Stuck in login loop after installation and initial customization (after first post install restart)

[ew98]

Attempted to install catalina patcher 1.3.0 on two different times, each on newly erased MacSSD (APFS). Running on an imac 9,1 with an SSD and maxed memory. Installation proceeds much like your video. First boot after installation performs the OS customization, after which the patcher installs 2 updates and rebuilds the kextcache. Once that's done I'm prompted to reboot. Following this and every other reboot, I attempt to login with my credentials. The creds are accepted, screen blanks out for a few sec with mouse pointer visible, and then login screen returns. I cannot seem to get out of this cycle. If I enter the wrong password, authentication fails with the standard shake animation.

Not sure if anyone else experienced this issue. Tried an nvram reset - no improvement.

[ew98]

I found this link for dealing with Catalina login loops: https://www.techradar.com/how-to/macos-catalina-problems-how-to-fix-the-most-common-issues

and restarted the iMac in shell mode (cmd-s) Attempted to remount / in rw to remove /var/db/.AppleSetupDone, however the remount did not work and I could not get rid of the file, but I allowed the boot process to continue. Booting in shell mode echoed some of the log messages to the screen. I tried the login a few times and got a few different message dumps, however most contained similar content. I attached one of them.

[JanBe]

@ew98, did you ever fix this issue? I am stuck with the same login loop

[JanBe]

The problem literally fixed itself for me. After waiting for almost 2 hours, I went to bed right after writing the comment above. Now, 10 hours later, the machine got past the first login and is working fine.

For clarification: I let it sit on the login loop all night.

[oferreiro]

I have similar problem with 1.4.4 version. After installation of the Backlight Control Patch update, I can not login on my macbook 5,2 with built-in display closed (lid closed) or disconnected from motherboard (only external display). My built-in display does not works well anymore. Sometimes I have only black screen. I think it is an inverter issue. So normally I use it as closed lid.

[budscot]

I am wondering if this was ever addressed I have just downloaded v1.4.4 and gone exactly the same as the post author. Get it all up and running and hit the login loop.

I have erased my new SSD 3 times now and reinstalled the patcher from scratch and continue to be stuck in the same loop, login password accepted black screen back to login. I am on an early 2009 iMac 9,1 and the first install was fine I logged in ok got quite excited, it was a bit slow, but then after a reboot or 2 the looping login presented itself and despite numerous now reinstall attempts it persists.

I have redone the patches, which if I don't tick the bottom 2 loads fine. If I do tick the Library then it fails with an error.

I have also attempted to clear NVRAM no change, use 2 logins allowing one to be valid and the other not according to other posts on forums re corrupted user account.

Even tried the reset password from Terminal, no change to the position, still stuck in a loop at login.

[ghost]

I have the same issue of stuck at login right after installing the backlit control patch onto an upgraded iMac7.1 20inch with a Core2Duo T9300, an SSD, and an HD2600XT. I installed this patch due to the screen brightness being locked at max, neither the reduce brightness key nor settings slide is effective.

The issue is that after entering the password, the screen shows a spin for a few seconds then turned Black, and eventually returned to the login page again.

Re-installing patches and selecting force rebuild cache did not help.

Have tried removing the .applesetupdone file and a reboot ended up with repeated loading on the Apple logo screen. No luck.

Then I tried cleaning NVRAM, which seemed to damage the OS because the screen only shows a stop sign upon boot. So I reinstalled Catalina and had the same issue again as soon as I added the backlit control patch.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[ghost]

A quick update, created installation usb again then re-installed MacOS, this the backlight control worked again

[ew98]

FWIW, I have long given up going beyond high sierra with dosdude1's macos patcher series. I left my 2008 and 2009 iMacs running the patched version of high sierra and to date they are still functional. I could never get the catalina patcher working reliably.

Recently I've seen other patcher projects out there that appear to track newer macos releases for antiquated hardware. Case in point: https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/VENTURA-DROP.html#newly-dropped-hardware

However in reading thru the patcher description, there are some limitations especially with my generation of hardware (iMac from early 2008).

With the release of apple silicon, I gave in and splurged on a mac mini m2 pro. Natively running macos sonoma, although that release seems to have some gnarly drawbacks to functionality on photos especially on screen saver options.

I miss the days of Jobs.