2019 IMac kernel panics even in safe mode

[golfgirlgolf]

Any ideas? Even in safe mode I only get about 5-10 minutes of doing nothing and it crashes again.

It first started when I was doing Chronosync files copy/sync from external-external-internal (Documents folder)

Now it's stuck and crashes repeatedly - even in safe mode.

The above is happening while booted from External SSD/Catalina - I was able to boot into the internal which has Mojave and at the moment it seems stable.

I've been building the Bootable SSD setup for the last few weeks to phase out the internal Fusion drive on this iMac - I would hate to lose all (or some) of my work if forced to reinstall Catalina but it seems like that might be what's needed...

Maybe I can copy (Chronosync bootable copy) the boot SSD/Catalina drive to another external partition and then "migrate" to a clean install - back on the SSD....? Or simply reinstall Catalina over the existing one on the SSD? That drive is stripped down to basics and I've only been slowly adding programs I use back.

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff8019a3e398): "Releasing non-exclusive RW lock without a reader refcount!"@/AppleInternal/BuildRoot/Library/Caches/com.apple.xbs/Sources/xnu/xnu-6153.141.35/osfmk/i386/locks_i386.c:1319
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffffa78b99afd0 : 0xffffff801991c63d
0xffffffa78b99b020 : 0xffffff8019a56b25
0xffffffa78b99b060 : 0xffffff8019a486ae
0xffffffa78b99b0b0 : 0xffffff80198c2a40
0xffffffa78b99b0d0 : 0xffffff801991bd07
0xffffffa78b99b1d0 : 0xffffff801991c0f7
0xffffffa78b99b220 : 0xffffff801a0c0b5c
0xffffffa78b99b290 : 0xffffff8019a3e398
0xffffffa78b99b2d0 : 0xffffff8019a3e41e
0xffffffa78b99b2f0 : 0xffffff7f9b4384cc
0xffffffa78b99b4a0 : 0xffffff7f9b43837b
0xffffffa78b99b500 : 0xffffff7f9b437c79
0xffffffa78b99b540 : 0xffffff7f9b43f40b
0xffffffa78b99b600 : 0xffffff7f9b42ab92
0xffffffa78b99ba10 : 0xffffff8019baf570
0xffffffa78b99ba90 : 0xffffff8019b99af6
0xffffffa78b99bd60 : 0xffffff8019b99390
0xffffffa78b99bf40 : 0xffffff8019f83cd7
0xffffffa78b99bfa0 : 0xffffff80198c3206
      Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
         com.apple.filesystems.apfs(1412.141.2)[C7BC9A4C-A233-3F83-ACFC-03EAAE280982]@0xffffff7f9b3bb000->0xffffff7f9b4e2fff
            dependency: com.apple.kec.corecrypto(1.0)[02FBB664-AC65-33FE-B843-D0F6EDF20B91]@0xffffff7f9a8b5000
            dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleEffaceableStorage(1.0)[167EE907-2180-3280-973E-33F1CF9F0B33]@0xffffff7f9b01c000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily(2.1)[401848BE-FFE8-3A23-9313-0BC891B2BF1F]@0xffffff7f9a510000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: apfsd

