Kernal Panic Log - Need Advice

[Paulyboy]

Hello,

I just upgraded my late 2006 24" iMac, running OS 10.4.11 to Mac OS Leopard 10.5.4. I used the "Basic Upgrade" option. I then downloaded all available updates in the "Software Update" and now I'm running Mac OS 10.5.5.

I also simultaneously purchased an Iomega UltraMax 500 GB Desktop Hard Drive FW 400/USB 2.0 to use as a Time Machine backup. I'm using the Firewire 400 port for that.

I've since been having kernel panics periodically. They don't occur when I'm actually using my computer. It only seems to happen when I'm away from my computer for a long period of time, typically overnight. So basically when I wake up in the morning and go to look at my computer the "you need to restart your computer...." message is there.

There doesn't really seem to be a pattern to this other than it only happens when I haven't used my computer for a while. I also can't say for sure that it has to do with the screensaver or sleep mode because I've watched those go on myself and nothing happened.

Looking at the Panic Logs it "appears" to be related to my graphics card although I'm no expert in such matters. After a fair amount of research I think I may have discovered the proof that it is probably that. My firmware is outdated. There's an "iMac EFI Firmware Update 1.3" available. My Boot ROM version does not match the one with that update. Looking back I found an "iMac EFI Firmware Update 1.2" posted about 8 months before the 1.3 one. It has the same exact Boot ROM version of my Mac. Because of that difference, and the fact that Apple puts graphics drivers updates in firmware updates I have to conclude that's probably right about it being caused by my graphics card. I don't know why this update didn't show up in "Software Update" but apparently that happens with firmware updates sometimes I'm told.

In any case, I won't be home until later but I do have the panic logs with me. So I thought I would post them in hopes that people who know how to actually read these logs could tell me exactly what the cause is. This way if I'm not right about this it could save me a lot of trouble later on. Thanks in advance. Any help would be much appreciated.

-PN

Problem Details

------------------------

Fri Nov 28 10:41:13 2008
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x0040456B): "NV40Surface: attached at free()"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1228.7.58/iokit/Kernel/IOLib.cpp:724
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x34b13b28 : 0x12b0fa (0x459234 0x34b13b5c 0x133243 0x0)
0x34b13b78 : 0x40456b (0x49b7e4 0x34b13bb0 0x34b13ba8 0x282c9000)
0x34b13b98 : 0x40ab04 (0x34b13bb0 0x49be0c 0x3c 0x404d51)
0x34b13c28 : 0x3eb72c (0x282c9000 0x0 0x1 0x40cab9)
0x34b13c48 : 0x3eb7f9 (0x282c9000 0x0 0x43d6c90 0x282c9000)
0x34b13c68 : 0xfcc6d2 (0x282c9000 0x243ca000 0x43d6c90 0x53bd490)
0x34b13c98 : 0x40fbf5 (0x243ca000 0x5a7ea60 0x5a7ea60 0x0)
0x34b13ce8 : 0x43af53 (0x243ca000 0x5a7ea60 0x5a7ea60 0x0)
0x34b13d48 : 0x18d210 (0x243ca000 0x5a7ea60 0x0 0x0)
0x34b13db8 : 0x12d17e (0x53bd478 0x72ff290 0x34b13df8 0x11ee14)
0x34b13df8 : 0x126257 (0x53bd400 0x43d1ebc 0x4b475a0 0x0)
0x34b13f08 : 0x1974c2 (0x34b13f44 0x0 0x0 0x0)
0x34b13fc8 : 0x19f4a3 (0x64f9cc0 0x0 0x1a20b5 0x64f9cc0)
No mapping exists for frame pointer
Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0xbfffdc88
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.GeForce(5.3.0)@0xfb9000->0x104cfff
dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(5.3.0)@0x6d6000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.5.2)@0x6c8000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.4.1)@0x631000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.5.2)@0x6ac000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: ScreenSaverEngin

Mac OS version:
9F33

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.5.0: Wed Sep 3 11:29:43 PDT 2008; root:xnu-1228.7.58~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: iMac6,1 (Mac-F4218FC8)

