I cannot get Flash Player to install on my Mac

"Allllllllrighty then!" as "Ace Ventura" said....

The problem ISN'T with Flash Player...

If you remember back in September, when Apple released the 10.8.5 update, shortly thereafter... you no doubt discovered a file named "mach_kernel" was in your Mac HD directory.  And... unaware of what it was, you deleted it.

That (mach_kernel) is a base file of OS X and Apple screwed up the update and made it "visible" when it's supposed to be hidden.

Hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting Mac Users worldwide deleted it and it'll make things worse as time goes by.

YOU'RE in luck, though. I have a fix.

If you have a TIme Machine and use the "Secrets" pereference pane to reveal "hidden files", you can restore it from a "pre 10.8.5" backup.

If not, I have a "fresh" mach_kernel file you can download.

You'll need to download and install the Secrets prefpane. It'll then be in your System Preferences.

Make sure you have it set to "show hidden files"

Check the box and you have to restart Finder

Press "Quit This" and then go to the Finder Dock icon and right click it

Select "Open"

Open your TIme Machine

Go back to September 28 or earlier.

You'll see the mach_kernel file in the Mac HD directory

(I can't show it in the TM because screenshots don't work while it's open but here it is in my MAc HD)

Right click it and select "Restore to"

Then, when it goes back to Finder, choose the Mac HD directory and click OK.

It will place the mach_kernel back where it was and you can install software again

DON'T FORGET to go back and hide your files (and restart Finder) again, or you'll have a mess with the clutter of hidden files everywhere.

IF you don't have the Time Machine...

WITH hidden files shown, download this file (mach_kernel.zip)

Move it to your Mac HD directory and THEN unzip it with Stuffit Expander or TheUnarchiver, whichever you use (most people have Stuffit).

You should see the mach_kernel file there.

You can delete the zip file, and then go back to Secrets in your System Preferences, and uncheck Show Hidden Files.

Restart Finder and it'll be safely hidden again.

THEN you can install Flash Player and other software without the "General Installation Error".