Kernel panic : Processor context corrupt

[AppleMacFinder]

quote notification 😉

Hi Rick,

Please post the results, so other people could learn if that was successful.
This is very important for other people who have this problem.

 

[rick78]

Hi Rick,

What are the news? Have you recovered your MacBook Pro?

AppleMacFinder

Hi AppleMacFinder,
I really appreciate your help. Sorry I have not replied. I have been traveling. I did not get any email that this thread was updated either. I was getting updates everytime you wrote in before.

I am home again and will work on this tonight.

Of course I will post my results to help others.

Thanks again,
Rick

 

[rick78]

Ok, I managed to re-install the firmware with your pkg file. The process went through without any issues.
However, it did not correct the problem. The crashes still came.

I posted my latest report on pastebin here:
http://pastebin.com/MS1wnR0x

I also had a post on the Apple discusions:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/20376518#20376518

I got confirmation from someone that it looks like the internal cache of the CPU is broken:
MCA error-reporting registers:
IA32_MC0_STATUS(0x401): 0x0000000000000000
Bad processor.

L1 is onboard cache, so - bad processor.

So I guess I am left with buying a new logic board or another Macbook Pro.
I was still considered placing the logic board in the oven for a short time, but if the break is inside the CPU, I am not sure heat will help. I guess it would help only if a solder came apart.
I did have corresponance with a company repairing logic boards for 299 USD. I find it hard to believe they can fix this withour replacing the CPU itself, but they claim they fix them, including the error I have. Of course, they claim no cost if it can't be fixed.
I found a new logic board for 599 USD here:
http://www.powerbookmedic.com/MacBook-Pro-15-Unibody-20GHz-Core-i7-Logic-Board-p-20995.html

Hopefully, there is info in this post that will help others.

Thanks again AppleMacFinder for all your input and especially making a solution for re-installing the firmware.

I will return when I have news.

Best Regards,
Rick

 

[AppleMacFinder]

Hopefully, there is info in this post that will help others.

Thanks again AppleMacFinder for all your input and especially making a solution for re-installing the firmware.

Now I am completely sure that the problem is a hardware one. We tried all the possibilities.

But, please, don't become sad: you have one nice opportunity! 😉
Research the compatibility between different motherboard models (especially, their dimensional measures)
There should be a possibility to put a slightly better motherboard (e.g. with better CPU) in your MBP!
And the price difference should not be significant, compared to the total cost of machine.

 

[rick78]

Update

Today I figured I would try to 'bake' my Apple.
I removed the logic board and all parts that I could remove from the board. I placed it in a pre-heated 190 C oven for 7min30sec.
After cooled I reassembled it and it started fine. I was still expecting to see it crash after some time. It did not yet crash.
I have been running NFL gamepass / NFL Network for over two hours without a crash.
It has been crashing after 3 minutes of NFL streaming before this.

I will update in a few days.

Regards,
Rick

 

[AQUADock]

Today I figured I would try to 'bake' my Apple.
I removed the logic board and all parts that I could remove from the board. I placed it in a pre-heated 190 C oven for 7min30sec.
After cooled I reassembled it and it started fine. I was still expecting to see it crash after some time. It did not yet crash.
I have been running NFL gamepass / NFL Network for over two hours without a crash.
It has been crashing after 3 minutes of NFL streaming before this.

I will update in a few days.

Regards,
Rick

Yum baked logic board 😛. I'm wondering if I could do that to a iMac G5 with a failing graphics chip.

 

[rick78]

Update2

Hi Again,

I could not wait for a few days🙂
I streamed from NFL Gamepass for over 4 hours (that is 2 full games). I played Diable 3 for a short time (10 minutes).
I updated Mountain Lion and all other updates in queue.
Restarted multiple times.

No crash yet.
Either the baking helped, or my thermal paste job was just better. I feel my thermal paste job the first time was fine. It was crashing with a temp in the 30s C. So I am a believer in the baking solution for this.


I will update again.

Regards,
Rick

 

[AppleMacFinder]

I streamed from NFL Gamepass for over 4 hours (that is 2 full games). I played Diable 3 for a short time (10 minutes).
I updated Mountain Lion and all other updates in queue.
Restarted multiple times.

No crash yet.
Either the baking helped, or my thermal paste job was just better. I feel my thermal paste job the first time was fine. It was crashing with a temp in the 30s C. So I am a believer in the baking solution for this.

Wonderful news! 🙂 I am so glad to hear about your awesome baking experience! 😉

Please, tell us one important thing: how did you discovered a right temperature (190 C) and a time (7min30sec) ?
Just an educated guess, or there is some theory behind it?

 

[rick78]

Update3

No crashes still.

This baking was not my idea. I read a couple of different threads of people doing to fix some problems with the logic board.
The recommendations were precisely the temp and time that I baked mine. I am not sure what the melting point would be of the components, but the others said what they set it to, and I did the same.

Best Regards,
Rick