Users report serious stability issues with macOS 10.13.4

[Cal Jeffrey]

If you are running macOS High Sierra, you might want to skip the latest update. The Register reports that users are experiencing difficulties after attempting to install version 10.13.4.

The patch notes say that the “High Sierra 10.13.4 Update improves stability, performance, and security.” However, some users are finding that when they try to restart after installing they wind up in Recovery Mode with a message that says, “The macOS installation could not be completed.”

Diagnostics seem to show that disks are in good shape, so hardware malfunction can be ruled out. At least one user reported being able to get things running again by booting into Safe Mode, but another user reported on Apple Stack Exchange that his Mac stalled at 100 percent after booting to Safe Mode on Apple tech support's advice.

Cupertino does not appear to have any answers to what is causing the failures, but ExtremeTech and AppleInsider are also reporting stability issues for macOS 10.13.4 involving multi-monitor configurations.

“DisplayLink is used to allow computers to run displays via USB technology,” says ExtremeTech. “It’s deployed across a number of different products, and there are software solutions that leverage it in various ways, typically to extend or clone a Mac desktop. And as of macOS 10.13.4, none of those solutions seem to be working — or at least, they’re not working normally.”

“The macOS installation could not be completed.”

DisplayLink is not the only multi-monitor solution having problems. Duet posted an alert on its support pages warning users to hold off on updating to 10.13.4.

“We recommend staying on macOS 10.13.3 [emphasis Duet]. Installing macOS release Version 10.13.4 will cause Duet Display stop functioning after the OS upgrade [sic]. We have alerted Apple to this issue and are working hard to find a resolution. These features continue to work as expected in 10.13.3.”

It appears that at least in the Duet and DisplayLink cases users are able to start up normally but lose some display functionality. This is quite different from not being able to boot up at all.

In any case, it looks like Apple has some patch work to do to resolve multiple issues with the current version of High Sierra. For now, avoid updating to 10.13.4. If you feel you must install it, be sure you have a current backup on hand in case things go sour, which is a good policy for any major installation.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/74261-users-report-serious-stability-issues-macos-10134.html

 

[gigantor21]

Wow, just updated multiple iMacs at work and none of this has happened (so far). Several are using dual display setups. Looks like the client dodged several bullets...

 

[ZackL04]

Since Steve left ios has gone to hell too.

Ever since ios 8 I havent been able to brag that I use an iphone cause it just WORKS.

Now its buggy as hell, and I find myself restarting it at least once a month

 

[MoeJoe]

It was bound to happen sooner or later...

Not sad. ; )

 

[rynstphn]

After my iMac installed the update automatically, I ran into this exact issue and thought nothing of it.
Solace in the comfort of knowing im not alone?

Since Steve left ios has gone to hell too.

Ever since ios 8 I havent been able to brag that I use an iphone cause it just WORKS.

Now its buggy as hell, and I find myself restarting it at least once a month

I don’t see how your once-a-month reboot of your iPhone has anything to do with this article.

 

[Igrecman]

I installed the 10.13.4 update on a Hackintosh and had no problem at all, but before that I made a Paragon backup disk image just in case.

 

[Catweazle]

I had all sorts of problems with High Sierra when it came out; sounds like things haven't gotten much better. I went back to Sierra which is still rock solid for me.

 

[DelJo63]

We're still on 10.13.3 and stable - - thanks for the heads-up.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

Wow, just updated multiple iMacs at work and none of this has happened (so far). Several are using dual display setups. Looks like the client dodged several bullets...

So far only Duet and DisplayLink have reported issues. If your client uses a different multi-monitor solution, that is likely how the bullet was dodged. BTW: Good thing they dodged the bullet too because you know who would have got the blame.

 

[Vrmithrax]

I find this issue baffling (and a tad amusing). Apple touts their complete control over their hardware and entire ecosystem, and one of their big justifications for that tight control is to prevent issues like this very one from happening.

Looks like their final QC department needs to step it up a bit.

 

[Julio Franco]

My MacBook Pro has been freezing randomly since the update... So it seems like something went really wrong with this one.

 

[Nobina]

It just doesn't work.

 

[torchyear]

Duet has always been a little flaky, in my experience. Its video driver broke an upgrade from Win8.1 to Win10, and the system got stuck in a reboot loop when nothing could be displayed on screen. Duet's tech support was very quick to respond via e-mail though.

 

[LeeWeb]

Just feels like Microsoft and Apple have traded spaces in the stability game.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

I have not had any issues with 10.13.4 except this morning the display kept turning off for no reason. I use an external monitor on my MacBook Pro and it would come on for a few seconds after waking it up, but then went back off. Oddly I fixed the issue by opening the laptop for about 30 seconds or so and then closing it again and the monitor then remained on.

 

[DelJo63]

Just updated today ...

iMac i5
Model::ME086LL/A
2.7GHz Quad-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz
8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2X4GB
1TB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
Intel Iris Pro Graphics
Apple Magic Mouse
Apple Wireless Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
Accessory Kit​

let's see what happens.

 

[DelJo63]

Install & updates apps ok

also suggests HT201222 for 10.13.4

 

[DelJo63]

I find 10.13.4 to be far more responsive: coming out of sleep, accessing smb:\\shares and launching programs.

So far, I pleased