Download progress bar stuck when upgrading to High Sierra

[kimo35]

I just bought a used MacBook Pro mid 2012 model.

the machine had Yeosmite on it when I bought it, I used Online Recovery to erase the drive and install a fresh legit copy.

I got Mountain Lion installed. Then I tried to upgrade to High Sierra from the App Store.

I found high sierra on the store and downloaded it. I got a small installer file, about 14 MB, then when I clicked it it started the installation process.

The progress bar kept going to a certain point then it got stuck and didn't go any further for several hours.

I tried to turn off the machine and turn it back on and run the installer again, same thing. downloading for a few hours then gets stuck at some point.

I have been a PC user for decades and this is my first experience with a Mac. Please help.

 

[chscag]

Welcome to our forums.

How fast is your connection? The installer file is small as you say... around 14MB, however, the full High Sierra installation is around 5.3 GB and may take quite a long time to download and install. Also, if your MacBook Pro 2012 model has a SSD installed, the file system will be converted at the same time to the new Apple File System (APFS) and that will consume more time.

Before attempting to install High Sierra again, you might want to check the drive in your MacBook Pro. If the installer finds drive errors, it will stop. Since you're new to Macs here's how to check the drive:

1. Reboot the MacBook Air and hold down the command and r keys as soon as you hear the boot chime (bong). Keep holding them until the Apple appears on the screen.

2. The machine will then continue to boot to Recovery. As soon as you enter Recovery select Utilities, and then select Disk Utility. When in Disk Utility, highlight the Macintosh HD (should be the bottom entry) and then select First Aid. That may take a while to run and should let you know if there are disk errors and whether or not the program was able to repair them.

Let us know how that went. If all is OK, select reboot from the top menu and allow the machine to boot back to normal mode afterwhich you can attempt to install High Sierra again.

Note... if your connection is slow, it may take several hours to install High Sierra.

 

[kimo35]

Thank you for your fast response.

My connection is relatively slow. but I am sure when the download stops because I spot the frozen progress position and keep watching it for an hour or two. then I see no progress at all.

I also tried verifying the disk in First Aid and it said OK.

Still no luck!

 

[chscag]

Since your disk verified OK, it must be the slow connection that's holding you up.

But there is nothing we can do about a slow connection. If there is an Apple Store nearby your home, you might go there and have them download High Sierra for you and place it on a flash drive or you can download it while in the store. Also, if you have a friend with a fast connection, you might be able to borrow that connection to download.

 

[ferrarr]

The macOS High Sierra download must complete, before the installation can begin. You should download High Sierra, through the macOS App Store, and when it is finished downloading, you will be asked to continue if you want to install the new High Sierra. Do you have the Launchpad app, in your Dock, the icon looks like a rocket with a window? If the file is still downloading, there will be a progress bar, in the icon.

 

[kimo35]

The macOS High Sierra download must complete, before the installation can begin

Yes, I got a small installer application downloaded and I ran into the problem after it started working to download the upgrade.

the installer is about 14 MB, other users said that they had to download over 5GB from MAS. I think Apple changed the process to make the installer app do both the download and the upgrade. not sure!

Anyway, I doubled the speed of my internet connection and now I am using ethernet cable instead of wifi and I am trying again, the upgrade is working and it's almost half way done. Hopefully it works this time!

 

[ferrarr]

Did you look in your Applications folder for Install macOS High Sierra app? I just started the download again, so I'll see when it finishes.