Mojave question
Mojave question
Since Mojave was released, both my MacBook Pro and Mac Pro keep failing to install updates (10.14.2, 10.14.3, etc.). They go through the process but then freeze on the Apple boot screen for long periods, eventually becoming unresponsive. Every time an update is released, I have to start from scratch by wiping my computer and restoring files. Has anyone else experienced this problem? It’s really taking up a lot of time.
I typically rebuild my backup on the setup screen after a new install – it's significantly quicker than completing the installation and then using the migration utility within the system… Still, I encountered problems with file system mismatches involving HFS/APFS before. If you're not using a M.2 (or 'blade') SSD and instead have a standard 2.5" SSD, I suggest reformatting it in HFS and proceeding from there to observe the outcome. However, if you're running a M.2 configuration on a separate card inside your Mac Pro, I can't assist you… A colleague is facing similar challenges across multiple configurations (he works with Mac Pros locally) and we haven't been able to resolve it…
If you have another Mac, I’d create a bootable USB, start it and use DiskUtility to apply First Aid on your disk while also erasing it. This would fix any issues, especially if the recovery partition is damaged. After cleaning the drive, install macOS and transfer your data back.
I usually rely on the wizard for setup, using HFS as well, though it might convert to APFS. I can verify it myself. I often clean the drive completely, then just format the Mac OS install volume and proceed.
It seems your installation often switches your filesystem to APFS. The main concern is why you’d choose HFS+ when it’s known to be one of the least reliable options. Unless you need high write performance (such as with MongoDB on a server), APFS might be preferable. I’d suggest using it on a hard drive because HFS+ tends to perform poorly.