Recent frequent kernel panics with Macbook

[mirrorchild]

My Macbook seems to be suddenly experiencing an increase of incidences of kernel panics the past week. On average, a kernel panic would occur once every other day.

The most recent one just occured randomly, when I was browsing the web, whereas the last one occurred in the middle of the verifying stage while burning data to a disc.

Prior to this past week, it rarely experiences a kernel panic, if it does, it's a one-off occurence, probably at most once every 2 months.

I've repaired the startup disk with disk utility and also repaired permissions. What else could I do to try rectify the problem?

Would posting the panic log from console be any use to help me out here?

 

[merl1n]

My Macbook seems to be suddenly experiencing an increase of incidences of kernel panics the past week. On average, a kernel panic would occur once every other day.

The most recent one just occured randomly, when I was browsing the web, whereas the last one occurred in the middle of the verifying stage while burning data to a disc.

Prior to this past week, it rarely experiences a kernel panic, if it does, it's a one-off occurence, probably at most once every 2 months.

I've repaired the startup disk with disk utility and also repaired permissions. What else could I do to try rectify the problem?

Would posting the panic log from console be any use to help me out here?

A panic log would help.

 

[mirrorchild]

Here's the log for the most recent occurence,

Sat May 3 22:11:30 2008
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x0019C9EF): Unresolved kernel trap (CPU 0, Type 14=page fault), registers:
CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0x3cd1b992, CR3: 0x00d73000, CR4: 0x000006e0
EAX: 0x3cd1b991, EBX: 0x00000016, ECX: 0x0b0abc8c, EDX: 0x00000016
ESP: 0x3cd1b992, EBP: 0x0b0abad4, ESI: 0x02f7d204, EDI: 0x02f7d270
EFL: 0x00010202, EIP: 0x0093923d, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0x0b0a0010

Backtrace, Format - Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0xb0ab954 : 0x128b5e (0x3bbf84 0xb0ab978 0x131bbc 0x0)
0xb0ab994 : 0x19c9ef (0x3c13b4 0x0 0xe 0x3c116c)
0xb0aba44 : 0x197b8d (0xb0aba58 0xb0abad4 0x93923d 0x48)
0xb0aba50 : 0x93923d (0x48 0x10 0x1ce10010 0xb0a0010)
0xb0abad4 : 0x9372c8 (0x2f7d270 0x1ce1804a 0x8 0x50b3fd)
0xb0abb24 : 0x92ccb9 (0x226f004 0xb0abc8c 0x1ce18000 0x50)
0xb0abb84 : 0x93d794 (0x1fca46c 0xb0abc8c 0x1ce18000 0x50)
0xb0abce4 : 0x94dbd4 (0x1fca46c 0x1ce3ca00 0x252f804 0x50)
0xb0abd34 : 0x93e9a0 (0x1fca46c 0x1ce3ca00 0x252f804 0x50)
0xb0abe24 : 0x94e865 (0x1fca46c 0x1ce3ca00 0x252f804 0x8)
0xb0abf14 : 0x38d939 (0x1fca29c 0x210ef00 0x1 0x1d081e0)
0xb0abf64 : 0x38cae5 (0x210ef00 0x135d18 0x0 0x1d081e0)
0xb0abf94 : 0x38c809 (0x211f6c0 0x211f6c0 0x0 0x989298)
0xb0abfd4 : 0x197a29 (0x211f6c0 0x0 0x1d08458 0x16) Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0x0
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.AirPortAtheros5424(103.5)@0x92b000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.0)@0x68d000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.0)@0x565000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family(112.1)@0x912000

 

[rhett7660]

Have you installed any software since you started to notice the "panics"?

 

[mirrorchild]

Have you installed any software since you started to notice the "panics"?

I use Camino as my primary browser, and I did consider if the recent update to version 1.6, and/or its use with 1password, has anything to do with it. This recent string of kernel panics began on April 29th, about a week after I updated Camino. Prior to the update, the last kernel panic reported in console was March 20th.

I did write earlier that one of the recent crashes occured while in the midst of disc burning, when Camino, or any application for that matter, was not being used.

