Apple blocking rival software downloads?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Hey all,

I'm looking for some help from the very knowledgable CP user base. I took my 2017 MacBook Pro in for some repairs over the holidays and I just got it back. In that process, they wiped my RAM (you know, for ####s and giggles), and I'm currently working on downloading some of the missing software that was wiped. They also uploaded the most recent OS.

One of the weirdest things is with Google Chrome. I go to the site and download it, but when it comes up in the downloads and I click on it, it says it's corrupted and that it needs to go to the trash. I even dragged it to my application folder after doing some internet searching on common installation problems, but that didn't do anything.

Is Apple blocking the install of Google Chrome? I just tried this with Office 365 (free download from my work) and the same thing happened. WTF is up? Can anyone fill me in or do I need to go back and make an apple genius appointment?

[Wormius]

That would be odd, since it's still available for iOS on the iPhone and iPads in the App Store.

[TopChed]

I believe there is a setting to allow program installations from outside their app store:

https://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=25443#sierra

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Wormius

That would be odd, since it's still available for iOS on the iPhone and iPads in the App Store.

Yes, but it doesn't work on MacBooks since it's a different operating system.

I don't see any reason why it would be blocked, but I am at a loss right now. No idea what's wrong and I've been going through my security settings as well just to be sure it isn't something stupid like that.

Next step is taking it into the store.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by TopChed

I believe there is a setting to allow program installations from outside their app store:

https://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=25443#sierra

No, I've been trying that and it just keeps telling me the file is damaged and cannot be opened.

[Mazrim]

Are you downloading it from Google or a secondary site like CNET? Depending on the search results you might be getting a third party rehash of the download.

[ken0042]

I went to test it on my work Macbook, but apparently I installed Chrome a couple of weeks ago.

So best I can say was that as of late December, it worked.

Have you verified that you are downloading Chrome directly from Google, and not a 3rd party site?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

It's literally the google.com site. Not sure how much more direct you can get than that.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I just tried it with adobe acrobat and the same thing is happening.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Alright, #### it, this is Apple's problem now. I'm taking it into the store.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I just tried it with adobe acrobat and the same thing is happening.

I have a feeling this problem is linked to the supposed repairs done.

[Flamenspiel]

No way they would block that. Most of the schools use Google Chrome as a front end for google classroom. I suggest just going into the Apple Store and showing it to them, i would doubt they charge you for that.

[ken0042]

I just installed VLC and it installed fine. It was one of those "drag to apps folder" programs. When I launched it I did get the warning about programs downloaded from the web, but it ran fine. Maybe see if VLC does the same thing.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm trying a chat session as we speak, but if that doesn't resolve things I'm headed to the store.

[Envitro]

No, Apple isn't blocking Chrome from being downloaded. Something else it the problem there. You just need to do some more troubleshooting, or try an alternate download method.

Also, they didn't wipe your RAM. RAM by it's nature doesn't hold any data once power is off (or battery is disconnected). More than likely, they wiped the NVRAM in your Mac, which is a standard thing to do when resetting a computer to factory settings, troubleshooting, or upgrading firmware or OS in repair/restore situations.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Ok, so still no idea why this occurred still, but I reinstalled the OS and everything is working fine now. I'm just pissed that I wasted half a day on this.