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User profile for user: nittfan
nittfan Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Cannot install Big Sur

Hello. I have a mid-2013 Macbook Air. I have been trying to install Big Sur on it for a few days now. Supposedly my Mac is compatible with Big Sur. At first I was getting a message that I didn't have enough memory available. Now, after dumping almost everything off my laptop I get a message that simply says that it can't be installed?! WTH? I have read that there have been major issues with Big Sur getting stuck in an installer loop or something like that. Is that what is happening to me? I'm not a computer geek, so my capabilities are limited, but this is frustrating.


Also - as a "bonus question" - when I check out available storage on my laptop (and then go to recommendations on what to remove) it says I have 31.43 GB “other” installed on this laptop but will not let me view what "other" is!?


TY to anyone who has any insight into this problem.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Aug 27, 2021 7:57 PM

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User profile for user: PRP_53
PRP_53
User level: Level 10
90,979 points

Posted on Aug 28, 2021 1:25 AM

Check in Application folder for a possible already existing " Install Big Sur " Application. If one exists, Drag and Drop to Trash and Empty Trash.


As @ Lanny already mentioned possible issue on this computer regarding size of Internal Drive being possibly the small 128 GB size. This is going to be struggle to get is down to an acceptable amount of Empty Space and then Install Big Sur.


You may what to consider an alternative option once having exhausted all conventual methods offered.

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User profile for user: PRP_53
PRP_53
User level: Level 10
90,979 points

Aug 28, 2021 1:25 AM in response to nittfan

Check in Application folder for a possible already existing " Install Big Sur " Application. If one exists, Drag and Drop to Trash and Empty Trash.


As @ Lanny already mentioned possible issue on this computer regarding size of Internal Drive being possibly the small 128 GB size. This is going to be struggle to get is down to an acceptable amount of Empty Space and then Install Big Sur.


You may what to consider an alternative option once having exhausted all conventual methods offered.

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User profile for user: Lanny
Lanny
User level: Level 6
13,207 points

Aug 27, 2021 8:27 PM in response to nittfan

Memory is not the same thing as SSD space. Most likely you have a 128 GB SSD, which is really just too small. The good news is that your SSD is upgradable: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/macbook-air/2013-2014-2015


"Other," is a generic term to describe an assortment of files that generally don't match the more common identifiers. It is not a physical location on your SSD or a folder.


"If upgrading from macOS Sierra or later, macOS Big Sur requires 35.5GB of available storage to upgrade. If upgrading from an earlier release, macOS Big Sur requires up to 44.5GB of available storage."


Generally the storage hogs are, collections of movie/video, music, and or photo files. Consider relocating them to external drives. Also, mail files can become quite large if they contain years of mail that may have sizable attachments.

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Cannot install Big Sur

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