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Alioop
Alioop
Participating Frequently
January 28, 2015
Question

Can't install Flash player on Macintosh

  • January 28, 2015
  • 3 replies
  • 6971 views

Running a late 2012 Mac Mini with the latest OS (10.10.1) and when I tried to upgrade Flash, the upgrade didn't work and Flash stopped working. Following the help scripts I uninstalled Flash from both FireFox and Safari and tried a clean install. The install fails with a 'general install error' notice near the end of the install cycle. I've tried booting into safe mode and installing and got the same general install error. I've downloaded the installer from several different sites, same problem. I started all this about a month ago and then let it go, hoping that the problem would get solved but started all over again today, and getting the exact same general install error. Even did the uninstall again today. I have absolutely no idea of what to do. Any ideas?

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

jamesrftw
jamesrftw
Participating Frequently
March 14, 2017

I am seeing this same issue as well when installing a package containing all Adobe apps created with Creative Cloud Packager, on a 2013 Mac Pro with macOS 10.10.5 on it.

Fails with:

3/13/17 4:51:15.477 PMnsurlstoraged[341]realpath() returned NULL for /var/root/Library/Caches/installer
3/13/17 4:51:15.477 PMnsurlstoraged[341]The read-connection to the DB=/var/root/Library/Caches/installer/Cache.db is NOT valid.  Unable to determine schema version.
3/13/17 4:51:15.477 PMnsurlstoraged[341]realpath() returned NULL for /var/root/Library/Caches/installer
3/13/17 4:51:15.477 PMnsurlstoraged[341]realpath() returned NULL for /var/root/Library/Caches/installer
3/13/17 4:51:15.477 PMnsurlstoraged[341]ERROR: unable to determine file-system usage for FS-backed cache at /var/root/Library/Caches/installer/fsCachedData. Errno=13
3/13/17 4:51:22.050 PMUserEventAgent[307]com.apple.TMHelperAgent.SetupOffer enabled
3/13/17 4:51:22.761 PMInstaller[10120]The Installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance.
_maria_
Community Manager
_maria_Community Manager
Community Manager
March 14, 2017

@jamesr7457092

You're posting to a discussion topic that is 2  years old. Reading through the posts, they reference the Flash Player standalone installer and an old Flash Player shim installer that is no longer in use.  The Creative Cloud Packager doesn't use either of these installer technologies, so whatever the original issue was on this discussion topic is most likely not going to be related to your issue.  I tried moving your post to the Creative Cloud Download & Install forum, but the only option I have is to branch it to a new discussion in the Installing Flash Player forum.  While I can do that due to how you started your post it will not have any context in the Creative Cloud Download & Install  forum. I recommend you start a new topic on the Creative Cloud Download & Install  forums for your issue.

Alioop
AlioopAuthor
Participating Frequently
February 16, 2015

Still no luck with getting Flash Player installed. Have booted into Safe mode and run Disk Repair and Disk Permissions multiple times, tried various versions of the installer. Here's the log from the Console:

2/16/15 11:43:48.717 AM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.watchdogd) Service only ran for 0 seconds. Pushing respawn out by 10 seconds.

2/16/15 11:43:58.831 AM watchdogd[13606]:  [watchdog_daemon] @(    wd_watchdog_open) - IOIteratorNext failed (kr=0)

2/16/15 11:43:58.831 AM watchdogd[13606]:  [watchdog_daemon] @(      wd_daemon_init) - could not initialize the hardware watchdog

2/16/15 11:43:58.831 AM watchdogd[13606]:  [watchdog_daemon] @(                main) - cannot initialize the watchdog service

2/16/15 11:43:58.836 AM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.watchdogd) Service only ran for 0 seconds. Pushing respawn out by 10 seconds.

2/16/15 11:43:59.554 AM authexec[13608]: executing /bin/sleep

2/16/15 11:43:59.599 AM authexec[13609]: executing /usr/sbin/chown

2/16/15 11:43:59.739 AM authexec[13610]: executing /bin/chmod

2/16/15 11:43:59.877 AM authexec[13611]: executing /bin/chmod

2/16/15 11:44:00.410 AM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.imfoundation.IMRemoteURLConnectionAgent) The _DirtyJetsamMemoryLimit key is not available on this platform.

2/16/15 11:44:01.588 AM nsurlstoraged[294]: realpath() returned NULL for /var/root/Library/Caches/installer

2/16/15 11:44:01.589 AM nsurlstoraged[294]: The read-connection to the DB=/var/root/Library/Caches/installer/Cache.db is NOT valid.  Unable to determine schema version.

