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iBook G4 Kernel panic - next step?

G

gmravca

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 1, 2009
7
0
Hello kind mac users-

I have an iBook G4 running 10.4.11 that has had kernel panic messages about 8 times now in the past few days. It has a new hard drive installed about 4 months ago that has been working great, so I really don't think it is a hard drive issue.

Here's what I've done:
1. Repaired disk permissions - there were quite a few errors in these, but the kernel panic continued. Even tried this a second time, but it didn't help.
2. Verified the hard disk using Disk Utility. No problems detected here.

What's my next step? Two symptoms have been that the battery charge seems to go down very quickly recently, and the battery is relatively new (replaced a year ago). The second is that there is some trouble with the wireless internet connection. It is interrupted often, and my solution is to unplug my router and cable modem, then reconnect with the airport card. This seems to trigger the kernel panic, though I'm not certain of that. I just moved to Argentina recently, and thought the internet here was the problem, but it's possible that it is the computer as well.

Can't seem to diagnose when the problem occurs, but I think it is more common when waking from sleep or trying to make a wireless connection.

Here is my latest error message:

Tue Dec 1 16:45:03 2009

Unresolved kernel trap(cpu 0): 0x400 - Inst access DAR=0x0000000026BB7780 PC=0x00000000FFFFFFFC
Latest crash info for cpu 0:
Exception state (sv=0x2DF12C80)
PC=0xFFFFFFFC; MSR=0x40009030; DAR=0x26BB7780; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x002B9A9C; R1=0x0CF1B9D0; XCP=0x00000010 (0x400 - Inst access)
Backtrace:
0x002B9A64 0x002C7E58 0x002C7E78 0x002C7E78 0x002C7E78 0x002F4C8C
0x002F4C44 0x002D2244 0x002F4EA8 0x002F1B1C 0x002EC058 0x0008C69C 0x00029234 0x000233F8
0x000ABEAC 0x01809C60
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2DF12C80)
previously dumped as "Latest" state. skipping...
Exception state (sv=0x21691A00)
PC=0x9000AF48; MSR=0x0000F030; DAR=0x0034A006; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x9000AE9C; R1=0xF00800F0; XCP=0x00000030 (0xC00 - System call)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0: Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 2007; root:xnu-792.24.17~1/RELEASE_PPC
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xFFFF0004): 0x400 - Inst access
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000954F8 0x00095A10 0x00026898 0x000A8204 0x000ABB80
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2DF12C80)
PC=0xFFFFFFFC; MSR=0x40009030; DAR=0x26BB7780; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x002B9A9C; R1=0x0CF1B9D0; XCP=0x00000010 (0x400 - Inst access)
Backtrace:
0x002B9A64 0x002C7E58 0x002C7E78 0x002C7E78 0x002C7E78 0x002F4C8C
0x002F4C44 0x002D2244 0x002F4EA8 0x002F1B1C 0x002EC058 0x0008C69C 0x00029234 0x000233F8
0x000ABEAC 0x01809C60
Exception state (sv=0x21691A00)
PC=0x9000AF48; MSR=0x0000F030; DAR=0x0034A006; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x9000AE9C; R1=0xF00800F0; XCP=0x00000030 (0xC00 - System call)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0: Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 2007; root:xnu-792.24.17~1/RELEASE_PPC

Please help if you can! I don't speak enough Spanish to use the Mac store here in Argentina and this computer is my lifeline and sole means of work!

Thanks so much!
 
If you have the discs that came with the computer, you can run the Apple Hardware Test. My guess is bad RAM but it's hard to say just from the panic message.

EDIT: Just found Memtest OS X as well. This is probably a good option if you don't have the test disc.
 
Test: Check!

Okay, I ran the extended hardware test from the original CD's (one of the few things I remembered to pack when I left ;))...AND...everything passed.

Don't know whether to be happy because it's not hardware or sad because I don't know what it is. Any more suggestions? Thanks a million.
 
