04-29-2012, 01:57 PM

As of just recently all three of the iMacs in the household are experiencing Kernel Panics. Some iMacs are in worse shape than others, but I would be much happier to see none of them having issues. One iMac is to the point where simply booting up causes a Kernel Panic, where the other two seem to be experiencing the problem intermittently. I just find it far too coincidental that each one began experiencing this problem in the same time frame. The RAM in the instant Panic computer has been swapped with one of the other iMacs in an attempt to get it to finish booting, but it still Panics instantly. This, combined with the fact that this began happening to all three at the same time tells me it's (probably) not a RAM issue. It'd also be far too coincidental for all three to be experiencing some other type of hardware issue. What's going on here?

(I should also note that the instant Panic computer is the white plastic flat panel model iMac that came out before the new aluminum style and running Snow Leopard Leopard, whereas the two intermittent Panic models are the newer 24" aluminum flat panel models, one running Leopard and the other running Snow Leopard.)

04-29-2012, 02:22 PM

Perhaps some common software that you installed on all three machines is causing the kernel panics?

Start each one in Safe boot mode to see if the kernel panics occur. Hold down the shift key as soon as you hear the POST chime (bong).

Also take a look at this on line article from the X Labs: LINK

04-29-2012, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by chscag

Perhaps some common software that you installed on all three machines is causing the kernel panics?

Start each one in Safe boot mode to see if the kernel panics occur. Hold down the shift key as soon as you hear the POST chime (bong).

Also take a look at this on line article from the X Labs: LINK

Thanks for the quick reply.

I don't believe there is any software that would be installed on all three machines with the exceptions of software like Java and Silverlight for Netflix. Have tried booting into Safe Mode and the problem still persists.

04-29-2012, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by urdadinatoaster

I just find it far too coincidental that each one began experiencing this problem in the same time frame.

You're absolutely correct...it is far too coincidental that 3 iMac's in the same household would be getting kernel panics in the same time frame!

Let's say that the odds of this happening randomly (through no fault of your own)...is pretty much as astronomical as winning a million dollar lottery!

Something you (or someone in your household) did is what's the deal. MANY times kernel panics are caused by hardware issues (usually incompatible ram)...but sometimes software can be the cause.

As "chscag" suggested...for this to happen on 3 iMac's at almost the same time has almost got to be software related (unless you've been doing a bunch of ram swapping or upgrading between these three iMac's).

- Nick

04-29-2012, 05:48 PM

Here is a link to problems using Netflix. Are you by chance also running Little Snitch or any AV software?


https://discussions.apple.com/thread...art=0&tstart=0

04-29-2012, 11:20 PM

Hi everyone! The original poster, Urdadinatoaster, was posting on my behalf. Said iMacs and their kernel panics are mine.

I don't have any of the software in question running, just anything that Netflix or possibly Hulu could installed and/or updated recently without my knowing. The iMac with constant panics upon boot DID have new RAM installed in December, but I've swapped back to the original ram with no change. HOWEVER...

The only piece of hardware that I could think of all 3 machines sharing is my wireless router. I booted super-bad iMac into safe mode, and before a panic could hit, disabled AirPort. It seems to be running just fine. Hmmm....

I'm going to update the firmware on my router as soon as I'm done typing this email. I'd be happy to copy and paste any of the many panic reports found in /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports if that'd help anyone deduce things for me.

04-30-2012, 01:35 AM

Alright. After the firmware update, everything seemed cool. The computer ran nicely for a few hours. I turned it off, put the 'new' ram back in, and rebooted. Kernel Panic. I popped the old stuff back in and here I am... So I'm guessing it has to do the RAM. This confuses me though, because pre-firmware update, swapping RAM seemed to make zero difference. Below is the most recent file from the Diagnostic Reports folder:

