MacBook Air Ambient Light Kernel Panic Problem

bradcsti · Mar 19, 2010

I have a rev. A MacBook air that I just got up and running again after replacing the hinges along with the whole top half of the computer. I did a clean install of snow leopard, and was so happy to be using the air again.

After changing some settings and loading a couple off apps in my room with the lights off (so I could see the backlit keyboard), I flipped on the light switch in my room, and was immediatly shown the the kernel panic screen, and was forced to shut down. I figured this was just a random occurance, so I booted back up, but was in kernel panic as soon as snow leopard booted. Went through this a couple more times, then shut the lights in my room back off, rebooted, and was able to boot up just fine. I then took a flashlight and ran the beam across the ambient light sensor, next to the camera, and was instantly in kernel panic again.

After saying WTF for a while I decided to swap the camera/ALS/mic board over from my old screen bc I figured maybe this new one is just bad. But this resulted in more of the same. I then did a new fresh and clean snowleopard install, but about 5 mins after finishing the install, it went right back to the good old kernel panic screen.

Now I don't really know where to go from here. The computer is way out of warranty, and after what I was quoted from my local apple repair store to repair the hinges and screen that I just fixed, I think I would just get nauseous at the thought of having to bring it to them now.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
-brad

BlueRevolution · Mar 19, 2010

If replacing the board doesn't work, I suggest just putting a piece of tape over the ambient light sensor and hoping it doesn't get any worse.

bradcsti · Mar 19, 2010

I was considering the tape as a last resort. I am just hoping I can find some info on this or find some more things to try before taping in up and then putting the bezel back on. Because taking the bezel off and on is a major PITA on the Air!!

bradcsti · Mar 20, 2010

I have found today that if I adjust the brightness of the LCD to full usin the Function keys at the top of the keyboard, as soon as it hits the top brightness notch, the kernel panic screen comes up.

Could this have something to with whatever part of the logic board handles the Signals coming through the LVDS cable could be going bad? Because I can't really think of anything else at this point.

bradcsti · Mar 22, 2010

I dont know if this has any meaning to any of you out there. But I am not really sure how to interpret this Kernel Panic Log:

Code:

Mon Mar 22 17:45:45 2010
panic(cpu 1 caller 0x34d7c68a): "IG: Invalid backlight duty cycle value"@/SourceCache/GraphicsDrivers/GraphicsDrivers-6.6.25/Common/GLKernel/Intel/IntelIntegratedFramebuffer/IntelGMAX3100FB.cpp:7179
Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x3492bb48 : 0x21b2bd (0x5cf868 0x3492bb7c 0x223719 0x0) 
0x3492bb98 : 0x34d7c68a (0x34d8cb08 0x3fe0f9c 0x0 0x2337fb) 
0x3492bbb8 : 0x34d8aceb (0x4c6c400 0x5f40 0x3492bbe8 0x26d042) 
0x3492bc08 : 0x34b863c3 (0x4c2c000 0x0 0x626b6c74 0x5f40) 
0x3492bc78 : 0x34b55a0c (0x4c68900 0x4a3bfc0 0x3ed5480 0x80) 
0x3492bca8 : 0x34b541c6 (0x5364c00 0x4a3bfc0 0x3ed5480 0x80) 
0x3492bcd8 : 0x34b53c71 (0x5364c00 0x80 0x3492bd08 0x4fcc49) 
0x3492bcf8 : 0x34b53bcd (0x5364c00 0x80 0x3492bd28 0x4fc7d6) 
0x3492bd18 : 0x34b55e9f (0x5364c00 0x4d081c0 0x3ed5480 0x80) 
0x3492bd48 : 0x34b5622b (0x5364c00 0x4d081c0 0x3ed5480 0x80) 
0x3492bdc8 : 0x562518 (0x5364c00 0x5624800 0x44 0x2a0596) 
0x3492be18 : 0x28837b (0x5364c00 0x4015300 0x44 0x5da08b8) 
0x3492be58 : 0x21d65f (0x5db5c84 0x5da0894 0x1fe408 0x5db5cb0) 
0x3492be98 : 0x2107f7 (0x5db5c00 0x3492bedc 0x4fed1ec 0x3492bed0) 
0x3492bef8 : 0x216a5a (0x5db5c00 0x0 0x0 0x0) 
0x3492bf78 : 0x292834 (0x498e068 0x0 0x0 0x0) 
0x3492bfc8 : 0x29e44d (0x498e064 0x0 0x10 0x498e064) 
      Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
         com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight(170.0.14)@0x34b85000->0x34b88fff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.0)@0x34b52000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.0)@0x34d27000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x2e9ed000
         com.apple.driver.AppleIntelGMAX3100FB(6.0.6)@0x34d7a000->0x34d90fff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.3.0)@0x2e853000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x2e9ed000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.0)@0x34b52000
            dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleSMC(3.0.1d2)@0x34b70000
         com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.0)@0x34b52000->0x34b6ffff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x2e9ed000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: loginwindow

