Installing macOS Big Sur on an external USB drive freezes at "Less than a minute remaining"

Question

Created Jul ’20

Replies 7

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After downloading and attempting to install macOS on a flash drive, the installation goes through as normal, until it gets to the very end, at which it freezes at "Less than a minute remaining" with the white bar full. I am trying to install macOS on a USB stick formatted to Mac OS Extended Journaled with two partitions, one is a time machine backup and one is getting Big Sur beta 3 installed on it. I am on a MacBook Air 2015 on 10.15.6 and the installation has been stuck here for nearly two hours. Anything I can do to fix it? Are there any extra bugs currently in this update that I should be aware of that might be effecting this? I've tried restarting and re-installing but that hasn't helped. Should I just leave it overnight?

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Answer 1

RaphaFourth OP

Aug ’20

I am experiencing the same issue right now. My longest “less than a minute remaining” ever. I am surprised that this has been posted two weeks ago and Apple didn’t care to resolve this one. Now I am regretting doing this upgrade. I have a lot to work on tonight.

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Answer 2

NSApps OP

Aug ’20

I had the same issue. After this stopped and will never do this again.

1

Answer 3

lleseman OP

Aug ’20

I’m experiencing the same problem right now. It looks like there is some action on the extern device but nothing happens.
Still no solution found for this issue?

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Answer 4

unfrostedpoptart OP

Aug ’20

Same here. Been sitting like this for a couple of hours. Will let it sit overnight and see.

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Answer 5

dmthomas314 OP

Dec ’20

My first time installing any version of macOS 11 was 11.1 release on 2013 MBP.
Booted from "Install macOS Big Sur 11.1" flashdrive and chose to install on external USB drive.
Progress bar started at around 28 minutes but has been displaying "Less than a minute remaining ..." for over 3 hours with the activity LED on external drive flashing the whole time.

Is this another example of declining quality in macOS ?

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Answer 6

dmthomas314 OP

Dec ’20

I gave up trying to install on external USB drive as I'd done in previous versions of macOS; I tried 11.1 & 11.2beta1 on 11,1 & 18,3 models. So with a Mac having external USB drive to hold full backup

boot from USB memory stick setup by Big Sur "createinstallmedia"
run Terminal
"sudo ditto --nocache /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/ /Volumes/<backup drive>"
switch to Disk Utility and erase "Macintosh HD"
switch to Big Sur installer & run it

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Answer 7

Mazzelot OP

Jan ’21

Same situation. Installation stucks at "less than 1 minute left" since 2 hous.
Before updating the old system I would like to test my apps unter Big Sure on an USB stick.
I switched off my mac pulled out the install USB stick and tried to reboot from the unfinished installation.
It started to boot from the stick, but repeated the installation (28 Minutes left). It ended again in "less than 1 Minute left".
Any suggestions?

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