What software were you running the last time it happened? Has any new software or updates (including those from Software Update) been installed since the time this issue first started?

Assuming your hardware is indeed fine, we need to check out the software side of things. If all else fails, you could try an Archive & Install.
 
Last time I had the error, I had just quit out of Firefox. No other programs were running that I recall. Typically, once the error comes up, if I restart right away, it comes up immediately after the desktop completes loading, before I have time to open programs or do anything else.

I installed an iTunes update a few weeks before this started happening, but other than that I think no software updates recently. And all my software is up to date right now.

Last night I tried resetting the PRAM, and so far today I haven't had a panic. But it could be looming in the future...I will keep you posted.
 
In my experience, The Apple Hardware Test disc is virtually useless. It very rarely detects hardware problems even when they obviously exist.

Have you tried reseating your RAM? If you create a new user account does the problem still occur? As a last resort try a clean install of the OS, as sometimes kernel panics can be caused by software conflicts.
 
I just got another kernel panic error, this time after quitting all my programs and asking the computer to shut down. I assumed it did, but when I returned to close the lid, the familiar message was back...

I haven't tried reseating the RAM. I've never had additional RAM installed or changed in any way. Is there a how-to somewhere for this? I get a ton of hits on the forum when I try to look for reseating the RAM.

I will create a new user profile and see if that helps. Thanks!
 
does sound a lot like the ram is doing it to you. keep in mind reseating it may not fully solve the issue. might have to replace it.

to get to the ram on a ibook g4. there is these 2 little tabs on the top left and right of the keyboard. pull down on them and lift up the leyboard. it will pivit towards you, with the bottom of the keyboard being clipped into the case.

you can rest it face down over the trackpad for now.

there should either be a airport card visible there, or not depending on the model you have. if its there, unplug it and take it out. then unscrew the little metal cover and take it off.

theres yourram. take it out like you would any ram (unclip it from the sides), and put it back. done, you reseated it. put computer back together the way u pulled it apart. and hope it fixed it
 
Mine did this last year. I don't know what the exact message was, but it turned out to be an AirPort problem. Turn off AirPort, restart and see if that helps.
 
Okay, one little problem with reseating the RAM. The small clear plastic screw that tightens and loosens the keyboard and allows it to be removed is broken. One of the heads on the screw came off when I had to fix another keyboard issue. So I can't get it unscrewed.

I'm just full of problems! If I somehow get the screw out and can't get it back in, is that really a problem?
 
Dunno what you're talking about with the keyboard. There is no small clear plastic screw. To remove the kbd, there are two sliders along the top edge of the kbd. Slide them towards you and then lift the whole thing up. Underneath that you'll see the airport card. That just pulls straight out. Then four #0 phillips screws to remove the cover on the RAM. Make sure you use the proper #0 phillips screw driver - use a larger one and you'll strip the **** out of them and never get them out.

A kernel panic is usually indicative of either a serious kernel bug, or of bad hardware (memory being the most common culprit).

If it was a kernel bug introduced by some recently installed Apple patch or update, the problem would be far more widespread. Since it's not, I think bad RAM is the next likely culprit.

I would buy a new RAM chip and swap them. Sadly though, the iBook has 256 MB that is built onto the system board (stupid design IMO), so if that's the area that's bad, you'll need to replace the whole system board.

But first things first, swap the ram chip, run for a week or two and see if the problem repeats.
 
Before you go through all that business with the RAM, do what I suggested first: Turn off AirPort and see if that fixes the kernel panic problem. It did on mine.
 
Unfortunately, I did try the Airport fix and the computer still had a kernel panic. I figured out how to get the keyboard off, so reseating is the next try. Wish me luck!
 
Okay, actually, the problem IS related to the airport card. I can't seem to get the computer to kernel panic when I have the airport card off. Good call.

So, looks like I will be tethered to the ethernet for the indefinite future.

Any chance that replacing the airport card will fix this problem, or would I need a whole new logic board to solve it?

Thanks for everyone's help!
 
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