Q: Installer.app deleted: can't open .pkg files

I am not sure how this happened. I think it might be that I recently got some malware and freaked out and deleted files I thought looked suspicious.

When I try to open a .pkg file (been trying to install R and Office) it opens as an endless text file of gibberish that opens in Text Edit. After doing some reading it seems like I need the application Installer.app which typically opens .pkgs, and that seems to be deleted from my Core System files folder...

How do I get that back? Really would like to be able install applications again.

Thanks.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Aug 21, 2016 11:03 PM

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Q: Installer.app deleted: can't open .pkg files

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by etresoft,

etresoft Aug 22, 2016 8:17 AM in response to wsaltons
Level 7 (29,198 points)

Mac OS X

Aug 22, 2016 8:17 AM in response to wsaltons

Hello wsaltons,
You will need to reinstall your operating system (see How to reinstall OS X - Apple Support). You can reinstall on top of your current system without losing any data.

However, I really don't trust Apple's "recovery" system. It is confusing and can easily lead to deletion of all data. I strongly urge you do perform a Time Machine backup before doing anything.
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Q: Installer.app deleted: can't open .pkg files

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by etresoft,

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