Mac OS version:
19H1323

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 19.6.0: Tue Jun 22 19:49:55 PDT 2021; root:xnu-6153.141.35~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: EA37759C-12E3-3509-AD57-4B4A4FC5E7AD
Kernel slide:     0x0000000019600000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8019800000
__HIB  text base: 0xffffff8019700000
System model name: iMac19,1 (Mac-AA95B1DDAB278B95)
System shutdown begun: NO
Panic diags file available: NO (0xe00002bc)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 355571938187
last loaded kext at 21848014483: >!AActuatorDriver    3440.1 (addr 0xffffff7f9ceab000, size 61440)
loaded kexts:
>!ATopCaseHIDEventDriver    3430.1
>AudioAUUC    1.70
@fileutil    20.036.15
>AGPM    111.4.4
>!APlatformEnabler    2.7.0d0
>X86PlatformShim    1.0.0
@filesystems.autofs    3.0
>!AHDAHardwareConfigDriver    283.15
>!AHDA    283.15
>!AUpstreamUserClient    3.6.8
@kext.AMDFramebuffer    3.1.0
@kext.AMDRadeonX4000    3.1.0
@kext.AMDRadeonServiceManager    3.1.0
>!AGraphicsDevicePolicy    5.2.7
@AGDCPluginDisplayMetrics    5.2.7
>AGDCBacklightControl    5.2.7
>!ABacklight    180.3
>!AHV    1
>!AMCCSControl    1.14
|IOUserEthernet    1.0.1
>!A!IKBLGraphics    14.0.7
>!ASMCLMU    212
|IO!BSerialManager    7.0.6f8
>!A!IPCHPMC    2.0.1
>pmtelemetry    1
@Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X    7.0.0
>eficheck    1
>!AGFXHDA    100.1.429
>!A!ICFLGraphicsFramebuffer    14.0.7
>!AThunderboltIP    3.1.4
@kext.AMD9500!C    3.1.0
>!A!ISlowAdaptiveClocking    4.0.0
>!AFIVRDriver    4.1.0
>ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin    1.0.0
|SCSITaskUserClient    422.120.3
>!U!SCoexistentDriver    489.120.1
>BCMWLANFirmware4364.Hashstore    1
>BCMWLANFirmware4377.Hashstore    1
>BCMWLANFirmware4355.Hashstore    1
>!AFileSystemDriver    3.0.1
>!AVirtIO    1.0
@filesystems.hfs.kext    522.100.5
@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeDataless    1.0.0d1
@BootCache    40
@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeZlib    1.0.0
>!ASDXC    1.7.7
|!ABCM5701Ethernet    10.3.5
>!ABCMWLANBusInterfacePCIe    1
@filesystems.apfs    1412.141.2
>!AAHCIPort    341.140.1
@private.KextAudit    1.0
>!AACPIButtons    6.1
>!ARTC    2.0
>!ASMBIOS    2.1
>!AACPIEC    6.1
>!AAPIC    1.7
$!AImage4    1
@nke.applicationfirewall    303
$TMSafetyNet    8
@!ASystemPolicy    2.0.0
|EndpointSecurity    1
>!AActuatorDriver    3440.1
>!AMultitouchDriver    3440.1
>!AInputDeviceSupport    3440.8
>!AHS!BDriver    3430.1
>IO!BHIDDriver    7.0.6f8
>!AHIDKeyboard    209
@kext.triggers    1.0
>DspFuncLib    283.15
@kext.OSvKernDSPLib    529
@kext.AMDRadeonX4400HWLibs    1.0
@kext.AMDRadeonX4000HWServices    3.1.0
>!AGraphicsControl    5.2.7
>!ABacklightExpert    1.1.0
|IOAVB!F    850.1
>!AHDA!C    283.15
|IOHDA!F    283.15
>!ASMBus!C    1.0.18d1
|IOAccelerator!F2    438.7.4
|IONDRVSupport    576.1
>!AThunderboltEDMSink    4.2.3
>!AThunderboltDPOutAdapter    6.2.6
>!ASMBusPCI    1.0.14d1
@kext.AMDSupport    3.1.0
@!AGPUWrangler    5.2.7
@!AGraphicsDeviceControl    5.2.7
|IOGraphics!F    576.1
|IOSlowAdaptiveClocking!F    1.0.0
>IOPlatformPluginLegacy    1.0.0
>X86PlatformPlugin    1.0.0
>IOPlatformPlugin!F    6.0.0d8
|IO!BHost!CUARTTransport    7.0.6f8
|IO!BHost!CTransport    7.0.6f8
|IO!B!F    7.0.6f8
|IO!BPacketLogger    7.0.6f8
>!A!ILpssUARTv1    3.0.60
>!A!ILpssUARTCommon    3.0.60
>!AOnboardSerial    1.0
@plugin.IOgPTPPlugin    840.3
>usb.IOUSBHostHIDDevice    1.2
|IOUSBMass!SClass    4.0.4
>usb.!UHub    1.2
>usb.cdc    5.0.0
>usb.networking    5.0.0
>usb.!UHostCompositeDevice    1.2
>!AThunderboltDPInAdapter    6.2.6
>!AThunderboltDPAdapter!F    6.2.6
>!AThunderboltPCIUpAdapter    2.5.4
>!AThunderboltPCIDownAdapter    2.5.4
>!AHPM    3.4.4
>!A!ILpssI2C!C    3.0.60
>!A!ILpssDmac    3.0.60
>!A!ILpssI2C    3.0.60
|IOAudio!F    300.2
@vecLib.kext    1.2.0
|IOSurface    269.11
@filesystems.hfs.encodings.kext    1
>!AThunderboltNHI    5.8.6
|IOThunderbolt!F    7.6.1
|IOEthernetAVB!C    1.1.0
>!ABCMWLANCore    1.0.0
>mDNSOffloadUserClient    1.0.1b8
>IOImageLoader    1.0.0
|IOSerial!F    11
|IO80211!FV2    1200.12.2b1
>corecapture    1.0.4
|IOSkywalk!F    1
|IOAHCIBlock!S    316.100.5
>!AXsanScheme    3
|IONVMe!F    2.1.0
|IOAHCI!F    290.0.1
>usb.!UXHCIPCI    1.2
>usb.!UXHCI    1.2
>usb.!UHostPacketFilter    1.0
|IOUSB!F    900.4.2
>!AEFINVRAM    2.1
>!AEFIRuntime    2.1
>!ASMCRTC    1.0
|IOSMBus!F    1.1
|IOHID!F    2.0.0
$quarantine    4
$sandbox    300.0
@kext.!AMatch    1.0.0d1
>DiskImages    493.0.0
>!AFDEKeyStore    28.30
>!AEffaceable!S    1.0
>!ASSE    1.0
>!AKeyStore    2
>!UTDM    489.120.1
|IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice    422.120.3
>!ACredentialManager    1.0
>KernelRelayHost    1
>!ASEPManager    1.0.1
>IOSlaveProcessor    1
|IOUSBMass!SDriver    157.140.1
|IOSCSIArchitectureModel!F    422.120.3
|IO!S!F    2.1
|IOUSBHost!F    1.2
>!UHostMergeProperties    1.2
>usb.!UCommon    1.0
>!ABusPower!C    1.0
|CoreAnalytics!F    1
>!AMobileFileIntegrity    1.0.5
@kext.CoreTrust    1
|IOTimeSync!F    840.3
|IONetworking!F    3.4
|IOReport!F    47
>!AACPIPlatform    6.1
>!ASMC    3.1.9
>watchdog    1
|IOPCI!F    2.9
|IOACPI!F    1.4
@kec.pthread    1
@kec.corecrypto    1.0
@kec.Libm    1

