Did your computer fail to open a DMG file? We explain what DMG files are and recommend software that we know can open or convert your DMG files.
What is a DMG file?
In most cases, your computer is just doing a checksum, to make sure the Apple Disk Image,.dmg, hasn't been corrupted due to a flakey network connection or hard drive, or from bit-rot, etc.This can let you know about a problem early on, so you don't waste time troubleshooting a bad copy of an app.
DMG files are files that are treated like actual hard disks by the Macintosh OS X operating system. These files can be created with Disk Copy, burned to a CD or even mounted as a normal volume on Macintosh computers. They often contain raw blocks of data that are usually compressed for easier file management.
Some .dmg files may be encrypted in addition to being compressed, for added file security. These files are often used by software installers that download applications from the Internet to a user's computer.
The Oracle export and import utility, used by Oracle databases, also uses the .dmg file extension for database dump files that are stored a binary file format.
Software that will open, convert or fix DMG files
Try a universal file viewer
Try a universal file viewer like Free File Viewer. It can open over 200 different types of files - and most likely yours too. Download Free File Viewer here.
About File Extension DMG
Running dmg files on ipad mac. File.org aims to be the go-to resource for file type- and related software information. We spend countless hours researching various file formats and software that can open, convert, create or otherwise work with those files.
If you have additional information about the DMG file format or software that uses files with the DMG suffix, please do get in touch - we would love hearing from you.
When a 'corrupt' disk image file really isn't corrupt | 6 comments | Create New Account
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When a 'corrupt' disk image file really isn't corrupt
I'll definitely keep this information in mind..
btw, it's 'hdiutil', not 'hdutil' (obviously just a typo, otherwise there wouldn't have been any output from the 'attach' or 'imageinfo' subcommands).
btw, it's 'hdiutil', not 'hdutil' (obviously just a typo, otherwise there wouldn't have been any output from the 'attach' or 'imageinfo' subcommands).
When a 'corrupt' disk image file really isn't corrupt
Not the same problem but this may help a few users out there. Once in a blue moon I will download a file which should be an installer, it could be any kind of file however, and when I click on it it usually opens in script editor.
Often this files are named like 'Worlds Greatest program 1' Changing them to 'Worlds Greatest program 1.0' will usually make the program work. Sometimes just adding any dot and number will work. You will be asked if you want to add the extension, just say yes. I don't know why this happens but the fix is easy.
Often this files are named like 'Worlds Greatest program 1' Changing them to 'Worlds Greatest program 1.0' will usually make the program work. Sometimes just adding any dot and number will work. You will be asked if you want to add the extension, just say yes. I don't know why this happens but the fix is easy.
When a 'corrupt' disk image file really isn't corrupt
Dmg File Says Verifying Then Does Nothing Work
I just checked on a computer running Panther, and it has 'bunzip2' installed as a part of the BSD.pkg - I think the BSD subsystem was included in the standard install and would normally have been installed unless explicitly excluded. So if attempting to open a disk image in 10.3 gives a corrupt image error, use and if the output indicates 'bzip2 compressed data', then try something like to see if it can be converted to something that can be opened normally. I get some 'trailing garbage' error during the process, but the output file seems to work ok.
Some preliminary observations:
Disk images created directly using hdiutil create -format UDBZ don't bunzip properly.
Those converted to UDBZ (originally created using 'Disk Utility' or hdiutil without specifying a format) seem to work after bunzip2, but only using Panther's bunzip2 - Tiger's bunzip2 doesn't unzip them properly.
Anyone have any ideas to account for the differences in the UDBZ images created by the two methods, and the different behaviours of bunzip2 under 10.3 and 10.4?
Disk images created directly using hdiutil create -format UDBZ don't bunzip properly.
Those converted to UDBZ (originally created using 'Disk Utility' or hdiutil without specifying a format) seem to work after bunzip2, but only using Panther's bunzip2 - Tiger's bunzip2 doesn't unzip them properly.
Anyone have any ideas to account for the differences in the UDBZ images created by the two methods, and the different behaviours of bunzip2 under 10.3 and 10.4?
Dmg File Says Verifying Then Does Nothing Die
Developers: When you do make a UDBZ image, put 'Requires OS X 10.4 or later' immediately under your download link/button. Leave no doubt as to the minimum requirement of your app.