Fix The Target Volume Is Part of Incomplete System [Easy]

Have you ever encountered the the target volume is part of incomplete system error when you update your macOS? If so, this post will help you get rid of this issue with simple ways.

Running an outdated macOS comes with numerous inconveniences, and that is why Mac users keep their devices updated to have peak performance. Although the Mac device update is relatively easy, it does not mean it will not encounter trouble. Users who attempt to reinstall macOS Catalina or a later version often encounter an error message stating, "The target volume is part of an incomplete system and cannot be installed to."

Feel at ease if you are experiencing this error and read until the end to see how to fix this macOS update error and restore lost data during the upgrading process:

Method 1. Reformat the Startup Disk in Recovery Mode to Fix The Target Volume is Part of Incomplete System

Often, this method is related to the disk formatting, so you can erase the data on your startup disks and then reinstall macOS Catalina. However, please note that all your data will be lost once the erasing is complete, so it is essential to back up your data first. Here is how you can do this:

First of all, you need to boot your Mac into Recovery Mode as follows:

🟨For Macs with Apple Silicon:

Step 1. Hold the Power button when you see the Startup Options.

Step 2. Choose Options and then click Continue.

🟧For Intel-based Macs:

Step 1. Hold Command + R until you see the Recovery screen.

Step 2. Choose Disk Utility and then Continue.

Now, here is how you can reformat the drive:

Step 1. Choose "View" and then "Show All Devices".

Step 2. Go to the Internal section from the left sidebar and choose the problematic volume.

Step 3. Click "Erase" and wait for the process to end.

Method 2.  Reformat the Startup Disk in Internet Recovery Mode to Fix Target Volume Is Part of Incomplete System

The simple reformatting on the startup disk may fail from time to time. In this case, you can refer to Internet Recovery Mode to reformat your startup disk.

Step 1. Shut down your Mac and hold Command + Option + R when you restart it.

Step 2. When you see the glove sign, release these keys.

Step 3. Choose the network you are using and log in.

Then, you can repeat the reformatting process mentioned before and try installing macOS now.

Restore Missing Files if Troubleshooting Leads to Data Loss

What if you spot data loss when fixing the target volume, which is part of an incomplete system error? A data recovery tool for Mac is the most effective method for restoring lost files after maOS update. One of the most reliable and powerful tools should be EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. 

Here are some more features of the versatile data recovery tool:

• Recover deleted files on macOS Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur/Catalina/High Sierra update
• Restore macOS Monterey data from a variety of storage devices, including HDDs, SSDs, USBs, and more.
• Utilize powerful scanning algorithms to locate all your lost files across various file systems and operating systems.

Here is how you can get your lost files back on Mac:

Step 1. Select the location

Select the disk where you lost data after updating to macOS Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur. Then, click "Search for lost files".

Step 2. Find lost data after the scan

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately scan your selected disk volume and display the scanning results on the left pane. Use the file type and file path to find wanted data on Mac.

Step 3. Recover data after macOS update

Select the target files that were unknowingly lost during or after the update and click the "Recover" button to get them all back.

Conclusion

The target volume is part of an incomplete system error can disrupt macOS upgrades, primarily due to startup disk formatting issues. Reformatting the disk via Disk Utility usually resolves the problem. If these methods fail, reach out to Apple Support for further help.

FAQ on The Target Volume Is Part of Incomplete System

By reading this frequently asked questions part, you can get more related information:

1. How to fix the target volume is part of incomplete system?

The easiest and most effective method should be reformating the problematic drive, but you need to make sure all your critical files are backed up or saved in the cloud storage before formatting.

2. How to recover data lost during the macOS update?

To recover data ASAP after you upgrade to the latest OS or something, using data recovery software would be the ultimate goal, and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a great choice.