2/16/15 11:44:01.589 AM nsurlstoraged[294]: realpath() returned NULL for /var/root/Library/Caches/installer

2/16/15 11:44:01.589 AM nsurlstoraged[294]: realpath() returned NULL for /var/root/Library/Caches/installer

2/16/15 11:44:01.590 AM nsurlstoraged[294]: ERROR: unable to determine file-system usage for FS-backed cache at /var/root/Library/Caches/installer/fsCachedData. Errno=13

2/16/15 11:44:01.923 AM authexec[13615]: executing /bin/chmod

2/16/15 11:44:02.063 AM authexec[13616]: executing /bin/rm

2/16/15 11:44:02.000 AM kernel[0]: hfs: unmount initiated on Flash Player on device disk6s2

jeromiec83223024
Community Manager
jeromiec83223024Community Manager
Community Manager
February 17, 2015

This seems problematic. We're asking the OS to resolve a filesystem path and it's returning NULL:

2/16/15 11:44:01.589 AM nsurlstoraged[294]: realpath() returned NULL for /var/root/Library/Caches/installer

It looks like we're unable to proceed at that point and we exit.

The only reference I can find to a similar error is in a scenario where people have partitioned the disk to boot multiple operating systems (Windows/Mac).  Does this sound familiar?

Alioop
AlioopAuthor
Participating Frequently
February 17, 2015

This disk was never partitioned and isn't now although my previous computer was partitioned for Windows and that computer/drive was used to set up the current computer/drive and it looks like pieces of Parallels are still around. Do you think removing all those software pieces might improve things?

jeromiec83223024
Community Manager
jeromiec83223024Community Manager
Community Manager
January 28, 2015

You should always download software directly from the manufacturer.  It's your best guarantee for determining that the thing you're trying to install is legitimate.

Please use the offline installer:

http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/flashplayer/latest/help/install_flash_player_osx.dmg

If that doesn't work, we'll need the contents of the install log to understand more.

The install log is located at /Users/<you>/Library/Logs/FlashPlayerInstallManager.log

Alioop
AlioopAuthor
Participating Frequently
January 29, 2015

OK, tried that installer and the install window looks a little different but the process stopped at 9% on one try and 11% on the next try. There was an installer log but it had no content so I deleted and ran the installer again but there is no install log now.

jeromiec83223024
Community Manager
jeromiec83223024Community Manager
Community Manager
February 2, 2015

How's this:

2015-01-30 17:16:14 -0500   IM: ---------- log start ----------

2015-01-30 17:16:19 -0500   IM: User has 1 process that needs to be closed before the Flash Player can be uninstalled.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Uninstall Started

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   RA: Unable to execute privileged task '/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Flash Player Install Manager/fpsaud'

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: [uninstall start]

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: user authorized

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: [file removal start]

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Shockwave Flash NP-PPC' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Flash Player.plugin' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/PepperFlashPlayer/PepperFlashPlayer.plugin' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Flash Player Enabler.plugin' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/flashplayer.xpt' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/PepperFlashPlayer/manifest.json' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Users/gardell/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Shockwave Flash NP-PPC' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Users/gardell/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Flash Player.plugin' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Users/gardell/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/PepperFlashPlayer/PepperFlashPlayer.plugin' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Users/gardell/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Flash Player Enabler.plugin' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Users/gardell/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/flashplayer.xpt' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Users/gardell/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/PepperFlashPlayer/manifest.json' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.adobe.fpsaud.plist' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Flash Player Install Manager/fpsaud' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find file '/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Flash Player Install Manager/FPSAUConfig.xml' to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:26 -0500   IM: Did not find bundle receipt to remove.

2015-01-30 17:16:27 -0500   IM: Removed PrefPane preferences from within: ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist

2015-01-30 17:16:27 -0500   IM: [file removal end]

2015-01-30 17:16:27 -0500   IM: [uninstall end]

2015-01-30 17:16:27 -0500   IM: Uninstall Ended

2015-01-30 17:16:29 -0500   IM: ----------  log end  ----------

2015-01-30 17:16:42 -0500   IM: ---------- log start ----------

2015-01-30 17:16:42 -0500   IM: All install checks pass

2015-01-30 17:16:48 -0500   IM: User does not have any processes that need to be closed before the Flash Player can be installed.

2015-01-30 17:16:49 -0500   IM: [install started]

installer: Error trying to locate volume at /

2015-01-30 17:16:49 -0500   IM: [install completed]

2015-01-30 17:16:49 -0500   IM: [install failed]

2015-01-30 17:16:52 -0500   RA: Unable to execute privileged task '/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Flash Player Install Manager/fpsaud'

2015-01-30 17:16:52 -0500   IM: ----------  log end  ----------


Unfortunately, it looks like something is messed up with the filesystem.  The installer can't see the drive.

> 2015-01-30 17:16:49 -0500   IM: [install started]

> installer: Error trying to locate volume at /

I know that a few people have told me that after upgrading to Yosemite, that their hard disk was renamed to a long string of garbage characters.  Renaming it to something sane fixed the problem.

Here's a similar thread over on the Apple forums:

Broken Installer Permissions | Apple Support Communities

And a similar older one:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1203509

A google search turned up a bunch of results affecting a bunch of different products.  The recurring theme is that something is very messed up with the disk, but beyond recommendations for various repair tools, there's no clear magic bullet.  My recommendation would be to reach out to Apple support to see if they have a suggestion.  If you do find a resolution to this, please let me know.  I'll be happy to share it with people that encounter the problem in the future.

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