normally... at least for a while. One day, everything froze up except for the mouse cursor. I could move it around, but nothing else worked, including force quit. Suddenly, it shut down and restarted on its own. When it booted back up, it started as if it were brand new out of the box. I had to set up the computer as if I just opened it, and once set up, all of my files were wiped clean. All preferences and settings were put back to default. However, all of my apps that I installed were still there under applications (although they were gone from the dock, which was also reset to default settings).
I took it in to the Genius Bar and they ran their tests. Everything passed fine. So they said they would keep it for several days and run some more stress tests, which of course also came up with no issues. So they told me to come in and get it and keep an eye on it. That wasn't acceptable to me, so after speaking with the store manager for a while, she allowed for a full replacement. I just got home from getting this replacement and am in the middle of setting it up. Guess what? It's hung on the FileVault Disk Encryption screen.
Ugh... This is killing me. This computer is for work and I already lost everything I put on it the first time around. Fortunately, it was only a few days after opening it up, so I hadn't transferred all of my work from my old computer just yet. But what if that happens again on this new one in a month or two from now? I can't risk that.
Not sure what to do at this point as I'm sure Genius Bar will be stumped as well. I'm gonna have to call that same store manager again and see what she suggests. I'll post an update if anything significant comes of this.
So about ten minutes after that last post, it unfroze and went to the next screen of the setup process. I decided to call the same Apple store, but I couldn't get in touch with the same manager that assisted me before and who authorized the replacement. The admin that I spoke with this time simply told me that all he can do at this point is to run stress tests on this new MacBook and see what happens, which to me is not a viable solution, but I understand that it's the only thing he can suggest. So I guess I'm taking this one back in tomorrow to run the same tests just to see the same "PASSED" results and hear them say that my computer is fine and I can take it home and use it. Hopefully, it won't crash on its own and wipe all of my data again.
Just because I read about all the problems people were having with this, I decided not to risk it and returned the replacement that I got without even opening it. It didn't hurt that Broadwell was announced, so it looks like those machines should be showing up in a few months.
Does the problem happen regardless of whether or not encryption is selected? In my case I had selected encryption during the setup phase.
Does the problem happen regardless of whether or not encryption is selected? In my case I had selected encryption during the setup phase.
I selected "no" to encryption (or whatever the choice was) and it still locked up on me. Twice. On two different computers.
That's a bummer. If you don't need the machine now may be better to return it and wait for the Broadwell update. If you need it, then I'm not sure what you can do. May be try your luck with a Macbook Air? (That's probably what I would have done, even though the display is not that great.)
I also came across folks reporting a UI lag problem with the rMBP and Yosemite.
Unfortunately I do need it immediately for work.
So I took it back in to the Genius Bar today and the lead admin that helped me over the phone yesterday said that it's absolutely normal for new Macs to get hung up on the FileVault setup screen. He said even if you select "no" it may still take 15-20 minutes. I just laughed and said "ok." I repeated what he said: "So you're saying all brand new MBPs freeze up with spinning beachball on the FileVault setup screen for 20 minutes and this is normal and not an issue at all?" He said, "yep and if you selected yes, it might even take up to 45 minutes." At this point, I don't even know what else I can do but laugh and say "ok, sure." So I'm going to hang onto this one (because I really need it) and keep everything backed up often and hope for the best. Most of my work is usually stored on external drives anyways, so it's more of an inconvenience than anything if it crashes and wipes everything. But a pretty time-consuming inconvenience nonetheless.
Anyways, if anything else bad happens, I told him I'm coming back for his head. At the least, I can always say that I brought it in for testing and one of their lead admins told me not to bother getting it tested.
My experience with AppleCare/Genius Bar/Store employees has not been very comforting. I have trouble trusting anything I hear from them because I get variable answers for the same question. I have had some folks tell me the hanging/delay is normal; I have had others tell me it's not. Likewise for non-technical issues for things like how to handle a return/exchange. Likewise for service...one person tells me they'll replace a part under warranty and I just need to make an appt; I make the appt and go in and I'm told it's not covered under warranty.
I think they do whatever is needed to get you out of their way as soon as possible so that you become someone else's problem.
I think they do whatever is needed to get you out of their way as soon as possible so that you become someone else's problem.
This happened to me getting my new baseline 13" rMBP up and running. I had not read this thread or any others about the issues, so I had no expectations for a delay. I first unchecked the encryption option, then I clicked on "Continue".
Now I'm not used to using a trackpad, so the first time I tried to click "Continue" I'm not sure if I failed to line the pointer up properly or didn't fully press down to click (I'm might have tried a double tap.). But there was no response to my attempt. No beachball yet, but also no progress. So I attempted again to click "Continue" and that is when it beachballed. So it is *possible* that it was a second click on Continue that caused the trouble. If it was, they should have a faster response to the click on Continue to let you know it worked. If it wasn't, then instead of a beachball, how bout a progress bar?
At any rate, I opted to let it spin but after no progress for 15 minutes, I got online on my iMac to call apple support. Right after I keyed my apple pw, the beachball stopped and the desktop appeared on the rMBP. A popup on my iMac then alerted me that the mbp had logged into iCloud. So I didn't bother pursing the call to support.
The beachball took almost right at 20 minutes (time on an iPod photo I took when it started to time of the iCloud pop up about it mbp login in.)
Now I'm not used to using a trackpad, so the first time I tried to click "Continue" I'm not sure if I failed to line the pointer up properly or didn't fully press down to click (I'm might have tried a double tap.). But there was no response to my attempt. No beachball yet, but also no progress. So I attempted again to click "Continue" and that is when it beachballed. So it is *possible* that it was a second click on Continue that caused the trouble. If it was, they should have a faster response to the click on Continue to let you know it worked. If it wasn't, then instead of a beachball, how bout a progress bar?
At any rate, I opted to let it spin but after no progress for 15 minutes, I got online on my iMac to call apple support. Right after I keyed my apple pw, the beachball stopped and the desktop appeared on the rMBP. A popup on my iMac then alerted me that the mbp had logged into iCloud. So I didn't bother pursing the call to support.
The beachball took almost right at 20 minutes (time on an iPod photo I took when it started to time of the iCloud pop up about it mbp login in.)
same issue - brand new macbook 12" retina
Got my brand new 12" retina and thought i'd be falling in love quickly, but i have the same beachball error. It's been 20 minutes so far. I will give it another 20 before I force a shutdown. Frustrating with a brand new machine with one port.
Got my brand new 12" retina and thought i'd be falling in love quickly, but i have the same beachball error. It's been 20 minutes so far. I will give it another 20 before I force a shutdown. Frustrating with a brand new machine with one port.
Bummer. Thought this might be fixed with the new processor. I can't imagine they are not getting complaints from others.
However, one of the things I have heard (and I have no idea if it is true) is that the beach ball happens because it's trying to connect to iCloud. Again, I wasn't getting consistent answers which is why I returned the machine and went back to using my 2010 MBP.