 

[golfgirlgolf]

First Aid on the SSD shows - But it won't repair it....

Running First Aid on “Macintosh SSD” (disk4s4)

Repairing file system.
Volume was successfully unmounted.
Performing fsck_apfs -y -x /dev/rdisk4s4
Checking the container superblock.
Checking the EFI jumpstart record.
Checking the space manager.
Checking the space manager free queue trees.
Checking the object map.
Checking volume.
Checking the APFS volume superblock.
The volume Macintosh SSD was formatted by diskmanagementd (1412.141.1) and last modified by apfs_kext (945.275.10).
warning: apfs_sb at apfs_fs_index (3): apfs_features has unrecognized features (10)
Checking the object map.
Checking the snapshot metadata tree.
Checking the snapshot metadata.
Checking the extent ref tree.
Checking the fsroot tree.
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff000014da): invalid bsd_flags (0x900000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff0000168f): invalid bsd_flags (0x900000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff00003db9): invalid bsd_flags (0x900000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff00006072): invalid bsd_flags (0x880000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff0000b4fe): invalid bsd_flags (0x900000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff000162db): invalid bsd_flags (0x880000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff00031af6): invalid bsd_flags (0x880000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff00032f11): invalid bsd_flags (0x900000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff000468b1): invalid bsd_flags (0x880000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff00066bb9): invalid bsd_flags (0x880000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff0007f69f): invalid bsd_flags (0x900000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff0007f6a0): invalid bsd_flags (0x908000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff0007f6a3): invalid bsd_flags (0x808000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff0007f6a5): invalid bsd_flags (0x808000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff0007f6a7): invalid bsd_flags (0x900000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff0007f6a8): invalid bsd_flags (0x808000)
warning: inode_val: object (oid 0xfffffff0007f6a9): invalid bsd_flags (0x900000)
Verifying allocated space.
The volume /dev/rdisk4s4 appears to be OK.

