Software I downloaded appears as .mpkg folder
- Thread starter iTom
- Start date
DeltaMac
Tech
What version of iTunes did you download?
Did you download that from the Apple downloads page?
Try to download again from here: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
The iTunes installer likely would be named "iTunes.mpkg", and double-clicking on that should launch the installer.
The current iTunes would be on an installer named "iTunes.pkg", which is STILL a folder, though a special type.
Assuming that you have a version downloaded that is supported on your system, try restarting your Mac, then try the iTunes installer again.
Did you download that from the Apple downloads page?
Try to download again from here: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
The iTunes installer likely would be named "iTunes.mpkg", and double-clicking on that should launch the installer.
The current iTunes would be on an installer named "iTunes.pkg", which is STILL a folder, though a special type.
Assuming that you have a version downloaded that is supported on your system, try restarting your Mac, then try the iTunes installer again.
For some reason my Mac's Utilities folder didn't have Installer. I had to get it from a different Mac. Now that I have Installer, iTunes.mpkg appears as a box icon, not a folder. When I click on it, it starts up Installer, but nothing else happens. Installer is not installing.
I have an old Mac that runs on 10.3.9 and had to download an old version of iTunes, 7.6, which is no longer available at the Apple.com. I had to get it from a different source.
I have an old Mac that runs on 10.3.9 and had to download an old version of iTunes, 7.6, which is no longer available at the Apple.com. I had to get it from a different source.
DeltaMac
Tech
If that system is 10.3.9 - and that's where you are struggling to get the installer to work - be sure to try restarting that Mac. You could also try downloading the 10.3.9 combined updater, and install that (if it will install)
Here's a link to a download page for that combined updater: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL496
Which Mac do you have with 10.3.9?
Is it one that can be upgraded to a newer version of OS X? Even the very first iMac (the original bondi-blue model) can run 10.4.11 - although it's a challenge to do that.
Finally (or firstly) - When you first restart, hold the shift key down until you see the grey Apple with the spinning gear. That will boot into Safe Boot mode. Log in to your user, and try the installer while booting in that mode.
Here's a link to a download page for that combined updater: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL496
Which Mac do you have with 10.3.9?
Is it one that can be upgraded to a newer version of OS X? Even the very first iMac (the original bondi-blue model) can run 10.4.11 - although it's a challenge to do that.
Finally (or firstly) - When you first restart, hold the shift key down until you see the grey Apple with the spinning gear. That will boot into Safe Boot mode. Log in to your user, and try the installer while booting in that mode.
It's a PowerPC G3. Would it run 10.4 without any problems?
That page you linked to appears to be a download for the entire operating system 10.3.9. Do I have to download the entire operating system and reinstall it? I already have 10.3.9. All I need is something that will install a .mpkg file. I don't have a very fast internet connection, so downloading a 117 MB file is going to take a while. Is there something smaller I can download?
Meanwhile, I'll try restarting and holding down the shift key. Maybe that's all I need to do.
That page you linked to appears to be a download for the entire operating system 10.3.9. Do I have to download the entire operating system and reinstall it? I already have 10.3.9. All I need is something that will install a .mpkg file. I don't have a very fast internet connection, so downloading a 117 MB file is going to take a while. Is there something smaller I can download?
Meanwhile, I'll try restarting and holding down the shift key. Maybe that's all I need to do.
DeltaMac
Tech
WHICH PowerPC G3?
Is it a blue & White G3 tower?
Or an iMac? There's 6 different models in two generations that all have PowerPC G3 processors...
Or a PowerBook G3 - there's two different models that can run at least 10.3 - and also have PowerPC G3 processors
Or an iBook? 5 or 12 different models (depending on how you count), all with PowerPC G3 processors.
Or, there's also the old Beige G3, with a tower, or desktop, or an all-in-one G3 (forerunner to the first iMac), all also with PowerPC G3 - and can be upgraded to 10.4 with an upgraded replacement processor.
On any G3 Mac, the amount of RAM memory that you have installed can be the biggest factor in running an updated OS X version. 512 MB or more is great.
The page that I linked to is the combined updater for 10.3.9 - and not the "entire operating system"
The combined updater, for each major version of OS X over the last 10 years or so, is often used as a good troubleshooting step to fix up odd issues that might start happening in OS X. It's not a 100% sure thing to help, but I have seen that updater help many times, and can fix your issue. The reason is that the updating script in the update verifies that all files provided by ALL previous updates, are in place, and properly set.
Because the update includes ALL updated files, they get pretty large. The one for 10.7.5 is over 2GB, for example.
And, because it is not a sure thing, then a very slow download might, in the end, prove to be a wasted effort (but still worthwhile to try)
But, perhaps you have access to a faster connection somewhere? You could download the update through a different computer, and copy it to a flash drive, or whatever you might have for portable storage.
