kernel_task has over 1,900 threads open

[leader288]

I've been recently realizing that every time i use safari or socialite for a few mins I get a lot of 'beach ball' time. The application would show in red (not responding) in activity monitor and kernel_task would have over 1,900 threads, that will decrease slowly after I force quit the applications.

I'm able to use other browsers like chrome, thats how i'm posting this msg, without any beach balls.

this is one min of my console msgs:

7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	AppleHDAEngineOutput: bad busy count (255,1)
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	Backtrace 0x53784a 0x537ac3 0x910d60 0x121c77b 0x1227e04 0x122489a 0x12221fc
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	com.apple.driver.AppleHDA(1.8.7f1)@0x120d000->0x12c4fff
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController(1.8.7f1)@0x1177000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.1)@0xa6a000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0x90b000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily(1.8.7f1)@0x1170000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.1)@0xa48000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib(1.8.7f1)@0x118e000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0x90b000->0x922fff
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib(1.3)@0x907000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	AppleHDAEngineOutput: bad busy count (255,1)
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	Backtrace 0x53784a 0x537ac3 0x910d60 0x121c77b 0x1227e04 0x122489a 0x12221fc
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	com.apple.driver.AppleHDA(1.8.7f1)@0x120d000->0x12c4fff
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController(1.8.7f1)@0x1177000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.1)@0xa6a000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0x90b000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily(1.8.7f1)@0x1170000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.1)@0xa48000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib(1.8.7f1)@0x118e000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0x90b000->0x922fff
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib(1.3)@0x907000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	AppleHDAEngineOutput: bad busy count (255,1)
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	Backtrace 0x53784a 0x537ac3 0x910d60 0x121c879 0x1227e04 0x122489a 0x12221fc
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	com.apple.driver.AppleHDA(1.8.7f1)@0x120d000->0x12c4fff
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController(1.8.7f1)@0x1177000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.1)@0xa6a000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0x90b000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily(1.8.7f1)@0x1170000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.1)@0xa48000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib(1.8.7f1)@0x118e000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0x90b000->0x922fff
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib(1.3)@0x907000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	AppleHDAEngineOutput: bad busy count (255,1)
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	Backtrace 0x53784a 0x537ac3 0x910d60 0x121c879 0x1227e04 0x122489a 0x12221fc
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	com.apple.driver.AppleHDA(1.8.7f1)@0x120d000->0x12c4fff
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController(1.8.7f1)@0x1177000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.1)@0xa6a000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0x90b000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily(1.8.7f1)@0x1170000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.1)@0xa48000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib(1.8.7f1)@0x118e000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0x90b000->0x922fff
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib(1.3)@0x907000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	AppleHDAEngineOutput: bad busy count (255,1)
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	Backtrace 0x53784a 0x537ac3 0x910d60 0x121c879 0x1227e04 0x122489a 0x12221fc
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	com.apple.driver.AppleHDA(1.8.7f1)@0x120d000->0x12c4fff
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController(1.8.7f1)@0x1177000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.1)@0xa6a000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0x90b000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily(1.8.7f1)@0x1170000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.1)@0xa48000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib(1.8.7f1)@0x118e000
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0x90b000->0x922fff
7/18/10 AM 12:47:11	kernel	dependency: com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib(1.3)@0x907000

Can anyone help?

Thanks

 

[Hellhammer]

Have you rebooted? That should quit the kernel task

 

[leader288]

Have you rebooted? That should quit the kernel task

yup, i can use the computer until i start booting up safari or socialite. I havent tried other applications yet.

 

[Hellhammer]

yup, i can use the computer until i start booting up safari or socialite. I havent tried other applications yet.

Is your Safari up to date? You could try reinstalling it. If that doesn't help, I would just reinstall OS X, that will take less than an hour and won't even erase any data

 

[taylortech]

same problem

I am experiencing the same issue with a macbook.
What does this actually mean?