Mon Apr 30 00:31:36 2012
Machine-check capabilities (cpu 1) 0x0000000000000806:
family: 6 model: 15 stepping: 6 microcode: 199
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7400 @ 2.16GHz
6 error-reporting banks
threshold-based error status present
Machine-check status 0x0000000000000004:
machine-check in progress
MCA error-reporting registers:
IA32_MC0_STATUS(0x401): 0x1000000000000000 invalid
IA32_MC1_STATUS(0x405): 0x0000000000000000 invalid
IA32_MC2_STATUS(0x409): 0x0000000000000000 invalid
IA32_MC3_STATUS(0x40d): 0x0020000000000000 invalid
IA32_MC4_STATUS(0x411): 0xf200000000040151 valid
MCA error code: 0x0151
Model specific error code: 0x0004
Other information: 0x00000000
Threshold-based status: No tracking
Status bits:
Processor context corrupt
Error enabled
Uncorrected error
Error overflow
IA32_MC5_STATUS(0x415): 0xb200003008000e0f valid
MCA error code: 0x0e0f
Model specific error code: 0x0800
Other information: 0x00000030
Threshold-based status: No tracking
Status bits:
Processor context corrupt
Error enabled
Uncorrected error
panic(cpu 1 caller 0x2aaf41): Machine Check at 0x00522ccc, thread:0x70a3000, trapno:0x12, err:0x0,registers:
CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0x04545000, CR3: 0x27842000, CR4: 0x00000660
EAX: 0x41c3afff, EBX: 0x00000007, ECX: 0x354fb2c6, EDX: 0x00000bac
ESP: 0x42153830, EBP: 0x42153888, ESI: 0x00000006, EDI: 0x00000004
EFL: 0x00010206, EIP: 0x00522ccc

Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x41e7efb8 : 0x21b837 (0x5dd7fc 0x41e7efec 0x223ce1 0x0)
0x41e7f008 : 0x2aaf41 (0x59dfe4 0x59e0d1 0x522ccc 0x70a3000)
0x41e7f0f8 : 0x2a29f2 (0x1 0xeeeeeeee 0xeeeeeeee 0xeeeeeeee)
0x42153888 : 0x5246cb (0x42153a18 0x1000 0x13 0x3532f070)
0x42153988 : 0x47ea6121 (0x42153a18 0x5 0x0 0x354fb004)
0x42153a68 : 0x47ea701b (0x0 0x0 0x456 0x1)
0x42153be8 : 0x47ea7353 (0x0 0x0 0x0 0x456)
0x42153c28 : 0x315981 (0x7961d7c 0x5a5ffd0 0x5cb4404 0x0)
0x42153c88 : 0x3175ce (0x0 0x0 0x1000 0x0)
0x42153d58 : 0x42e6d5 (0x42153dfc 0x42153dbc 0x78d9e10 0x0)
0x42153dd8 : 0x2ff592 (0x42153dfc 0x3 0x42153e28 0x58a167)
0x42153e28 : 0x2f45e1 (0x7961d7c 0x42153ec4 0x0 0x42153f54)
0x42153e78 : 0x49f5f9 (0x63dfe30 0x42153ec4 0x0 0x42153f54)
0x42153f18 : 0x49fd75 (0x42153f54 0x63dfe30 0x5007a00 0x1)
0x42153f78 : 0x4f82fb (0x63c62a0 0x67a1248 0x6a27234 0x1)
0x42153fc8 : 0x2a251d (0x67a1244 0x0 0x10 0x67a1244)
Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTyp eZlib(1.0.0d1)@0x47ea4000->0x47ea9fff

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: mdworker

Mac OS version:
10K549

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.8.0: Tue Jun 7 16:33:36 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1504.15.3~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: iMac5,1 (Mac-F4228EC8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 89866789464
unloaded kexts:
(none)
loaded kexts:
com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver 1.0.2d2
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.3d0
com.apple.driver.InternalModemSupport 2.6.2
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.57
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.5.7
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.0.20
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelYonahProfile 14
com.apple.kext.ATIFramebuffer 6.3.6
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPenrynProfile 17
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0
com.apple.ATIRadeonX1000 6.3.6
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelNehalemProfile 11
com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver 1.1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 2.0.5f14
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43xx 423.91.27
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 2.10.6
com.apple.driver.AppleWWANSupport1 2.0.4b0
com.apple.iokit.AppleYukon2 3.2.1b1
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelMeromProfile 19
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43224 428.42.4
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 4.7.0a1
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.5.1
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight 170.0.46
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 2.1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 303.8
com.apple.driver.CSRHIDTransitionDriver 2.4.5f3
com.apple.driver.AppleWWANSupport 2.0.4b0
com.apple.driver.USBCameraFirmwareLoader 1.1.0
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 2.6.8
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 1.6.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA 2.5.1
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.7.3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 4.2.4
com.apple.BootCache 31.1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTyp eZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI 4.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.3.6
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.3.6
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClien t 142.6.0
com.apple.security.sandbox 1
com.apple.security.quarantine 0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 2.1.14
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 142.6.0
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileReadCounterAction 17 - last loaded 20972397694
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.IOSurface 74.2
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 2.4.5f3
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver 2.0.5f14
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 2.0.5f14
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.8.3fc2
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.3
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.3
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.0.3
com.apple.iokit.AppleProfileFamily 41
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 2.0.5f14
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 2.0.5f14
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 320.1
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 1.10
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.0d5
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 4.7.0a1
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.10d0
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert 1.0.1
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.2.1
com.apple.kext.ATI1600Controller 6.3.6
com.apple.kext.ATISupport 6.3.6
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.2.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.CSRUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.4.5f3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.4.5f3
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 2.4.5f3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHIDMouse 162
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse 162
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 4.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 3.9.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 2.6.8
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.6.1
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 402.1
com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport 2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 2.6.8
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 4.2.4
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.6
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily 2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.2.6
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.4.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.6.6
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 6
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 289
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.6.3
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.3.6
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.3.0


