Is there a recent Mac install issue?

Core Development
1

In the last few days, three people have mailed webmaster@python.org (which is explicitly not a “support channel”, but whatever…) saying they can’t install on a Mac. Nobody’s provided details - all three sent a screenshot of the utterly useless Mac installer screen that says “The installer encountered an error”, with no details at all. Not able to tell if this is unique to the new batch of releases that just dropped, because, again, no details; however the timing seems curious. I don’t see any recent issues on Github on this except the closed The installation failed · Issue #100024 · python/cpython · GitHub, which seems an unlikely, though not impossible, match.

2

I just install these 3 packages without issue.

python-3.10.10-macos11.pkg
python-3.11.2-macos11.pkg
python-3.12.0a5-macos11.pkg

I used an M2 Macbook Pro running macOS Ventura 13.1

3

I would point further reporters to that thread, in particular, the advice to look at the installer log. For what it’s worth, every Python.org macOS installer gets install tested on at least two different macOS releases and on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs before being published. If there are ongoing problems with installations, we want to know about them!

4

We try to redirect people to places that might be more useful (webmaster has an autoresponder for that, we probably need to update it again). The one person that offered up details was on Ventura 13.1/Intel and using the 3.11.2 installer. Will mention something about looking at the install log if there’s any further problems, sometimes burps of a given problem are just coincidence and not a pattern (as we all know).

1 Like
5

Hello. I have experience similar problems attempting to install 3.10.10 and 3.11.2

The errors in the Installer log file for 3.11.2 is

Mar 15 15:34:43 tonatiuh installd[847]: PackageKit: ----- Begin install -----
Mar 15 15:34:43 tonatiuh installd[847]: PackageKit: Install Failed: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=110 "An error occurred while extracting files from the package “python-3.11.2-macos11.pkg”." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred while extracting files from the package “python-3.11.2-macos11.pkg”., NSURL=file:///Users/siliceo/Downloads/SoftwareUpdates/Python/python-3.11.2-macos11.pkg#Python_Framework.pkg, PKInstallPackageIdentifier=org.python.Python.PythonFramework-3.11, NSUnderlyingError=0x7f86fbc29050 {Error Domain=PKXARArchiveErrorDomain Code=101 "archive open failed" UserInfo={NSURL=file:///Users/siliceo/Downloads/SoftwareUpdates/Python/python-3.11.2-macos11.pkg, NSFileOwnerAccountID=501, NSFileHFSTypeCode=0, NSFileSystemFileNumber=174279019, NSFileExtensionHidden=false, NSFileSystemNumber=16777220, NSFileSize=42835777, NSFileGroupOwnerAccountID=20, NSFileHFSCreatorCode=0, NSFileOwnerAccountName=siliceo, NSFilePosixPermissions=432, NSFileCreationDate=2023-03-15 19:32:25 +0000, NSFileType=NSFileTypeRegular, NSFileProtectionKey=NSFileProtectionCompleteUntilFirstUserAuthentication, NSFileGroupOwnerAccountName=staff, NSFileReferenceCount=1, NSFileModificationDate=2023-03-15 19:32:26 +0000, NSLocalizedDescription=archive open failed}}} {
	    NSLocalizedDescription = "An error occurred while extracting files from the package \U201cpython-3.11.2-macos11.pkg\U201d.";
	    NSURL = "file:///Users/siliceo/Downloads/SoftwareUpdates/Python/python-3.11.2-macos11.pkg#Python_Framework.pkg";
	    NSUnderlyingError = "Error Domain=PKXARArchiveErrorDomain Code=101 \"archive open failed\" UserInfo={NSURL=file:///Users/siliceo/Downloads/SoftwareUpdates/Python/python-3.11.2-macos11.pkg, NSFileOwnerAccountID=501, NSFileHFSTypeCode=0, NSFileSystemFileNumber=174279019, NSFileExtensionHidden=false, NSFileSystemNumber=16777220, NSFileSize=42835777, NSFileGroupOwnerAccountID=20, NSFileHFSCreatorCode=0, NSFileOwnerAccountName=siliceo, NSFilePosixPermissions=432, NSFileCreationDate=2023-03-15 19:32:25 +
Mar 15 15:34:44 tonatiuh Installer[31376]: Install failed: The Installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance.
Mar 15 15:34:44 tonatiuh Installer[31376]: Displaying 'Install Failed' UI.
Mar 15 15:34:44 tonatiuh Installer[31376]: 'Install Failed' UI displayed message:'The Installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance.'.

Let me know if I can supply further information.

6

Sorry, forgot some important details: Mac is a MacBook Pro running macOS Ventura 13.2

7

@siliceo It works for me and apparently most other users. If you search the web for that error code (Error Domain=PKXARArchiveErrorDomain Code=101), you’ll find other references to it in conjunction with installer downloads (.pkg) for other products. The consensus seems to be that the cause is generally due to the installer pkg file being corrupted during download. Try deleting the downloaded .pkg file (~/Downloads/SoftwareUpdates/Python/python-3.11.2-macos11.pkg) and download it again from the python.org website. And, unfortunately, that very obscure error message comes from the macOS Installer.app, not something we have any control over; it would be nice if Apple provided a more helpful message in such cases.

8

@siliceo P.S. Sorry, I should have thought to suggest this originally. If you have not already deleted the original download, you could verify that it is indeed corrupted if you are comfortable using a Terminal window shell. Try something like:

cd ~/Downloads/SoftwareUpdates/Python
md5 python-3.11.2-macos11.pkg
     MD5 (python-3.11.2-macos11.pkg) = e038c3d5cee8c5210735a764d3f36f5a
# compares with the md5 checksum published on the release page
#   https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-3112/
9

Ned, thank you very much for your prompt reply. I checked the MD5 and it was correct for the pkg file. However, as you indicated, the problem seem to be with the macOS package installer rather than the package itself. I include the following work-around in case it may be of use to somebody else.

PROCEDURE (use at your own risk)

An alternative way to using the macOS GUI Installer, issue the following command using Terminal

  • Open Terminal

  • Change your working directory to the location of the Python pkg file
    (e.g., cd $HOME/downloads)

  • Issue a command similar to
    sudo installer -verbose -pkg ./python-3.11.2-macos11.pkg -target /
    NOTE: replace python-3.11.2-macos11.pkg with the file you downloaded

Sample partial output from the command above:

TOP

installer: Package name is Python
installer: Upgrading at base path /
installer: Preparing for installation….....
installer: Preparing the disk….....
installer: Preparing Python….....
installer: Waiting for other installations to complete….....
installer: Configuring the installation….....
installer:

BOTTOM

installer: Running package scripts….....
installer: Validating packages….....
#
installer:      Running installer actions…
installer:
installer: Finishing the Installation….....
installer:
#
installer: The software was successfully installed......
installer: The upgrade was successful.
1 Like
10

Thank you Omar, it worked for me!!