--------------------------

System Configuration

-------------------------

Model: iMac6,1, BootROM IM61.0093.B07, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.16 GHz, 2 GB
Graphics: kHW_NVidiaGeForce7300GTItem, NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, spdisplays_pcie_device, 128 MB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM1, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x87), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.38.9)
Bluetooth: Version 2.1.0f17, 2 service, 1 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en1
Serial ATA Device: ST3250824AS Q, 232.89 GB
Parallel ATA Device: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-K06, 3.86 GB
USB Device: Built-in iSight, Micron, high_speed, 500 mA
USB Device: Hub in Apple Extended USB Keyboard, Mitsumi Electric, full_speed, 500 mA
USB Device: iMate, USB To ADB Adaptor, Griffin Technology, Inc., low_speed, 100 mA
USB Device: Apple Extended USB Keyboard, Mitsumi Electric, full_speed, 250 mA
USB Device: EyeTV, El Gato, full_speed, 500 mA
USB Device: Generic USB Hub, ALCOR, full_speed, 500 mA
USB Device: C-Media USB Headphone Set, full_speed, 500 mA
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, Apple, Inc., full_speed, 500 mA
USB Device: IR Receiver, Apple Computer, Inc., full_speed, 500 mA
FireWire Device: HDD, Iomega, 400mbit_speed

------------------------

Problem Details

------------------------

Sat Nov 29 07:43:36 2008
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x0040456B): "NV40Surface: attached at free()"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1228.7.58/iokit/Kernel/IOLib.cpp:724
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x34723b28 : 0x12b0fa (0x459234 0x34723b5c 0x133243 0x0)
0x34723b78 : 0x40456b (0x49b7e4 0x34723bb0 0x34723ba8 0x27e92000)
0x34723b98 : 0x40ab04 (0x34723bb0 0x49be0c 0x3c 0x404d51)
0x34723c28 : 0x3eb72c (0x27e92000 0x0 0x1 0x40cab9)
0x34723c48 : 0x3eb7f9 (0x27e92000 0x0 0x3fa0c90 0x27e92000)
0x34723c68 : 0x100a6d2 (0x27e92000 0x23f30000 0x3fa0c90 0x5f2ba90)
0x34723c98 : 0x40fbf5 (0x23f30000 0x3fef8e8 0x3fef8e8 0x0)
0x34723ce8 : 0x43af53 (0x23f30000 0x3fef8e8 0x3fef8e8 0x0)
0x34723d48 : 0x18d210 (0x23f30000 0x3fef8e8 0x0 0x0)
0x34723db8 : 0x12d17e (0x5f2ba78 0x4c1c690 0x34723df8 0x11ee14)
0x34723df8 : 0x126257 (0x5f2ba00 0x3f9c7b8 0x47182d0 0x0)
0x34723f08 : 0x1974c2 (0x34723f44 0x0 0x0 0x0)
0x34723fc8 : 0x19f4a3 (0x54eb040 0x0 0x1a20b5 0x3ffc5a0)
No mapping exists for frame pointer
Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0xbfffdc88
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.GeForce(5.3.0)@0xff7000->0x108afff
dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(5.3.0)@0x6d6000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.5.2)@0x6c8000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.4.1)@0x631000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.5.2)@0x6ac000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: ScreenSaverEngin

Mac OS version:
9F33

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.5.0: Wed Sep 3 11:29:43 PDT 2008; root:xnu-1228.7.58~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: iMac6,1 (Mac-F4218FC8)

