Are updates within Sonoma fairly dependable on an M1 MBP? Anyone have theirs fail?

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Level 4

1,355 points

Are updates within Sonoma fairly dependable on an M1 MBP? Anyone have theirs fail?

I don't often update my M1 MBP due to it being used for audio recording. There are so many plugins for Logic and other DAW's, that it's always a risk that some of them aren't yet compatible. However, I decided to do an incremental update when I was running Monterey, and my M1 became unresponsive. I had to drive 40 miles to the Apple Store where they had to force upgrade to Sonoma.

I've been at v14.0 for a long time now, but am interested in getting the various security updates, as well as app updates, like Safari, which cannot be updated any other way than doing the OS. Looks like the most current version is 14.7.1

I guess I'm fishing for a consensus on whether the Sonoma incremental updates are stable and won't brick my MBP.

BTW, when I was in the Apple Store having them recover my MBP, there were several other users there with the same exact issue.

Appreciate anyone confirming they've had updates work well. Thanks

MacBook Pro 16″

Posted on Nov 21, 2024 5:18 PM

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Answer 1

HWTech

Level 9

60,578 points

Nov 22, 2024 10:06 AM in response to TopoTone

TopoTone wrote:

The other thing here is that, I *do* make backups. However, when my initial update failure happened, my MBP was completely unable to boot at all. Not into Recovery, or any other manner, so no backup could be used to rebuild anything. The apple store techs had a back door way to force it to accept an upgrade/reinstallation of the OS.

That was probably a DFU firmware Restore. A DFU firmware Revive is less invasive as it only resets the security enclave chip & system firmware while the "Restore" also resets the internal SSD & pushes a new clean copy of macOS onto the internal SSD. Unfortunately the DFU firmware Revive/Restore requires access to another Mac, usually one that is able to run the latest version of macOS which at the moment is macOS 15.x Sequoia.

How to revive or restore Mac firmware - Apple Support

Additionally, once Sonoma was installed, there was no way to use any of my backups to revert to Monterey. I went round in circles searching for methods to do that, and the best I could find was it could be possible to completely clean install Monterey, but not from my backup.

You would need to create a bootable macOS Monterey USB installer, then erase the disk (or rather delete the "Volume Group", followed by selecting the "Install macOS" option & restoring from a backup.

Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon - Apple Support

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

Ultimately, I'll have to bite the bullet, cross my fingers and go ahead. Thanks

You may as well, it was inevitable at some point anyway. People who purchase those specialized software items either need to put pressure on those developers to provide quick support to address any macOS update/upgrade issues. If they are unwilling to do so, then it would be best to vote with your wallet & move on or use another platform where the setup may not be as precarious (if any such system exists for those types of items).

Apple is certainly making things much more difficult every day. I hope you realize that the Mac computers are slowly becoming glorified iPads without a touchscreen. Apple just keeps moving forward with their own agenda & expects everyone to follow off the cliff. Apple doesn't care their frequent major changes affects the third party developers & users in such a negative way.

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Answer 2

Yer_Man

Level 10

163,860 points

Nov 22, 2024 11:41 AM in response to TopoTone

however, I've seen quite a few folks roaming around the discussions that are mainly offering their expertise and helping where they can.

Exactly what I was trying to do..

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Answer 3

Yer_Man

Level 10

163,860 points

Nov 22, 2024 5:42 AM in response to TopoTone

Make a back up. make two. Update. 99% of people have no problem. If you have a problem then revert to one of your back ups.

Only people who have problems come here, so all you're inviting is posts saying "don't do it", because all the people who have no problems aren't here.

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Answer 4

TopoTone Author

Level 4

1,355 points

Nov 22, 2024 8:24 AM in response to Yer_Man

Generally, that may be accurate, however, I've seen quite a few folks roaming around the discussions that are mainly offering their expertise and helping where they can. And, there's the chance that someone who has a problem with something else, sees my question and may respond with their experience. Wishful thinking. So far, no one but you has responded.

The other thing here is that, I *do* make backups. However, when my initial update failure happened, my MBP was completely unable to boot at all. Not into Recovery, or any other manner, so no backup could be used to rebuild anything. The apple store techs had a back door way to force it to accept an upgrade/reinstallation of the OS. Additionally, once Sonoma was installed, there was no way to use any of my backups to revert to Monterey. I went round in circles searching for methods to do that, and the best I could find was it could be possible to completely clean install Monterey, but not from my backup.

Ultimately, I'll have to bite the bullet, cross my fingers and go ahead. Thanks

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Answer 5

TopoTone Author

Level 4

1,355 points

Nov 22, 2024 10:27 AM in response to HWTech

Thanks, You're right about their planned complexity without consideration for all the third party integration. There are literally thousands of plugins for audio recording. Effects, EQ's, virtual instruments, etc. It's a huge industry. Absolutely everyone recording audio with Logic, or any other DAW, is using many of these plugins. It always seems to take months before they are able to comply with the requirements of a new Mac OS. I've already gotten warnings by some of the manufacturers, Not to Upgrade to Sequoia. I think Apple is working to make Logic the all-in-one workstation, that doesn't need any other plugin, but that's impossible. I have so many great virtual instruments that Logic doesn't. I'll have to pick a time for updating when I can risk it.

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Answer 6

John Galt

Level 10

146,432 points

Nov 22, 2024 12:01 PM in response to TopoTone

Yer_Man wrote:

Make a back up. make two. Update. 99% of people have no problem. If you have a problem then revert to one of your back ups.

There are over 100 million Macs in daily use. If 1% of them were having problems like you describe it would be worldwide news devastating to Apple's bottom line.

Only people who have problems come here, so all you're inviting is posts saying "don't do it", because all the people who have no problems aren't here.

👍

100 million people don't come to this site only to say "everything's perfect".

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