Is it a blue & White G3 tower?
Or an iMac? There's 6 different models in two generations that all have PowerPC G3 processors...
Or a PowerBook G3 - there's two different models that can run at least 10.3 - and also have PowerPC G3 processors
Or an iBook? 5 or 12 different models (depending on how you count), all with PowerPC G3 processors.
Or, there's also the old Beige G3, with a tower, or desktop, or an all-in-one G3 (forerunner to the first iMac), all also with PowerPC G3 - and can be upgraded to 10.4 with an upgraded replacement processor.
On any G3 Mac, the amount of RAM memory that you have installed can be the biggest factor in running an updated OS X version. 512 MB or more is great.
The page that I linked to is the combined updater for 10.3.9 - and not the "entire operating system"
The combined updater, for each major version of OS X over the last 10 years or so, is often used as a good troubleshooting step to fix up odd issues that might start happening in OS X. It's not a 100% sure thing to help, but I have seen that updater help many times, and can fix your issue. The reason is that the updating script in the update verifies that all files provided by ALL previous updates, are in place, and properly set.
Because the update includes ALL updated files, they get pretty large. The one for 10.7.5 is over 2GB, for example.
And, because it is not a sure thing, then a very slow download might, in the end, prove to be a wasted effort (but still worthwhile to try)
But, perhaps you have access to a faster connection somewhere? You could download the update through a different computer, and copy it to a flash drive, or whatever you might have for portable storage.
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It's an iMac desktop.
Okay, so it's not the ENTIRE operating system, but still it's an update to 10.3.9, for people have have an earlier version of 10.3. I was hoping there would be something simpler than reinstalling 10.3.9. I don't need everything that in that 117 MB updater, but probably just one little item, something significantly smaller than 117 MB.
The safe boot didn't work. Installer still wouldn't open the .mpkg file. All safe boot did was disable a bunch of stuff, so that I couldn't even connect to the internet. Fortunately, a normal reboot, without pressing the shift key, fixed it.
Okay, so it's not the ENTIRE operating system, but still it's an update to 10.3.9, for people have have an earlier version of 10.3. I was hoping there would be something simpler than reinstalling 10.3.9. I don't need everything that in that 117 MB updater, but probably just one little item, something significantly smaller than 117 MB.
The safe boot didn't work. Installer still wouldn't open the .mpkg file. All safe boot did was disable a bunch of stuff, so that I couldn't even connect to the internet. Fortunately, a normal reboot, without pressing the shift key, fixed it.
DeltaMac
Tech
I think you still don't quite understand.
The combined updater will install and updater any 10.3 system, from 10.3 to 10.3.9
If you are already running 10.3.9, then the combined updater basically verifies that all updates are in place, and correctly installed.
The result is often to fix minor issues that may appear in the system.
Here's what you DON'T know (and I also don't know).
You don't know that getting one file installed, will get one process (the installer) to work. You may need more (maybe much more) than that one file.
Do you have your Panther or other 10.3 installer CDs - or whatever was used to get 10.3 installed on the iMac?
That OS X install can get your system properly working - but the combined updater may do that, too. It's a much quicker step to try.
The combined updater will install and updater any 10.3 system, from 10.3 to 10.3.9
If you are already running 10.3.9, then the combined updater basically verifies that all updates are in place, and correctly installed.
The result is often to fix minor issues that may appear in the system.
Here's what you DON'T know (and I also don't know).
You don't know that getting one file installed, will get one process (the installer) to work. You may need more (maybe much more) than that one file.
Do you have your Panther or other 10.3 installer CDs - or whatever was used to get 10.3 installed on the iMac?
That OS X install can get your system properly working - but the combined updater may do that, too. It's a much quicker step to try.
If there's no way of knowing which particular item or items from the 10.3.9 update package will fix my problem, then of course I have to download the whole thing. I do understand that. And maybe the updater will find other problems I don't know about. I was hoping there was an alternative to a huge download, but if there isn't, there isn't.
Unfortunately, I can't find the 10.3 installer disk. I may no longer have it.
Thank you for your help and your patience with me.
Unfortunately, I can't find the 10.3 installer disk. I may no longer have it.
Thank you for your help and your patience with me.
DeltaMac
Tech
Seems unlikely that you would could obtain software from Apple that will only run on hardware that Apple considers obsolete.
Ebay is a more-likely source.
It will likely be easier to get OS X 10.4 (Tiger), although that would probably leave you with a lot of challenges, as Tiger is on a DVD. Tiger on CDs is fairly rare, although that's possible, too.
It would also be helpful to know WHICH iMac you have. There's two distinct generations, with the easiest difference is the CD drive. The oldest have a tray loading drive, and the newer iMac G3s have slot loading CD drives.
