Kernal panic - how common?

neilf · neilf #1 (**permalink**)

04-15-2012, 04:35 AM

Hi all,
As the title says, just how common are kernal panics?
OK, so my iMac aint that new:
2007 2.8Ghz Core 2 duo 4GB ram running Snow Leopard 10.6.8

Just had my first panic after 4 years. The curtain descended and I thought, what the heck is going on. The machine was doing absolutely nothing that I could see could warrant this panic. Having said that I do have a theory but as I know nothing about the reasons for these panics, I'll mention my theory later.

I ran all the checks I know of:
repair permissions
verify disc
Apple hardware test (full test)

All these reported that everything was OK.

Should I be concerned?

Neil

louishen · louishen #2 (**permalink**)

04-15-2012, 05:37 AM

You will get them every now and again, only if they become very frequent (like more than one a day) should you get concerned.

1 panic in 4 years is a very good run

neilf · neilf #3 (**permalink**)

04-15-2012, 08:09 AM

Thanks for your interest in my post Louishen.

Are you saying that a daily kernal panic is not unheard of?

I sort of equate the kernal panic with Window's blue screen of death.

gsahli · gsahli #4 (**permalink**)

04-15-2012, 11:02 AM

You've done the same things I would, except also check hard drive SMART status in Disk Utility.
Mac OS X 10.6 Help: Checking a disk to see if it?s going to fail

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #5 (**permalink**)

04-15-2012, 11:19 AM

My 2 cents. Here are what I consider 3 three levels of "annoyances on a Mac" (in decreasing order of occurrence):

- slowdowns/spinning beachballs (98%)
- program quits unexpectedly (1.9%)
- kernel panics (<0.1%)

The percentages aren't based on any sort of data...just my experiences/observations.

Also remember that your computer should be running trouble free 99% of the time...so the "annoyances" listed above would only be occurring 1% (or less) of the time...making the <0.1% for kernel panics be VERY infrequent.

Basically kernel panics should almost never occur on a well running and well maintained computer. Here's a kernel panic article that's always a good read:

Resolving Kernel Panics

- Nick

neilf · neilf #6 (**permalink**)

04-15-2012, 11:28 AM

I did as suggested and checked the SMART status.
It says verified.
Does that mean OK? Or do I have to run something to get the SMART status to update?

neilf · neilf #7 (**permalink**)

04-15-2012, 12:33 PM

My thanks to Pigoo3 for the link to resolving kernel panics.

I will have a read and see what happens over time.

Hopefully that will be the end of it.

Neil

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #8 (**permalink**)

04-15-2012, 06:00 PM

Verified means it is okay at the time of testing.

chas_m · chas_m #9 (**permalink**)

04-16-2012, 05:03 AM

Kernel panics should be unheard of in normal use.

toMACsh · toMACsh #10 (**permalink**)

04-16-2012, 01:22 PM

I've heard of 'em but I've never seen one in 4-1/2 years of using OSX Leopard.

PomeleS87 · PomeleS87 #11 (**permalink**)

04-17-2012, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louishen

You will get them every now and again, only if they become very frequent (like more than one a day) should you get concerned.

1 panic in 4 years is a very good run

Totally agree with you..
I'm having about 1-2 panic every week, and things are fine

louishen #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 22, 2007 Location: London Posts: 8,653 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Core i7 2012 \| White 2009 MacBook 2 Ghz \| 733 Mhz G4 Quicksilver	04-15-2012, 05:37 AM You will get them every now and again, only if they become very frequent (like more than one a day) should you get concerned. 1 panic in 4 years is a very good run Member of the Month September 2008 & August 2012 \| Found advice useful? – use the rep system
	QUOTE Thanks

pigoo3 #5 (permalink)
Member Since: May 20, 2008 Location: U.S. Posts: 20,307 Mac Specs: 13" MB 2.4ghz, 2gig ram, OS 10.7.4	04-15-2012, 11:19 AM My 2 cents. Here are what I consider 3 three levels of "annoyances on a Mac" (in decreasing order of occurrence): - slowdowns/spinning beachballs (98%) - program quits unexpectedly (1.9%) - kernel panics (<0.1%) The percentages aren't based on any sort of data...just my experiences/observations. Also remember that your computer should be running trouble free 99% of the time...so the "annoyances" listed above would only be occurring 1% (or less) of the time...making the <0.1% for kernel panics be VERY infrequent. Basically kernel panics should almost never occur on a well running and well maintained computer. Here's a kernel panic article that's always a good read: Resolving Kernel Panics - Nick - Computer slow, too many "beachballs", read this: Beachballs - Computer seems slower than it used to? Read this for some speedup tips: Speedup - Almost full hard drive? Some solutions. Out of Space - Apple Battery Info. Battery
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,074 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	04-15-2012, 06:00 PM Verified means it is okay at the time of testing. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

chas_m #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 22, 2010 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 13,696 Mac Specs: 2009 MacBook Pro, Black speakers, Black Benq second monitor, black iPhone 4, Black 2012 iPad, etc.	04-16-2012, 05:03 AM Kernel panics should be unheard of in normal use. Cheers, chas_m -- My essay for switchers and newbies
	QUOTE Thanks

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neilf #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 12, 2008 Posts: 304	04-15-2012, 04:35 AM Hi all, As the title says, just how common are kernal panics? OK, so my iMac aint that new: 2007 2.8Ghz Core 2 duo 4GB ram running Snow Leopard 10.6.8 Just had my first panic after 4 years. The curtain descended and I thought, what the heck is going on. The machine was doing absolutely nothing that I could see could warrant this panic. Having said that I do have a theory but as I know nothing about the reasons for these panics, I'll mention my theory later. I ran all the checks I know of: repair permissions verify disc Apple hardware test (full test) All these reported that everything was OK. Should I be concerned? Neil
	QUOTE Thanks

gsahli #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 11, 2010 Posts: 879	04-15-2012, 11:02 AM You've done the same things I would, except also check hard drive SMART status in Disk Utility. Mac OS X 10.6 Help: Checking a disk to see if it?s going to fail
	QUOTE Thanks

neilf #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 12, 2008 Posts: 304	04-15-2012, 11:28 AM I did as suggested and checked the SMART status. It says verified. Does that mean OK? Or do I have to run something to get the SMART status to update?
	QUOTE Thanks

neilf #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 12, 2008 Posts: 304	04-15-2012, 12:33 PM My thanks to Pigoo3 for the link to resolving kernel panics. I will have a read and see what happens over time. Hopefully that will be the end of it. Neil
	QUOTE Thanks

toMACsh #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 30, 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,805 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Core 2 Duo	04-16-2012, 01:22 PM I've heard of 'em but I've never seen one in 4-1/2 years of using OSX Leopard.
	QUOTE Thanks

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