This is just too scary not to write a post about. I was recently installing some OS updates on my Mac Pro when I experienced the “Setup Assistant Infinite Loop” bug. I had manually restarted the Mac Pro after it hung when trying to install updates and was presented with the Setup Assistant. This is the dialogue box you get when you first setup your computer. Yikes!
My initial thought was…crap…I just lost everything. Have no fear folks, there is a solution. :)
I can’t take credit for the solution, but I can confirm that it works. I found it in the forums over at AppleInsider. Here’s what you do:
- Boot into Safe Mode by holding down the shift key upon boot. (You have to hold it down for a long time. Several minutes)
- Do not log in
- Hit the back arrow key
- Then hit the restart button
- Wait, it will then run or rerun the updates
- Wait and wait and wait and it will finally restart
You should be back to normal without any data loss. Now go out and buy a secondary hard drive and get Time Machine up and running just in case something like this happens again and it doesn’t go so well.