Resolved Unable to re-install Catalina

[Nailed]

Hi
I got my first Mac a few days ago coming from Windows / Linux. After using it for a few days I decided to wipe and re-install as I had a better idea of what software and how I wanted to use iCloud and Google services etc.

After erasing the disk and installing from recovery it was fine but all the previously installed apps etc was still there. That’s when I learned about removing the additional data partition. So I deleted it, erased the disk and tried installing from recovery. But it fails after a few hours “An error occurred installing macOS”.

I have attached photos of the error and what disk utility shows after the.

I have read some fixes for issues and have set the date via terminal, reset the NVRAM and something else starting with a S.

Any assistance is appreciated.

EDIT - Was an Apple bug which has now been resolved

 

[Weaselboy]

Go back to command-option-r Internet recovery, then is Disk Util set it to show all devices. Then select the drive itself like Apple SSD in my example, then erase the drive to APFS/GUID and try the reinstall again.

 

[Taz Mangus]

While in Recovery Mode, in Disk Utility, click on View->Show All Devices, select the top listed device on the left side panel (this is the physical drive device). Now perform the erase as APFS.

 

[Tubeee]

Looks like you're not the only one having this issue right now, myself included:

I can not reinstall catalina - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

Update bundle package component's bridge … - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

 

[Nailed]

While in Recovery Mode, in Disk Utility, click on View->Show All Devices, select the top listed device on the left side panel (this is the physical drive device). Now perform the erase as APFS.

Unfortunately it didn’t work. Same error.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Unfortunately it didn’t work. Same error.

Try erasing the drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

If that does not work, try resetting PRAM and then do the install from Recovery Mode. Wasn't clear if you have tried this yet.

Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

If one or more settings stored in NVRAM don't work as expected on an Intel-based Mac, resetting NVRAM might help.

support.apple.com

 

[Nailed]

Try erasing the drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

If that does not work, try resetting PRAM and then do the install from Recovery Mode. Wasn't clear if you have tried this yet.

Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

If one or more settings stored in NVRAM don't work as expected on an Intel-based Mac, resetting NVRAM might help.

support.apple.com

I’ve already done the reset with no luck, will try the different file system (nothing to loose)

 

[GeeDuhb]

Hi
I got my first Mac a few days ago coming from Windows / Linux. After using it for a few days I decided to wipe and re-install as I had a better idea of what software and how I wanted to use iCloud and Google services etc.

After erasing the disk and installing from recovery it was fine but all the previously installed apps etc was still there. That’s when I learned about removing the additional data partition. So I deleted it, erased the disk and tried installing from recovery. But it fails after a few hours “An error occurred installing macOS”.

I have attached photos of the error and what disk utility shows after the.

I have read some fixes for issues and have set the date via terminal, reset the NVRAM and something else starting with a S.

Any assistance is appreciated.

Unfortunately I have this issue as well, except it is with about 20 machines deployed to users who can't use them at the moment. I called and sat on hold with Apple Support last night for over an hour and they told me it was a known issue, but couldn't provide a time table for this to get fixed (The woman said it would not be "days" but just kept saying "soon"). Apple broke something yesterday, because this was not an issue until yesterday morning for us. (We had users wiping the drive and then reinstalling via recovery for 4 days before this...long story, but it is business/MDM related...)

Anyway, sorry I can't give you any good news, but at least know it isn't due to anything you did wrong. I think at this point, we just have to wait for Apple to fix it on their end.

 

[Taz Mangus]

I’ve already done the reset with no luck, will try the different file system (nothing to loose)

The last thing I can suggest is downloading the full 10.15.6 installer, create a USB bootable of the installer. Boot to the USB installer and install from that.

‎macOS Catalina

‎macOS Catalina gives you more of everything you love about Mac. Experience three all-new media apps: Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts. Locate a missing Mac with the new Find My app. And now coming to Mac, your favorite iPad apps. You can even extend your desktop using iPad as a second...

apps.apple.com

 

[Nailed]

Anyway, sorry I can't give you any good news, but at least know it isn't due to anything you did wrong. I think at this point, we just have to wait for Apple to fix it on their end.

Thanks for the info. So we wait.

Also just for info it wouldn’t allow me to install on any but the default file system.

 

[Nailed]

The last thing I can suggest is downloading the full 10.15.6 installer, create a USB bootable of the installer. Boot to the USB installer and install from that.

‎macOS Catalina

‎macOS Catalina gives you more of everything you love about Mac. Experience three all-new media apps: Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts. Locate a missing Mac with the new Find My app. And now coming to Mac, your favorite iPad apps. You can even extend your desktop using iPad as a second...

apps.apple.com

I don’t have access to a working Mac at the moment ?

 

[GeeDuhb]

The last thing I can suggest is downloading the full 10.15.6 installer, create a USB bootable of the installer. Boot to the USB installer and install from that.

‎macOS Catalina

‎macOS Catalina gives you more of everything you love about Mac. Experience three all-new media apps: Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts. Locate a missing Mac with the new Find My app. And now coming to Mac, your favorite iPad apps. You can even extend your desktop using iPad as a second...

apps.apple.com

Apparently a physical boot of the installer doesn't work either (at least after connecting to the internet.) From the looks of it, is seems like someone mistyped the minimum software requirement for the version of BridgeOS running on the T2 chip. It seems to be failing because of that.

 

[chrfr]

Apparently a physical boot of the installer doesn't work either (at least after connecting to the internet.) From the looks of it, is seems like someone mistyped the minimum software requirement for the version of BridgeOS running on the T2 chip. It seems to be failing because of that.

This should be working now, Apple removed the build that was causing the problem.

 

[ignatius345]

Stumbled across this earlier -- not sure if it's relevant:

How should you clean re-install Catalina?

Older versions of Catalina can fail to erase the System and Data volumes, but 10.15.6 should be able to, making clean re-installation simpler.

eclecticlight.co

 

[Nailed]

This should be working now, Apple removed the build that was causing the problem.

Yup, got it working... thanks all!!