I think I will downgrade to 1.5.5 and see if I'm still seeing the same problems, but how likely is it that a browser could give me all the kernel panics?

 

[merl1n]

I use Camino as my primary browser, and I did consider if the recent update to version 1.6, and/or its use with 1password, has anything to do with it. This recent string of kernel panics began on April 29th, about a week after I updated Camino. Prior to the update, the last kernel panic reported in console was March 20th.

I did write earlier that one of the recent crashes occured while in the midst of disc burning, when Camino, or any application for that matter, was not being used.

I think I will downgrade to 1.5.5 and see if I'm still seeing the same problems, but how likely is it that a browser could give me all the kernel panics?

I highly doubt this has anything to do with your web browser.

Based on what I'm seeing in your dump...

Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.AirPortAtheros5424(103.5)@0x92b000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.0)@0x68d000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.0)@0x565000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family(112.1)@0x912000

These are the Airport modules (sw drivers). You may have a bad airport card or a problem with your system board. Try turning off your Airport and connect to your router using an ethernet cable. Reboot and use your computer (disk burning, etc) to see if you still have the problem. It is possible that either the card (or the circuit or the drivers) are sending some sort of interrupt during heavy I/O loads (ie, disk burning, playing games - video all using the I/O bus) that the cpu can't handle. Thus kernel panic.
This is not definite though as kernel dumps such as this are hard to pinpoint exactly what was going on at the time.

Also, have you done anything with memory such as upgrading recently? I would try swapping around your memory modules. It is possible that these panics could also be memory related.

I would also run the Apple Hardware Test from your original DVD that came with your Mac. To do so, insert the DVD, reboot, and immediately hold down the option key. Keep holding until you see the blue screen (boot loader) and then select the AHT and then click the right arrow. Run the extended tests. If you come up with an error, write it down verbatim and call Apple support as this indicates a definite hardware failure. The test is not all that great (especially if this is an intermittent problem), but it is your first line of troubleshooting.

 

[merl1n]

I highly doubt this has anything to do with your web browser.

Based on what I'm seeing in your dump...

Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.AirPortAtheros5424(103.5)@0x92b000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.0)@0x68d000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.0)@0x565000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family(112.1)@0x912000

These are the Airport modules (sw drivers). You may have a bad airport card or a problem with your system board. Try turning off your Airport and connect to your router using an ethernet cable. Reboot and use your computer (disk burning, etc) to see if you still have the problem. It is possible that either the card (or the circuit or the drivers) are sending some sort of interrupt during heavy I/O loads (ie, disk burning, playing games - video all using the I/O bus) that the cpu can't handle. Thus kernel panic.
This is not definite though as kernel dumps such as this are hard to pinpoint exactly what was going on at the time.

Also, have you done anything with memory such as upgrading recently? I would try swapping around your memory modules. It is possible that these panics could also be memory related.

I would also run the Apple Hardware Test from your original DVD that came with your Mac. To do so, insert the DVD, reboot, and immediately hold down the option key. Keep holding until you see the blue screen (boot loader) and then select the AHT and then click the right arrow. Run the extended tests. If you come up with an error, write it down verbatim and call Apple support as this indicates a definite hardware failure. The test is not all that great (especially if this is an intermittent problem), but it is your first line of troubleshooting.

Just out of curiosity, are you running OS 10.5.2? If not definitely update now using the 10.5.2 combo updater. Download it, and then boot in "Safe Mode" to apply it.

"Apple has released Mac OS X 10.5.2 which includes a broad range of enhancements including:

Updates Stacks with a List view option, a Folder view option, and an updated background for Grid view.
"Improvement of AirPort connection reliability and stability"
802.1X improvements
Resolving kernel panics related to AirPort.
Adding support for more third-party routers to "Back to My Mac"

...and much more

Here is the link for the combo updater...

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosx1052comboupdate.html

 

[mirrorchild]

I highly doubt this has anything to do with your web browser.

Based on what I'm seeing in your dump...

Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.AirPortAtheros5424(103.5)@0x92b000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.0)@0x68d000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.0)@0x565000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family(112.1)@0x912000

These are the Airport modules (sw drivers). You may have a bad airport card or a problem with your system board. Try turning off your Airport and connect to your router using an ethernet cable. Reboot and use your computer (disk burning, etc) to see if you still have the problem. It is possible that either the card (or the circuit or the drivers) are sending some sort of interrupt during heavy I/O loads (ie, disk burning, playing games - video all using the I/O bus) that the cpu can't handle. Thus kernel panic.
This is not definite though as kernel dumps such as this are hard to pinpoint exactly what was going on at the time.

Also, have you done anything with memory such as upgrading recently? I would try swapping around your memory modules. It is possible that these panics could also be memory related.

I would also run the Apple Hardware Test from your original DVD that came with your Mac. To do so, insert the DVD, reboot, and immediately hold down the option key. Keep holding until you see the blue screen (boot loader) and then select the AHT and then click the right arrow. Run the extended tests. If you come up with an error, write it down verbatim and call Apple support as this indicates a definite hardware failure. The test is not all that great (especially if this is an intermittent problem), but it is your first line of troubleshooting.

Hmm, I just experienced another one of theose kernel panics. This time, the only application open was VLC player, and Finder. Again, similar log as to all the others.

Funny how they all seem to occur at a fixed interval, ie. the last few panics have occured between 12-2 a.m. (local time) every 24 hours or so.

I haven't introduced any hardware changes to my machine at all. It was working as per usual up until the past week or so, and then the daily, or rather more accurately, nightly kernal panics.

I just ran the extended hardware tests, it tells me it doesn't find anything wrong.

To answer your last question, no I'm not running 10.5.2. I'm still on Tiger 10.4.9.

 

[merl1n]

Hmm, I just experienced another one of theose kernel panics. This time, the only application open was VLC player, and Finder. Again, similar log as to all the others.

Funny how they all seem to occur at a fixed interval, ie. the last few panics have occured between 12-2 a.m. (local time) every 24 hours or so.

I haven't introduced any hardware changes to my machine at all. It was working as per usual up until the past week or so, and then the daily, or rather more accurately, nightly kernal panics.

I just ran the extended hardware tests, it tells me it doesn't find anything wrong.

To answer your last question, no I'm not running 10.5.2. I'm still on Tiger 10.4.9.

I again recommending disabling your Airport network and test. If you are still getting kernel panics, then it is not your airport card.

Then try (in this order):
SMC reset
PRAM reset
Safe Boot

Then test again.

I also recommend you upgrade to 10.4.11 as it fixes many issues.

Use the combo updater and apply using the Safe boot method.

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosx10411comboupdateintel.html

 

[mirrorchild]

I again recommending disabling your Airport network and test. If you are still getting kernel panics, then it is not your airport card.

Then try (in this order):
SMC reset
PRAM reset
Safe Boot

Then test again.

I also recommend you upgrade to 10.4.11 as it fixes many issues.

Use the combo updater and apply using the Safe boot method.

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosx10411comboupdateintel.html

OK, will try all of your suggestions.

Somehow, I have this feeling I would be back here in 24 hours.

 

[merl1n]

I again recommending disabling your Airport network and test. If you are still getting kernel panics, then it is not your airport card.

Then try (in this order):
SMC reset
PRAM reset
Safe Boot

Then test again.

I also recommend you upgrade to 10.4.11 as it fixes many issues.

Use the combo updater and apply using the Safe boot method.

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosx10411comboupdateintel.html

Sorry I missed something in your last post...

"Funny how they all seem to occur at a fixed interval, ie. the last few panics have occured between 12-2 a.m. (local time) every 24 hours or so."

Are all of the panics occurring at this time or just the last few? What about other times outside of that window? This is important.

Do you have your Mac plugged into a Surge protector power strip or UPS, or just a wall outlet?