Mac OS version:
10C540

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.2.0: Tue Nov  3 10:37:10 PST 2009; root:xnu-1486.2.11~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacBookAir1,1 (Mac-F42C8CC8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 8911468369707
unloaded kexts:
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily	2.0.2 (addr 0x34806000, size 0x24576) - last unloaded 106055554596
loaded kexts:
se.coolbook.driver2	2.0.9
com.apple.filesystems.autofs	2.1.0 - last loaded 36059649138
com.apple.driver.ApplePlatformEnabler	2.0.0d2
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X	7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor	1.9.2d0
com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver	1.1.2
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA	1.7.9a4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelGMAX3100	6.0.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient	3.1.0
com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor	3.0.0d4
com.apple.kext.AppleSMCLMU	1.4.5d1
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43xx	421.91.26
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelMeromProfile	19
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin	4.0.1d0
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC	1.4.9
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight	170.0.14
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelGMAX3100FB	6.0.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons	1.8.0b4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard	1.8.0b4
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController	251.1.4
com.apple.BootCache	31
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib	1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub	3.8.4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA	2.5.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI	3.7.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI	3.7.5
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM	1.3.0
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC	1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET	1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager	160.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons	1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS	1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC	1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC	1.4
com.apple.security.sandbox	0
com.apple.security.quarantine	0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall	2.1.11
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient	96.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement	96.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileReadCounterAction	17
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileTimestampAction	10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileThreadInfoAction	14
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileRegisterStateAction	10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileKEventAction	10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileCallstackAction	20
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily	2.6.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface	73.0
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager	2.2.4f3
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily	10.0.3
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib	1.7.9a4
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily	1.7.2fc1
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib	1.3
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family	310.6
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily	1.9
com.apple.iokit.AppleProfileFamily	41
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController	1.7.9a4
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily	1.7.9a4
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily	4.0.1d0
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport	2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC	3.0.1d2
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily	2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch	204.9
com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController	2.2.4f3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController	2.2.4f3
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily	2.2.4f3
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver	3.8.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub	3.8.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite	3.7.5
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter	402.1
com.apple.iokit.IOATABlockStorage	2.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient	3.8.5
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily	2.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily	3.8.5
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime	1.3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily	1.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily	1.1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet	6
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch	1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.DiskImages	281
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily	1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform	1.3
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily	2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily	1.3.0

mattydagee · Mar 6, 2014

Solved the issue

Hi all,

I solved the issue. I had this exact problem with a MacBook Air 1,1 that came through my repair shop.

Here are the steps to resolve the issue:
1. Find a machine with OS X 10.5 (in my case, I installed 10.5.0 onto a USB drive connected to the MacBookAir).
2. Copy the following file off the 10.5 system, and drop it on the desktop of the MacBookAir: /System/Library/Extensions/AppleIntelGMAX3100FB.kext
3. Install the new .kext file by dragging it into Kext Utility (which can be downloaded here: http://cvad-mac.narod.ru/index/0-4)
4. Shut down the machine. Reset SMC and PRAM (SMC: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964, PRAM: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379)
5. Boot, and enjoy!

Altemose · Mar 7, 2014

bradcsti said:

I dont know if this has any meaning to any of you out there. But I am not really sure how to interpret this Kernel Panic Log:

Code:

Mon Mar 22 17:45:45 2010
panic(cpu 1 caller 0x34d7c68a): "IG: Invalid backlight duty cycle value"@/SourceCache/GraphicsDrivers/GraphicsDrivers-6.6.25/Common/GLKernel/Intel/IntelIntegratedFramebuffer/IntelGMAX3100FB.cpp:7179
Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x3492bb48 : 0x21b2bd (0x5cf868 0x3492bb7c 0x223719 0x0) 
0x3492bb98 : 0x34d7c68a (0x34d8cb08 0x3fe0f9c 0x0 0x2337fb) 
0x3492bbb8 : 0x34d8aceb (0x4c6c400 0x5f40 0x3492bbe8 0x26d042) 
0x3492bc08 : 0x34b863c3 (0x4c2c000 0x0 0x626b6c74 0x5f40) 
0x3492bc78 : 0x34b55a0c (0x4c68900 0x4a3bfc0 0x3ed5480 0x80) 
0x3492bca8 : 0x34b541c6 (0x5364c00 0x4a3bfc0 0x3ed5480 0x80) 
0x3492bcd8 : 0x34b53c71 (0x5364c00 0x80 0x3492bd08 0x4fcc49) 
0x3492bcf8 : 0x34b53bcd (0x5364c00 0x80 0x3492bd28 0x4fc7d6) 
0x3492bd18 : 0x34b55e9f (0x5364c00 0x4d081c0 0x3ed5480 0x80) 
0x3492bd48 : 0x34b5622b (0x5364c00 0x4d081c0 0x3ed5480 0x80) 
0x3492bdc8 : 0x562518 (0x5364c00 0x5624800 0x44 0x2a0596) 
0x3492be18 : 0x28837b (0x5364c00 0x4015300 0x44 0x5da08b8) 
0x3492be58 : 0x21d65f (0x5db5c84 0x5da0894 0x1fe408 0x5db5cb0) 
0x3492be98 : 0x2107f7 (0x5db5c00 0x3492bedc 0x4fed1ec 0x3492bed0) 
0x3492bef8 : 0x216a5a (0x5db5c00 0x0 0x0 0x0) 
0x3492bf78 : 0x292834 (0x498e068 0x0 0x0 0x0) 
0x3492bfc8 : 0x29e44d (0x498e064 0x0 0x10 0x498e064) 
      Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
         com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight(170.0.14)@0x34b85000->0x34b88fff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.0)@0x34b52000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.0)@0x34d27000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x2e9ed000
         com.apple.driver.AppleIntelGMAX3100FB(6.0.6)@0x34d7a000->0x34d90fff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.3.0)@0x2e853000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x2e9ed000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.0)@0x34b52000
            dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleSMC(3.0.1d2)@0x34b70000
         com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.0)@0x34b52000->0x34b6ffff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x2e9ed000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: loginwindow

Mac OS version:
10C540

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.2.0: Tue Nov  3 10:37:10 PST 2009; root:xnu-1486.2.11~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacBookAir1,1 (Mac-F42C8CC8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 8911468369707
unloaded kexts:
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily	2.0.2 (addr 0x34806000, size 0x24576) - last unloaded 106055554596
loaded kexts:
se.coolbook.driver2	2.0.9
com.apple.filesystems.autofs	2.1.0 - last loaded 36059649138
com.apple.driver.ApplePlatformEnabler	2.0.0d2
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X	7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor	1.9.2d0
com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver	1.1.2
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA	1.7.9a4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelGMAX3100	6.0.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient	3.1.0
com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor	3.0.0d4
com.apple.kext.AppleSMCLMU	1.4.5d1
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43xx	421.91.26
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelMeromProfile	19
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin	4.0.1d0
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC	1.4.9
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight	170.0.14
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelGMAX3100FB	6.0.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons	1.8.0b4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard	1.8.0b4
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController	251.1.4
com.apple.BootCache	31
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib	1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub	3.8.4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA	2.5.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI	3.7.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI	3.7.5
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM	1.3.0
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC	1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET	1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager	160.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons	1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS	1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC	1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC	1.4
com.apple.security.sandbox	0
com.apple.security.quarantine	0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall	2.1.11
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient	96.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement	96.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileReadCounterAction	17
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileTimestampAction	10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileThreadInfoAction	14
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileRegisterStateAction	10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileKEventAction	10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileCallstackAction	20
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily	2.6.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface	73.0
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager	2.2.4f3
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily	10.0.3
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib	1.7.9a4
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily	1.7.2fc1
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib	1.3
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family	310.6
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily	1.9
com.apple.iokit.AppleProfileFamily	41
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController	1.7.9a4
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily	1.7.9a4
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily	4.0.1d0
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport	2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC	3.0.1d2
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily	2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch	204.9
com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController	2.2.4f3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController	2.2.4f3
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily	2.2.4f3
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver	3.8.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub	3.8.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite	3.7.5
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter	402.1
com.apple.iokit.IOATABlockStorage	2.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient	3.8.5
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily	2.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily	3.8.5
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime	1.3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily	1.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily	1.1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet	6
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch	1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.DiskImages	281
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily	1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform	1.3
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily	2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily	1.3.0

Try resetting the SMC and PRAM. If that fails try Mattys steps. If that still doesn't work try disabling the Ambient Light Sensor in System Preferences.

DeltaMac · Mar 7, 2014

You're also running OS X 10.6.2, for some reason.
Download and install the 10.6.8 combined updater, here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399
then run your software update to pick up your system to fully up-to-date. That would possibly replace your Leopard kext for the light sensor "fix", so you should make sure to keep that file if you need it for a fix after your system is updated.

albercik · Nov 3, 2017

I know it's an old thread, but I've recently bought MacBook Air 1,1 for few bucks with an intension of testing combined network (Windows + Mac) and I've had this problem also. A method described by @mattydagee worked like a charm!

BTW - aren't there any newer Nvidia drivers for this GPU? I'm thinking of update'ing to 10.7.5 but I'm afraid the problem will reoccur.

Anyway - thankyou mattydagee!

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