Ebay is a more-likely source.
It will likely be easier to get OS X 10.4 (Tiger), although that would probably leave you with a lot of challenges, as Tiger is on a DVD. Tiger on CDs is fairly rare, although that's possible, too.
It would also be helpful to know WHICH iMac you have. There's two distinct generations, with the easiest difference is the CD drive. The oldest have a tray loading drive, and the newer iMac G3s have slot loading CD drives.
DeltaMac
Tech
Your installer would have to be working already, to use it from the terminal
What happens when you double-click your Installer.app?
You can open your Activity Monitor (also in your Applications/Utilities folder)
Choose "All Processes" from the drop-down, not just My Processes.
If you then double-click on your Installer.app, you should see the Installer service appear on the list. You can click on the header, to sort by PID. And, you should see the Installer show as the highest PID number. (PID means basically the running sequence of a service)
Here's one method to run the installer (or any app) from your terminal:
Launch the Terminal.
Type "open " (without the quotes, and be sure to add a trailing space after the word "open"
Now, drag and drop your Installer.app into the terminal window. You should see the full path to that app appear directly after the "open "
Press enter, and you should see that the Installer launches: You will see an icon for the Installer app in the Dock - and you should get an "Open" window so you can browse to the actual installer .pkg file. You could simply drag and drop your combo updater directly on top of the Installer _ICON_ in the dock - and that should result in the updater installer window appearing on screen.
If the Installer does not even launch, then you may get an error message in the terminal window - or you could then open your Console, and check in the System.log for relevant messages generated during that time. The system.log is listed by time & date, so you can quickly check for messages generated at the time.
What happens when you double-click your Installer.app?
You can open your Activity Monitor (also in your Applications/Utilities folder)
Choose "All Processes" from the drop-down, not just My Processes.
If you then double-click on your Installer.app, you should see the Installer service appear on the list. You can click on the header, to sort by PID. And, you should see the Installer show as the highest PID number. (PID means basically the running sequence of a service)
Here's one method to run the installer (or any app) from your terminal:
Launch the Terminal.
Type "open " (without the quotes, and be sure to add a trailing space after the word "open"
Now, drag and drop your Installer.app into the terminal window. You should see the full path to that app appear directly after the "open "
Press enter, and you should see that the Installer launches: You will see an icon for the Installer app in the Dock - and you should get an "Open" window so you can browse to the actual installer .pkg file. You could simply drag and drop your combo updater directly on top of the Installer _ICON_ in the dock - and that should result in the updater installer window appearing on screen.
If the Installer does not even launch, then you may get an error message in the terminal window - or you could then open your Console, and check in the System.log for relevant messages generated during that time. The system.log is listed by time & date, so you can quickly check for messages generated at the time.
DeltaMac
Tech
Is that external drive using a Firewire connection, or USB?
You won't be able to boot to a USB drive, only Firewire for installing OS X.
Do you know how much RAM memory is installed?
A slot-loading iMac can have as much as 1GB of RAM installed.
When I double-click Installer, it launches and I get a Finder window labeled "Open", letting me select what I want Installer to install. I selected the .pkg, but nothing happened.
Activity Monitor won't open.
When I used Terminal, Installer launched and the same "Open" window appeared. Are you sure I'm supposed to drag and drop the .pkg icon from the "Open" window? It wouldn't let me do that. Instead, I dragged the .pkg icon from the desktop (I had copied the file to the desktop) and dropped it in the Installer icon in the dock. Nothing happened.
I was able the find the OS 10.3 discs on eBay. If I have to reinstall the system from the discs, the Installer.app won't be a problem, will it?
Activity Monitor won't open.
When I used Terminal, Installer launched and the same "Open" window appeared. Are you sure I'm supposed to drag and drop the .pkg icon from the "Open" window? It wouldn't let me do that. Instead, I dragged the .pkg icon from the desktop (I had copied the file to the desktop) and dropped it in the Installer icon in the dock. Nothing happened.
I was able the find the OS 10.3 discs on eBay. If I have to reinstall the system from the discs, the Installer.app won't be a problem, will it?
DeltaMac
Tech
Ah, it's not a surprise that other software also doesn't work.
And, because you are booted to the installer, your own software does not affect that - the installer uses its own process.
Otherwise, how could you install to a new blank hard drive?
And, you should expect that your own software can then be installed just fine.
Don't forget, when you reinstall OS X, you can choose (on something older than 10.6 anyway) the option to Archive & Install.
Hopefully, you are looking at the last version of the 10.3 installer, which is actually to install 10.3.5
Satcomer
In Geostationary Orbit
With Slot loading drives there are somethings you might would want to try. Take a classic disk cleaner disk and try to use it. Also take a can of compressed air and blow in at an angle to get dusk & junk from the laser lens. See if this helps.