Operation successful.

 

[Fishrrman]

Get your data backed up from the internal fusion drive.
I recommend CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper for this.

Boot from an EXTERNAL drive.

ERASE COMPLETELY the internal fusion drive. WIPE IT OUT.
Re-fuse the two drives (SSD portion and HDD portion) if required.

Now, either install a fresh copy of the OS to the internal, or CLONE OVER the contents of the external drive to the internal drive (again, using CCC or SD).

Then, get your apps/data restored.

But... never, never NEVER erase the internal drive unless you have a pre-tested BOOTABLE external drive!!!

 

[golfgirlgolf]

Get your data backed up from the internal fusion drive.
I recommend CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper for this.

Boot from an EXTERNAL drive.

ERASE COMPLETELY the internal fusion drive. WIPE IT OUT.
Re-fuse the two drives (SSD portion and HDD portion) if required.

Now, either install a fresh copy of the OS to the internal, or CLONE OVER the contents of the external drive to the internal drive (again, using CCC or SD).

Then, get your apps/data restored.

But... never, never NEVER erase the internal drive unless you have a pre-tested BOOTABLE external drive!!!

Thanks so much - so far still not figured out -but wanted to reiterate from the OP = while booted from External SSD/Catalina - so erasing the internal wouldn't help. The bootable SSD is the issue. And yes, I have both a Time Machine and Chronosync backup of the internal - (Chronosync is much more powerful than CCC or Super Duper.)

I tried another user account on the bootSSD Catalina drive but it still kernel panics. Also reinstalled Catalina and it kept crashing. Now I'm installing Catalina on a blank extra SSD and going to see if I can restore/migrate from the bad one on to it. I have lots of drives and lots of backups so the only thing at risk is all the time it takes to rebuild everything from a clean install...

 

[golfgirlgolf]

Maybe I can copy (Chronosync bootable copy) the boot SSD/Catalina drive to another external partition and then "migrate" to a clean install - back on the SSD....? Or simply reinstall Catalina over the existing one on the SSD?

This is what I ended up doing to solve the problem (hopefully!)

First, (after making 2 backups of the external boot SSD/Catalina drive) I attempted to reinstall Catalina over the existing configuration - without reformatting the SSD. Didn't work. Not even from Recovery Mode. I also tried creating another Admin account (blank) - didn't work - still crashing like crazy.

With these failures, non-stop crashes and Disk Utility still reporting errors (also on the cloned bootable copies) - I moved forward with a full erase and reinstall. With backups, I was able to migrate the setup back onto the freshly formatted external SSD. It took a couple of tries to get a copy that was clean from gremlins - but the reformat and migrate from backup approach did work. It's stable now booting from the external SSD again now and Disk Utility shows no errors on any partition of any of the drives in my system.

No idea what the ultimate cause of all this was. I did install a (only slightly shady) patch from GitHub to fix my Wacom Tablet which lost support in Catalina. It had been fine for at least a week however I won't install it again.

I have lost some confidence in my whole boot from external SSD project after all this. The speed increases are great, but it's making things complicated having to create alias' and other approaches to keep all user files off of the boot drive. Also keeping sync/mirror copies on separate externals, and bootable backup copies of the boot/SSD drive. (Now I'm going to have to create a Time Machine for this boot/SSD drive as well in case this happens again I can go backwards to fix). Might have to break down and sell this iMac while it's still under AppleCare, go with one that has the internal SSD. This would simplify several things.