Delete InstallESD.dmg

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SirSpinach1 Author

Level 1

15 points

Delete InstallESD.dmg

I downloaded a Catalina install for a friend's laptop.

I'm on a iMacPro running Big Sur.

Did not allow the download to install, just downloaded it.

Now... I can't delete the **** thing!

I get various messages for every process I've tried...

"in use"

"not permitted"

"required by MacOS", etc.

I've attempted to delete in the Finder, in Terminal, in SafeBoot.

I've given Terminal full disk access, and still receive the error "directory not empty". Attempt to delete the .dmg... zip.

I'm up-to-date w/ Big Sur, yet this thing is wasting my time!

Anyone have a real solution?

Posted on May 5, 2021 12:43 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

dialabrain

Level 10

126,725 points

May 5, 2021 12:51 PM in response to SirSpinach1

Boot into Recovery Mode.
Run csrutil disable in the Terminal.
Restart
Delete the file
Boot into Recovery Mode again
Run csrutil enable in the Terminal
Restart.

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Answer 2

Kurt Lang

Level 9

62,376 points

May 5, 2021 12:52 PM in response to SirSpinach1

That .dmg is within the Catalina installer. You delete the installer, not the embedded .dmg archive.

If the .dmg is mounted in Disk Utility, dismount that first. Then go to the Applications folder and delete the file:

Install macOS Catalina

You should be able to remove it by entering your admin password.

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Answer 3

dialabrain

Level 10

126,725 points

May 5, 2021 1:21 PM in response to SirSpinach1

SirSpinach1 wrote:

Unless I'm missing something... Booting into Recovery Mode does not give access to Terminal... I tried this morning, as I'd run across a post on StackOverflow.

The Terminal is under the Tools menu.

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Answer 4

SirSpinach1 Author

Level 1

15 points

May 5, 2021 1:34 PM in response to dialabrain

I was going to say that.

Many thanks... worked perfectly.

Just to think... I wasted several hours on things that didn't work!

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Answer 5

dialabrain

Level 10

126,725 points

May 5, 2021 1:26 PM in response to dialabrain

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Answer 6

SirSpinach1 Author

Level 1

15 points

May 5, 2021 1:04 PM in response to dialabrain

Unless I'm missing something... Booting into Recovery Mode does not give access to Terminal... I tried this morning, as I'd run across a post on StackOverflow.

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