Can't delete "Install macOS High Sierra.app"

Question

Level 1

11 points

Can't delete "Install macOS High Sierra.app"

I installed macOs Mojave, but it didn’t work well so I downloaded the macOS installer Hing Sierra from AppleStore. After all, I still realized that the problem is not macOs Mojave, and decided to remove the installer macOS Hing Sierra. I moved it to the trash (asked for a password), but it was not deleted because it wrote an error that it was a macOs file, I tried through the Terminal, through AppCleaner and CleanMyMac - it did not work, except that the application icon disappeared. As a result, I returned to the Applications folder and I do not know what to do, it takes 4 GB of memory... Help pliz!

p.s. English is not my native language, I tried to write without errors, sorry if that

MacBook Air, macOS Mojave (10.14)

Posted on Oct 2, 2018 2:50 AM

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Answer 1

kotikes Author

Level 1

11 points

Oct 2, 2018 4:45 AM in response to VikingOSX

I forgot to say that I used Safe Mode, but I decided to try again, as you said.

1. When I move to the trash, I was asked for the password (as before). I was in Safe Mode, of course.

2. When I got out of Safe Mode, the application did not want to be removed from the basket. The message displaying "The object "InstallESD.dmg" can not be modified or deleted because it is needed for macOS"

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Answer 2

kotikes Author

Level 1

11 points

Oct 2, 2018 5:32 AM in response to VikingOSX

There was no response to the first message.

But the answer is still on the second message. When I want to shut up the Terminal they tell me that it will interrupt the processes fs_usage, grep, sudo. 😕

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Answer 3

Oct 2, 2018 3:50 AM in response to kotikes

That install bundle is now damaged, probably from using that crapware AppCleaner and CleanMyMac, both of which you should uninstall per the vendors specific instructions.

Boot into Safe mode, and then drag/drop that High Sierra installer to the Trash. Empty the Trash after a normal reboot.

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Answer 4

Oct 2, 2018 5:08 AM in response to kotikes

Boot into Recovery, and run Disk Utility First Aid on your boot drive. Long shot, and probably won't change a thing. I don't know why the operating system thinks it needs to hang onto this installer.

After normal reboot, hop into the Terminal and run the following command:

lsof /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app

This should show you all the processes/applications that are clinging to this application. You may also want to try:

sudo fs_usage | grep "/Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app"

to see additional information about what may have a tractor beam attached to it.

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Answer 5

Oct 2, 2018 10:09 AM in response to kotikes

It is telling you that Spotlight is indexing that installer and its contents. Just what that help daemon (helpd) is doing is beyond me. You certainly can interrupt the fs_usage command. You may not be able to remove this installer in its current state as long as it is being indexed by Spotlight.

You can turn off Spotlight on the boot volume:

mdutil -i off /

and see if you can drag the installer to the Trash and empty the Trash.

If this makes no difference, then you might as well re-enable Spotlight:

mdutil -i on /

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Answer 6

kotikes Author

Level 1

11 points

Oct 3, 2018 4:58 AM in response to VikingOSX

It did not help 😢

Writes that the object is still used!

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Answer 7

kotikes Author

Level 1

11 points

Oct 3, 2018 11:03 PM in response to suat.cini

Hurray, it helped! But now how do I properly delete this file?

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Answer 8

Oct 8, 2018 12:49 AM in response to kotikes

Ok I was finally able to delete it by first rebooting in recovery mode and disabling the system integrity protection

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Answer 9

Oct 2, 2018 4:53 AM in response to kotikes

Back into Safe mode, can it be removed from the Trash there?

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Answer 10

kotikes Author

Level 1

11 points

Oct 2, 2018 4:55 AM in response to VikingOSX

No, I've tried it before

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Answer 11

Oct 3, 2018 2:12 AM in response to VikingOSX

I have the same exact problem, tried all of the above and nothing works.

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Answer 12

Oct 3, 2018 6:03 AM in response to kotikes

The file is damaged, and I am out of ideas for removing it.

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Answer 13

suat.cini

Level 2

201 points

Oct 3, 2018 7:32 AM in response to kotikes

You should re-download the same installer. It may replace the damaged/crippled file with itself because no two files may have the same name on the same folder.

Hope this helps.

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