The reason I asked, is that I have been in the computer field for more than 20 years and I ran into a situation like this with a mainframe computer. The computer would crash within the same type of time period every 20 hours. After attaching power monitoring equipment and monitoring for a week, we noticed that within the same time period every day, there was a power drop on the input power. After some investigation we found out that another company on the same grid would start up their manufacturing equipment for the day's production. This low voltage caused our computers to crash. We fixed this problem by putting in a combination UPS/voltage regulator to compensate.

 

[IJ Reilly]

All of the advice from merl1n has been excellent. I would add only that I'd run Disk Utility to check for any disk errors which could easily have been created by so many hard restarts.

 

[mirrorchild]

Sorry I missed something in your last post...

"Funny how they all seem to occur at a fixed interval, ie. the last few panics have occured between 12-2 a.m. (local time) every 24 hours or so."

Are all of the panics occurring at this time or just the last few? What about other times outside of that window? This is important.

Do you have your Mac plugged into a Surge protector power strip or UPS, or just a wall outlet?

The reason I asked, is that I have been in the computer field for more than 20 years and I ran into a situation like this with a mainframe computer. The computer would crash within the same type of time period every 20 hours. After attaching power monitoring equipment and monitoring for a week, we noticed that within the same time period every day, there was a power drop on the input power. After some investigation we found out that another company on the same grid would start up their manufacturing equipment for the day's production. This low voltage caused our computers to crash. We fixed this problem by putting in a combination UPS/voltage regulator to compensate.

I checked the panic log in console, and as stated in a prior post, I do experience the one-off panic now and then, but it was only in the past week that I get them first, once every other day, and now it appears to be a daily occurence.

While they don't all exactly happen on the dot when midnnight strikes, but all the kernel panics I have face this past week do occur only at night.

My Macbook is plugged into the regular household wall socket. It has always been this way.

By any chance could the lease time of my network's DCHP server be a factor? It's set to 86400 seconds=24 hours, incidently about the same interval it takes for a panic to set in.

I will shut down airport for a day to see what happens at the same time tomorrow and I'll report back.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions.

 

[mirrorchild]

I again recommending disabling your Airport network and test. If you are still getting kernel panics, then it is not your airport card.

Then try (in this order):
SMC reset
PRAM reset
Safe Boot

Then test again.

I also recommend you upgrade to 10.4.11 as it fixes many issues.

Use the combo updater and apply using the Safe boot method.

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosx10411comboupdateintel.html

After four days of testing with airport disabled for the large part of the day, I haven't experienced a kernel panic, even within the 12-2 am period.

I didn't go completely cold-turkey off airport, there were sporadic periods where I had to have airport enabled to get online, but always disabled it once I'm done.

I guess my kernel panic problems has got to be something to do with the airport card. It's not like airport isn't working, in fact it works pretty well for the most part, I could download large files, stream video, browse, etc, I just can't figure out why when the kernel panics occur, they don't do so in a more random fashion and why would they just start occuring regularly only now.

I have yet to do the SMC and PRAM resets, would you still recommend this? I was also considering wiping my system and reinstalling OSX and then doing all these resets and updates to see if it would correct the problem. Any thoughts on this course of action?

 

[IJ Reilly]

You should not reinstall -- this is extremely unlikely to help. However, you should check the hard drive, as suggested above.

 

[merl1n]

After four days of testing with airport disabled for the large part of the day, I haven't experienced a kernel panic, even within the 12-2 am period.

I didn't go completely cold-turkey off airport, there were sporadic periods where I had to have airport enabled to get online, but always disabled it once I'm done.

I guess my kernel panic problems has got to be something to do with the airport card. It's not like airport isn't working, in fact it works pretty well for the most part, I could download large files, stream video, browse, etc, I just can't figure out why when the kernel panics occur, they don't do so in a more random fashion and why would they just start occuring regularly only now.

I have yet to do the SMC and PRAM resets, would you still recommend this? I was also considering wiping my system and reinstalling OSX and then doing all these resets and updates to see if it would correct the problem. Any thoughts on this course of action?

I still recommend you do the SMC and PRAM resets and a SAFE BOOT (to wipe out any bad hardware cache files).