7/23/10 3:16:03 PM	kernel	AppleHDAEngineOutput: bad busy count (255,1)
7/23/10 3:16:03 PM	kernel	Backtrace 0x53784a 0x537ac3 0xd06d60 0xda7879 0xdb2e04 0xdaf89a 0xdad1fc
7/23/10 3:16:03 PM	kernel	Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
7/23/10 3:16:03 PM	kernel	com.apple.driver.AppleHDA(1.8.7f1)@0xd98000->0xe4ffff
7/23/10 3:16:03 PM	kernel	dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController(1.8.7f1)@0xce6000
7/23/10 3:16:03 PM	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.1)@0xc24000
7/23/10 3:16:03 PM	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0xd01000
7/23/10 3:16:03 PM	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily(1.8.7f1)@0xcdf000
7/23/10 3:16:03 PM	kernel	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.1)@0xc02000
7/23/10 3:16:03 PM	kernel	dependency: com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib(1.8.7f1)@0xd19000
7/23/10 3:16:03 PM	kernel	com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0xd01000->0xd18fff
7/23/10 3:16:03 PM	kernel	dependency: com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib(1.3)@0xcfd000

 

[phatqao]

i'd also recommend removing and reinstalling the latest version of safari

 

[jamecs]

Anyone know what this is yet?

Same problem here

I've been having this exact same problem with my system now for a couple of weeks, i've tried repairing permissions, verifying/repairing the disc, archive & install, clearing caches etc but every day like clockwork I get the beachball of death and everything outside of Safari grinds to a halt until I deep clean the cache. I then get another 24 hour reprieve until it all starts again.

The kernel threads can get up to 2500 on the activity monitor and this message keeps on flashing up on the console logs repeatedly until I force shut down:

05/11/2010 16:18:48 kernel Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
05/11/2010 16:18:48 kernel com.apple.driver.AppleHDA(1.8.7f1)@0x1082000->0x1139fff
05/11/2010 16:18:48 kernel dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController(1.8.7f1)@0xfec000
05/11/2010 16:18:48 kernel dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.1)@0x97a000
05/11/2010 16:18:48 kernel dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0x90b000
05/11/2010 16:18:48 kernel dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily(1.8.7f1)@0xfe5000
05/11/2010 16:18:48 kernel dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.1)@0x958000
05/11/2010 16:18:48 kernel dependency: com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib(1.8.7f1)@0x1003000
05/11/2010 16:18:48 kernel com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.7.6fc2)@0x90b000->0x922fff
05/11/2010 16:18:48 kernel dependency: com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib(1.3)@0x907000
05/11/2010 16:18:48 kernel AppleHDAEngineOutput: bad busy count (255,1)
05/11/2010 16:18:48 kernel Backtrace 0x53784a 0x537ac3 0x910d60 0x1091879 0x109ce04 0x109989a 0x10971fc

The headphone and internal speaker sound outputs start to switch constantly when the kernel starts going crazy, you can see it on Sound Preferences. I've tried analysing the library/preferences/audio/sound setting plists and correcting the numbers as per other threads on the forum, deleting then reinstalling previous plists from time machine etc, setting up another admin account but again, that just gives me another 24 hour break before it all starts again.

I've also run hardware test and outside a minor fault with the temp thermostat i'm not getting anything untoward. Am running smc fan control so no worries there. Smart status is fully verified also.

Could anyone be kind enough to help me decipher the console log above and point me in the right direction!?

Thanks

James

 

[chrismacguy]

It looks like the OS X Audio Driver is freaking out about something on your system - Id try either reinstalling the operating system, or testing to see if it does this after a specific set of alterations to sound prefs (Plugging in headphones or whatever) - as it looks like kernel_task is getting stuck, not terminating correctly and relaunching as a new thread (to gain that many threads) - on my perfectly working Mac Pro for instance, it has 84 threads, which seems normal (My MacBook has 72), and thats nowhere near the 2500 odd your getting.

 

[jamecs]

Yes, it's definitely freaking out about something, I have no idea what the trigger is, it just waits 24 sometimes 36 hours, then shuts down my system again.

Have tried reinstalling OS and everything else outside of wiping the hard drive and doing a fresh install on everything - don't really have the resources to do that outside of using time machine that would probably just reintroduce the problem again.

Just want to know if its a hardware or software/firmware problem I guess..

 

[zakee00]

I can't believe this! I do a Google search and I find that people have had this issue for years but I cannot find a single resolution, haha. I'm getting it only after updating from Snow Leopard to Lion on my MacBook. Does anyone know if a complete fresh install of the OS worked? Obviously I wouldn't be able to use Time Machine as it would probably reintroduce the problem, but I'd still wipe and just start from scratch if I had to...