Any light to shed? Thanks to everyone for your help!

04-30-2012, 02:17 AM

That particular KP is definitely bad or incorrect memory modules. I can't really tell you any more because the machine immediately went into panic and could not process any further. Typical of memory errors.

04-30-2012, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by notbillcosby

This confuses me though, because pre-firmware update, swapping RAM seemed to make zero difference.

The "funny" thing about kernel panics is...sometimes they occur immediately during a reboot...and sometimes the computer can run for hours or days without an issue.

This is why troubleshooting kernel panics can be a REAL pain in the neck! They don't always manifest themselves immediately. Many times they happen quickly (0-10 minutes)...but sometimes they can take much longer.

So when you initially swapped the ram...the kernel panic probably would have occurred...it just needed more time.

- Nick

04-30-2012, 10:15 AM

And now another fun update: It's KP'ing with the old, seemingly stable ram again, just as it was doing pre-router-firmware update. Does this still seem like a RAM issue? I have a hard time believing that both sets of ram that previously worked fine in this computer have gone bad at the same time. The current (old, came with the computer) ram worked in this machine for years, and the new (upgrade, from Crucial) worked for the past several months. Now the machine panics with both. The most current panic was back to doing it almost immediately upon startup.

05-01-2012, 12:34 AM

Got the original system install discs? If so run Apple Hardware Test and if all passes run MemTest over the memory. Memory can fail after time.


http://osxdaily.com/2011/05/03/memtest-mac-ram-test/

05-01-2012, 01:22 AM

Out of curiosity did you by chance swap ram between the Mac's in question because depending on model and year this could cause it Apple has been known to change mid year.
Since 06 they have used 667Mhz now its 1333Mhz and the years in-between had 1067MHz.

05-01-2012, 11:18 AM

Tried booting off the install discs... KP at the language select screen.

Nope, I haven't swapped ram between computers at all, just the two different sets that have been exclusively in the super-panicky one.

05-01-2012, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by notbillcosby

Tried booting off the install discs... KP at the language select screen.

Nope, I haven't swapped ram between computers at all, just the two different sets that have been exclusively in the super-panicky one.

Are we still dealing with kernel panics on THREE iMac's...or has the situation changed? As already mentioned...getting KP's on three iMac's at roughly the same time is very, very, very unusual...and the only common thread would be have to be a software issue.

If we're talking KP's on just one computer...then we may be able to troubleshoot a bit further. But honestly with most Macintosh computers with KP's...once you get past troubleshooting ram, software, hard drives...there's not much else that can be done. KP's can be caused by something going bad on the logic board (video hardware for example)...but if this is the case...not much can be done...other than to replace the logic board. Which in most cases is not financially a good idea.

This is why having KP's on three iMac's happen almost simultaneously (roughly in the same time period)...is almost impossible (unless it's due to the same troublesome software being installed on all three computers). Having three hardware failures (three iMac's) at almost the same time causing kernel panics, is statistically astronomically high.

- Nick

05-01-2012, 01:11 PM

Yes and no, I suppose. Here's how it has played out:

- iMac B had its first out of the blue kernel panic.
- About 2 or 3 weeks later, iMac A started getting kernel panics almost immediately after startup, all the time. That's what most of this thread has been about.
- Within a day or two of iMac A freaking out constantly, iMac B had another during-use panic.
- Within a day or two of THAT happening, I walked in on iMac C sitting at a post-Netflix episode screen with a KP grey screen up in front of it.

iMacs B and C haven't been experiencing multiple panics, but the fact that they happened at all so close to iMac A completely losing its mind is what made me suspicious. I can't say that they have been fixed on B and C as they have never been a constant problem like they are with A.