Cannot install .pkg and .mpkg files

Question

Level 1

9 points

Cannot install .pkg and .mpkg files

I have recently tried to install .pkg and .mpkg files but without success. When I double-click on a file, the installer icon appears in dock but I get the following error message: The operation couldn’t be completed. (com.apple.installer.pagecontroller error -1.).

The problem persists despite repairing permissions.

I have read several messages about this problem but there seems to be only one solution, and that is to reinstall the OS. I am seriously trying to avoid this unless there is a way to recover all my applications, including Parallels Desktop, Windows 7 and other Win applications.

I would greatly appreciate any advice. Many thanks.

MacBook Pro, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.53 GHz, 4 GB, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Oct 27, 2010 12:47 PM

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Answer 1

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Oct 27, 2010 1:13 PM in response to Jazzmoi

The problem persists despite repairing permissions.

Did you restart your computer after doing the above?

Disconnect all peripherals from your computer. Boot from your install disc & run _*Repair Disk*_ from the utility menu. To use the Install Mac OS X disc, insert the disc, and restart your computer while holding down the C key as it starts up.
Select your language.
Once on the desktop, select Utility in the menu bar.
Select *Disk Utility.*

Select the disk or volume in the list of disks and volumes, and then click *First Aid.*
Click _*Repair Disk.*_
Restart your computer when done.

Repair permissions after you reach the desktop- http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25751

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Answer 2

Jazzmoi Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 27, 2010 1:27 PM in response to CMCSK

Many thanks for the quick response.

I just realized what was happening. I used Firefox to download these files and tried to install them by double-clicking. What I should have done was to download .pkg and .mpkg files with Safari which automatically runs them after they are downloaded. I tried it a few minutes ago and all the files that I was not able to install worked just fine.

I hope this is helpful to others. Cheers.

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Answer 3

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Oct 27, 2010 1:54 PM in response to Jazzmoi

Thanks for providing a solution.

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Answer 4

xiaoshe

Level 1

0 points

Jan 20, 2011 2:16 AM in response to CMCSK

I also meet this problem, and I repair the disk as suggested, but it cannot work.
I downloaded a .pkg file to a folder, and I try to continue install the file but same error message pops up.
But when I find the file from download folder and install the .pkg file, the installation can be finished.
What can I do to avoid this situation?

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Answer 5

wizzyzoo

Level 1

5 points

Apr 28, 2011 7:48 PM in response to Jazzmoi

The solution is to open the .mpkg with Disk Utility and create an uncompressed read/write .dmg. Mount the dmg and run the .mpkg and all should be fine.

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Answer 6

May 14, 2015 7:00 PM in response to wizzyzoo

thankyou, this worked out for me.

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Answer 7

tim.mey

Level 1

0 points

Dec 14, 2015 3:45 AM in response to wizzyzoo

Thanks, wizzyzoo! Any explanation to why this actually works or why my .mpkg didn't work before?

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Answer 8

p170

Level 1

4 points

Jun 20, 2016 3:08 AM in response to Jazzmoi

I spent several hours on the phone to Microsoft support while they had access to my Mac. Tried this and it worked straight away (in my case not automatically, I had to double click downloaded app). Many thanks.

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