macOS Big Sur upgrade can lead to data loss without ample storage

[kers]

Apple is too busy with making iCars ... ( how safe will those be?)

An issue with Apple's macOS Big Sur installer allows users to upgrade from an earlier operating system without first verifying that the target Mac has enough free hard drive space, resulting in installation failure and data loss.

The problem is present in currently shipping Big Sur installers and appears to date back to the first macOS 11 builds launched in November, reports Mr. Macintosh. Interestingly, subsequent point releases and delta updates are unaffected by the bug.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/02/09/upgrading-to-macos-big-sur-without-ample-hard-drive-storage-might-result-in-failure-and-lost-data

[eddiehop]

Who would do the installation of a new OS without having a current TimeMachine (or some other) backup?

Granted: the bug should be fixed.

But no one practicing "safe updating" would be caught by this.

[kers]

Who would do the installation of a new OS without having a current TimeMachine (or some other) backup?

Granted: the bug should be fixed.

But no one practicing "safe updating" would be caught by this.

What company pushes you to the latest OS while it ruins your data?

[rdonson]

Hopefully, most Mac users are smart enough to choose when to upgrade an OS.  Many wait for second or third updates to consider it.  Many wait until all their software supports it. 

Apple may promote OS updates but they don't force it on anyone. 

Be smart.

[Jonathan Cross]

Do I take it that people are not yet comfortable to change to Big Sur?

Best wishes,

Jonathan

[kers]

In this case: just make a good backup first and make sure you have plenty of room on the harddisk and you will be fine...

I always wait one year to upgrade; this problem came to the surface after 5 months ...

[digitaldog]

Do I take it that people are not yet comfortable to change to Big Sur?

IMHO and experience, it's far better, faster and stable than Catalina.

[rdonson]

No knocks on Big Sur but.... you also have to check all your other software for compatibility.  I waited until 11.2 so the OS and some software worked properly together.  Its frustrating as hell to upgrade the OS just to find out that some software you use/need isn't up to speed yet.   

[kers]

IMHO and experience, it's far better, faster and stable than Catalina.

and mojave was more stable than Catalina....

[BobShaw]

and mojave was more stable than Catalina....

Everyones situation with applications is different, but all I can say is that my experience has been different.
I have only just upgraded to Catalina a year after it came out, but to me it is much more stable than Mojave, especially with Safari on my 2013 iMac.
Even Aperture runs faster on Catalina and it wasn't supposed to run at all.

I expect that unless I need to buy a new computer that comes with Big Sur I won't be upgraded again to Big Sur for a while.

[kers]

A new installer has solved the problem:

https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/02/15/updated-macos-big-sur-installer-resolves-installation-bug