MacBook Air hangs after updating to Mojave

[Nighthawk4]

I just updated my MacBook Air to Mojave.

All seemed successful, updated all apps and seemed fine - until I rebooted.

Now it hangs on boot, with a black screen with an Apple logo.

I can get the drive choice but nothing else. No safe mode.

I booted off a backup on an external drive (HighSierra made just before updating). I ran disk utility and first aid. This said too many errors but then finished with success. However it still doesn’t boot.

Should I reinstall from the backup (if I can) and stick with HighSierra or is there a way to fix this please?

MacBook Air 13 inch 2017.

 

[Nighthawk4]

The errors are - warning inode val object ( UID number ) invalid internal flags ( number in hex )

The volume is APFS.

There is plenty of free space.

 

[Nighthawk4]

Ran the repair again - same errors and successful completion and same result.

I turned on the sound and I do get the starting “bong”. No other sounds.

Is the SSD damaged maybe? It was fine with HighSierra

 

[chscag]

Appears the SSD went south. (defective) Did you buy an Apple Care extended warranty? Also, you may be covered under your consumer laws in the UK. Check with Apple but it does appear that you will have to change out that SSD.

SSDs can fail with little or no warning. Updating macOS may have put stress on the SSD which caused it to fail.

 

[Nighthawk4]

Oh no!

Can I replace the SSD myself?

I have upgraded my MacBook Pro in the past but I know Apple are making this harder


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[chscag]

I don't know if you can replace the SSD in a 2017 MBA but I will check real quick. Okay, it appears that OWC (Apple Mac Upgrades - RAM, SSD Flash, External Drives and More) has replacement SSDs for the 2013-2017 MacBook Air models. Go to their site, check prices in US dollars, and also the instructions. OWC does ship to the UK, however, you may be able to find someplace in the UK where you can purchase a replacement SSD and then go to iFixit: The Free Repair Manual for instructions.

Make sure you check with Apple first as they may replace it for free.

 

[Nighthawk4]

I checked iFixit but it looks complicated- more than the MacBook Pro was.

They don’t even look like a normal SSD.

Don’t think there is any warranty- must be about 2 years old I think.

Checking with Apple


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[chscag]

The SSD drive your MacBook Air uses is called the "blade type SSD" and should plug in the same way as the original SSD. I'll take a look at the ifixit instructions and let you know.

Edit: I just checked the 6 step instructions and it's not complicated. As a matter of fact, much easier than some other SSD replacements. You do need to have the correct tools and make sure your order the correct replacement SSD.

 

[chscag]

See my edit to the post above.

 

[pm-r]

You do need to have the correct tools and make sure your order the correct replacement SSD.

OWC, macsales.com and some other suppliers will include and supply all approptiate needed tools for a token optional price, and they aren't like some completely useless garbage tools that some places include. Maybe good for more than a single use or attempt.


- Patrick
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[Nighthawk4]

I booted from another disk and all seemed readable - almost as if it was whatever is equivalent to the boot sector being corrupt.

I wiped it and reinstalled and it all worked. I decided that if the disk was lost anyway so was the data.

It all seems fine now but if the SSD has failed once it is obviously going to do so again, so I intend to get it replaced and then try to restore my data.

Any chance I could restore my backup (HighSierra) and then update from that, or do I have to reinstall everything again on Mojave?


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[MacInWin]

I don't think the SSD failed. When SSDs fail, they usually fail catastrophically and permanently. From your description, it seems something in the conversion to APFS on the SSD got mucked up, leading to invalid data being written into the metadata about the drive. The second install overwrote that bad metadata during the same conversion to APFS, fixing the problem.

So, I would say go ahead and restore your data and get on with it.

However, if you still want to replace the drive, no need to go back to HS, just do a clone backup of your current drive to an external as a backup, then install the new drive internally. Boot from the external drive format the internal to APFS and finally clone from the external back to the internal. Reboot from the internal and check everything out to make sure it's still working. The external drive is now your backup drive, to which you should periodically clone the internal anyway.

 

[pm-r]

So, I would say go ahead and restore your data and get on with it.

I'd agree. Just Carry On...



- Patrick
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[Nighthawk4]

Thanks.

That is what the guy at the Apple place said, so I plan to reinstall and see how it goes.

Any idea if I can use a SuperDuper! Backup as the basis from which to copy my data during the installation please?

It would save the effort of restoring HighSierra and then updating that or restoring all of the data manually.


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[Nighthawk4]

It seems to be installing Mojave and copying the data from my backup at the same time.

Fingers crossed


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[chscag]

Let us know how it turns out. I agree with Jake about the SSD, but at least now you know how to swap the SSD out if it should fail and the cost.

 

[pm-r]

It seems to be installing Mojave and copying the data from my backup at the same time.

Fingers crossed

Hmmmm...??? I really don't see how that could happen unless you already had Mohave installed onto the backup drive along with your backup data.

Anyway, as long as you have your data intact you'll be okay.



- Patrick
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[Nighthawk4]

Success!

It seems to have installed Mojave and copied my data from the backup in one go

*now a happy bunny*


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[pm-r]

Success!

It seems to have installed Mojave and copied my data from the backup in one go

Now if everything is all working and intact as you like, now would be as good time as ever to set up a backup schedule.

That's assuming that you want or need to keep any of your data of course.



- Patrick
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[Nighthawk4]

Agreed. That is the next thing I plan to do.


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