Apple Configurator stuck on installing iOS

[lmgtfy]

Really hoping someone can help here. I am using Apple Configurator to restore around 30 iPads to their original state.

 

I installed the Yosemite update 10.10.1 and the update to Apple Configurator 1.7.1 but I am having problems when restoring or preparing iPads.

 

They are detected and when I click prepare it starts the motion of downloading iOS etc but everytime it gets stuck on

 

* Installing iOS 8.1.2

 

It stays on this screen forever, I left it days and it was the same.

 

Does anyone have any ideas. I have tried wiping the iPad so it has nothing on it no locks or anything but still it stalls every time.

 

Thanks

[tmoon-mint]

Try deleting the firmware from com.apple.configurator and download it again

[lmgtfy]

Thanks @tmoon-mint I just tried you suggestion but unfortunately although it took a while to re-download iOS its still stuck on Installing iOS 8.1.2

 

any other ideas apart from tell everyone they are stuck on iOS7? Probably faster anyway

[tmoon-mint]

Have you got a configuration already in place? If not I suggest a clean install of Apple Configurator. If you have backup ~/Library/Application Support/com.apple.configurator and export the key chain item "Apple Configurator" and then do a clean install.

[lmgtfy]

Thanks I might just go for a fresh install of Yosemite as it seems to crash every few days on the login screen for no apparent reason.

 

Cheers

[lmgtfy]

Saying that though I have no idea how to do this now you don't get a OS CD there must be away though, here's hoping its easy!

[tmoon-mint]

Easiest thing ever, just boot to recovery (CMD+R) and reinstall OS X.

 

Edit: If you upgraded to Yosemite via the Mac App store you will be prompted for your Apple ID.

[Pahoa_Phill]

Will you let us know if it works? I'm having the same problem, and I wouldn't be surprised if plenty of others are as well.

 

Phill

Edited December 16, 2014 by Pahoa_Phill
punctuation

[lmgtfy]

@Pahoa_Phill No luck so far, I have tried a number of things such as, remove apple configurator along with all its db and files as in this link https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5763739?tstart=0 - no joy

 

Tried going back in timemachine to the OS before Yosemite, no joy still the same

 

Tired reinstalling Yosemite still the same

 

Tried ringing up Apple support their advice was update the iPad manually and try again, kind of defeats the point of what I am trying to do here?

 

Any ideas anyone?

[kennysarmy]

Hi

 

I'm on 10.10.1 and the latest apple configurator and can report no problems...

[tmoon-mint]

Probably sounds silly but have you tried changing cables? This has thrown me off a few times, especially when schools have purchased knock off ones.

[lmgtfy]

@tmoon-mint I've just tried another 2 cables hoping that was the problem but no still stuck on that part.

 

I might ring Apple back unless anyone has any further suggestions?

[tmoon-mint]

I've got one last thing for you to try, although it is a longshot. Please note that the software does mess around with the HOSTS file, so be ready to reset it once you have finished. Download and install TinyUmbrella from http://cache.firmwareumbrella.com/downloads/tinyumbrella-7.12.00.exe

 

Does the software detect your device in recovery mode? If so can you click "Kick from recovery" and does it do anything?

 

This tool was used historically to downgrade devices to versions of iOS that were no longer being signed by Apple, hence why it changes the HOSTS file.

[Boredguy]

Did you manage to make any progress with your issue, as I've run into exactly the same brick wall with our new iMac running 10.10.1, Apple Configurator 1.7.1, and trying to supervise a batch of new iPads that all have 8.1.1 on them and the Prepare just sits at Installing iOS 8.1.2 for hours with no progress.

 

I've downloaded the firmware file separately and dropped it into the folder to check it was not a corrupt file (even though it went through the verification process quickly enough)

 

I don't really want to have to manually apply 8.1.2 to each iPad before using Configurator =/

[lmgtfy]

@Boredguy No progress at all I'm afraid. I spent about 3 hours on the phone to apple enterprise support as luckily I recently bought Apple Server so I have 90 days free support with this but still no progress. They recommended I update the iPad's in iTunes which I did but then as a Supervised device still has to go through the update stage even with the latest iOS already installed it still freezes at the installing iOS point.

 

Christmas then came and the whole thing got held up but the last thing I am going to try is a complete different separate Mac if I can get my hands on one that is.

 

I have tried separate iPads, different users on the Mac. Different version of Mac OSX on the same Mac and nothing works it always get stuck.

 

I'm sure there is a bug but as any large multinational unless hundreds of people have the same issue are they really going to care?

 

I now have 30 iPads sitting here almost useless to me.