--------------------------

System Configuration

-------------------------

Model: iMac6,1, BootROM IM61.0093.B07, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.16 GHz, 2 GB
Graphics: kHW_NVidiaGeForce7300GTItem, NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, spdisplays_pcie_device, 128 MB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM1, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x87), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.38.9)
Bluetooth: Version 2.1.0f17, 2 service, 0 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en1
Serial ATA Device: ST3250824AS Q, 232.89 GB
Parallel ATA Device: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-K06
USB Device: Built-in iSight, Micron, high_speed, 500 mA
USB Device: EyeTV, El Gato, full_speed, 500 mA
USB Device: Generic USB Hub, ALCOR, full_speed, 500 mA
USB Device: C-Media USB Headphone Set, full_speed, 500 mA
USB Device: Hub in Apple Extended USB Keyboard, Mitsumi Electric, full_speed, 500 mA
USB Device: iMate, USB To ADB Adaptor, Griffin Technology, Inc., low_speed, 100 mA
USB Device: Apple Extended USB Keyboard, Mitsumi Electric, full_speed, 250 mA
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, Apple, Inc., full_speed, 500 mA
USB Device: IR Receiver, Apple Computer, Inc., full_speed, 500 mA
FireWire Device: HDD, Iomega, 400mbit_speed

 

[applefan69]

im more then likely not much more experience then you, yourself. But im gonna put my thoughts in just for some confirmation for you

I would bet its your graphics cards too, from sounds of things judging by the:
"BSD process name corresponding to current thread: ScreenSaverEngin"

whats happening, is your screensaver is doing something to your mac causing a kernel panic. I would bet since screensavers can be graphics card intensive that there is some conflict.

Does your mac rotate screensavers? Like does it change its screensaver ever so often. Its possible that only one of the screensavers on your mac causes issues... and as your mac goes to that one over night, it will kernel panic.

Maybe you should try acivating each of the screensavers on your mac individually and see if one of them causes a kernel panic.

 

[Paulyboy]

im more then likely not much more experience then you, yourself. But im gonna put my thoughts in just for some confirmation for you

I would bet its your graphics cards too, from sounds of things judging by the:
"BSD process name corresponding to current thread: ScreenSaverEngin"

whats happening, is your screensaver is doing something to your mac causing a kernel panic. I would bet since screensavers can be graphics card intensive that there is some conflict.

Does your mac rotate screensavers? Like does it change its screensaver ever so often. Its possible that only one of the screensavers on your mac causes issues... and as your mac goes to that one over night, it will kernel panic.

Maybe you should try acivating each of the screensavers on your mac individually and see if one of them causes a kernel panic.

Thanks for the suggestion. The only 3rd party screensaver on my Mac is "The Weather Channel" one. I checked that earlier today and that's the one I've been using. I didn't have it on rotate so that's the only one I've been using. I've seen it come on without any problems but that doesn't mean it isn't the problem. It could only happen sometimes. I'll delete that later.

I'll still update that Firmware later as well. Hopefully one or both of those will do the trick.

-PN

 

[ltldrummerboy]

If this is still happening after you upgrade the firmware, I would try doing an erase and install. Do you have a Time Machine backup to make this easier?

 

[Paulyboy]

If this is still happening after you upgrade the firmware, I would try doing an erase and install. Do you have a Time Machine backup to make this easier?

Yes I do. Hopefully that won't be needed though.

-PN

 

[Paulyboy]

im more then likely not much more experience then you, yourself. But im gonna put my thoughts in just for some confirmation for you

I would bet its your graphics cards too, from sounds of things judging by the:
"BSD process name corresponding to current thread: ScreenSaverEngin"

whats happening, is your screensaver is doing something to your mac causing a kernel panic. I would bet since screensavers can be graphics card intensive that there is some conflict.

Does your mac rotate screensavers? Like does it change its screensaver ever so often. Its possible that only one of the screensavers on your mac causes issues... and as your mac goes to that one over night, it will kernel panic.

Maybe you should try acivating each of the screensavers on your mac individually and see if one of them causes a kernel panic.

You were apparently correct.

After deleting "The Weather Channel" one yesterday it didn't do it overnight for the first time since the upgrade. I'm now using one of the default ones. We'll see what happens this week but this is a positive sign.

-PN

 

[Paulyboy]

If this is still happening after you upgrade the firmware, I would try doing an erase and install. Do you have a Time Machine backup to make this easier?

It turns out I didn't need the firmware update. It was for newer iMacs only. But the problem may be solved anyways (see above).

-PN

 

[macoazm]

Applefan69

Hello applefan69, please help me.

I am having exactly the same issue you had 6 months layer after running macpilot. My MBP won't boot... And I tried everything. How did you fixed it?


Thanks