 

I will let you know if I get anywhere with this.

 

Cheers

[waitoc]

I suspect that this is more of an issue with iOS 8.1.2 and how it interacts with Apple Configurator's "Update iOS when available" option, regardless of the version or the MAC OS. I am running Apple Configurator 1.5 on Mavericks as it is the most stable for my environment Yosemite forces AC 1.7 to be used, which essentially renders our devices useless for my school boards needs as it removes all apps, then re-installs them again each time it is connected to a cart (40-60 minute process isn't acceptable in between classes), so I downgraded (thank goodness for a timemachine back-up) back to Mavericks so I could again run AC 1.5.

 

All that said, I too am experiencing sporadic issues when attempting to install the newest iOS to a device. I have 3 different carts that I am working on today, and of those I have about a dozen per cart showing "Installing iOS 8.1.2" with "About 4 minutes" remaining, however this 4 minutes has been on the screen for hours without the blue status circle moving. I even have a new device fresh from the Prepare state that I am attempting to Supervise that is also stuck at the same spot, About 4 Minutes.

 

I say sporadic as I have had many experiences with iOS 8.1.x hanging on something over the past month or so. In addition to the Installing iOS issue hang, I also have many cases of it hanging at "Waiting to authorize apps", with Less than a minute showing, that of course never completes until I do a force quit. I haven't found a reliable work-around for this as of yet. I have had the most luck with a force quit, then launching Configurator and clicking the "Stop" option the moment it opens. Then verify if the iOS has been updated by viewing Get Info. If it updated, I remove the Update when available for the problematic device and the problem sometimes goes away. But this doesn't always work and I'm getting frustrating to say the least as I am one of two people responsible for managing 80 carts with approximately 2000 devices in our school board. An MDM is in our near future however in the meantime any tips, past experiences or advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

thanks,

Chris

[Andie]

The solution to the waiting to authorise apps hanging is here:

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mac/142877-apple-configurator-waiting-authorize-apps.html

 

To be honest, I have got to the stage now that I run the first set of iPad refreshes with only 5 iPads plugged in to the trolley, as a test run. And despite all the manic warnings that you get if you quit Configurator during a refresh and then restart it, it does seem to be the only thing that works if the thing hangs. I haven't had any iPads destroyed yet by doing it....

 

Also make sure that you haven't got Restore backup set in the Settings tab in Configurator. That seems to cause endless problems. Set it to Don't restore backup.

 

Spiceworks, which is free, claims to have an MDM for managing mobile devices but it looks like the MDM takes some setting up and I haven't had time to tackle it yet.

Edited January 7, 2015 by Andie

[Boredguy]

We found a workable solution, but it's not the best.

 

On a PC we use iTunes to update each iPad to 8.1.2

We then erase all settings

Connect to Apple Configurator and it can prepared and supervised. If only it did not nag about our self signed certificate for the Wifi, but oh well just something else to click along with entering the apple id etc.

[lmgtfy]

@Boredguy you are a life saver. I have done what you said and it works perfectly. You are better than Apple Enterprise support. Yes it is a pain to update all iPads using iTunes on a PC but then it works perfectly.

 

Thanks again

[Boredguy]

Both my technician and I spent this morning trying different options and stumbled across this by accident.

He's got the job of updating all of them via his PC atm and once I get our damn VPP enrolment confirmed (only been waiting since mid Dec) we can worry about apple ID's, packages and the MDM.

[Michael]

I have a feeling the source of the problem is Apple's new queuing system when it comes to iOS updates, not matter how big or small. Earlier this week I had 16 x iPad3's already running iOS8.1.1 and with the iOS8.1.2 post update being approx. 20MB it should be a breeze.

 

Out of the 16, 8 upgraded over the school wireless with no issues. The remaining 8 sat there for well over 30 mins requesting the update for no reason. I was then forced to update the remaining 8 manually via iTunes using an offline *.ipsw file which does the trick, but is by no means ideal. Major iOS upgrades - yes, small post updates no.

 

If you need offline files, you can download them here

[Boredguy]

I had the ipsw file downloaded already for Configurator but even leaving it "installing" overnight produced zero progress... plugging them into the PC and they are updated within 5 minutes each.

[lmgtfy]

PC's rule shame you can't get Apple Configurator on a PC.

[Michael]

True - but you can of course install iTunes 12 on a PC and update iPads using the *.ipsw file this way. It's a good compromise until Apple fix the issue, if at all.

[Pahoa_Phill]

Well, I HAD this problem, but it seems to have disappeared into thin air. Maybe that Tim Cook voodoo doll did some good after all....