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Remco Douma Author

Level 1

5 points

OSX 10.5.3 still having kernel panic with Bluetooth audio

After upgrading to OSX 10.5.3 yesterday I thought I'd give bluetooth audio a chance again (I already had problems with 10.5.2, see http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1529536&tstart=0). After a while my machine crashed again (the screen turns grey and I was instructed to hold the power button). This time I was trying to listen to iTunes over the bluetooth headphones (so the Plantronics in headphone mode).

After restarting the problem report sent to Apple is:

Thu May 29 07:15:21 2008
panic(cpu 1 caller 0x001A8CD4): Kernel trap at 0x6987f932, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0xfffff000, CR3: 0x01b09000, CR4: 0x00000660
EAX: 0x00000002, EBX: 0x08794700, ECX: 0x136d8f20, EDX: 0xfffff000
CR2: 0xfffff000, EBP: 0x5d782948, ESI: 0x0b460300, EDI: 0x00000001
EFL: 0x00010286, EIP: 0x6987f932, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0x00000010
Error code: 0x00000000

Backtrace, Format - Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x5d782758 : 0x12b0fa (0x459294 0x5d78278c 0x133243 0x0)
0x5d7827a8 : 0x1a8cd4 (0x4627fc 0x6987f932 0xe 0x461fac)
0x5d782888 : 0x19ede5 (0x5d7828a0 0xa0a3aff1 0x5d782948 0x6987f932)
0x5d782898 : 0x6987f932 (0xe 0x48 0x5d780010 0xffff0010)
0x5d782948 : 0x6987f7d5 (0xb460300 0xf 0x28 0x83c6d00)
0x5d7829a8 : 0x6988191a (0xb460300 0x3 0x0 0x1)
0x5d7829d8 : 0x6901e14f (0x8794700 0x30006 0xb3f3c04 0x8794700)
0x5d7829f8 : 0x6901d74b (0x8794700 0x690286a8 0x1 0x0)
0x5d782a28 : 0x69021897 (0x8794700 0xb3f3c00 0x5d782a68 0x12fa53)
0x5d782a68 : 0x4212ad (0xb3f3c00 0x0 0x0 0x0)
0x5d782ab8 : 0x69021342 (0xc331640 0x69021388 0x0 0x0)
0x5d782ae8 : 0x43b9bf (0xb3f3c00 0x5d782b20 0x5d782b24 0x5d782b28)
0x5d782b78 : 0x43d825 (0x13ca984c 0xb3f3c00 0xe7bd598 0x0)
0x5d782bd8 : 0x43b428 (0xb3f3c00 0x3 0x5d782c20 0x0)
0x5d782cf8 : 0x18d918 (0xb3f3c00 0x3 0xe7bd598 0x0)
0x5d783db8 : 0x12d17e (0xe7bd570 0xb8295a0 0x0 0x0)
Backtrace continues...
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothA2DPAudioDriver(2.1f17)@0x6987e000->0x69884fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily(2.1f17)@0x68f89000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.6.4b7)@0x69017000
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily(1.6.4b7)@0x69017000->0x6902dfff
dependency: com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib(1.1)@0x69014000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: iTunes

Mac OS version:
9D34

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.3.0: Fri May 23 00:49:16 PDT 2008; root:xnu-1228.5.18~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacBookPro3,1 (Mac-F42388C8)

Is it just me who is having these problems? It really amazes me that I am just not able to use bluetooth audio - headset nor headphones - without this rather significant problem? And then I don't even begin about the mouse getting the hiccups the moment the headset is turned on. I would have expected lots of complaints about this?

MacBook Pro 2.4Ghz DuoCore, 4Gb RAM, OSX 10.5.3
Bluetooth Apple Mighty Mouse
Bluetooth Apple keyboard
Bluetooth Plantronics P590

MacBook Pro 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.3), 4Gb RAM

Posted on May 29, 2008 3:38 AM

62 replies

G.Cactus

Level 1

26 points

Jun 5, 2008 4:41 AM in response to Remco Douma

Two New MacBook Pro vs various Bluetooth Ear pieces (Leopard)

Not had panics but we have two MBPros (versions Feb2008) now on OSX 10.5.3 with BT audio problems. (Once Finder did become uncontrollable after trying to pair and unpair but no panic screen as such.)

We cannot get any bluetooth headsets to work correctly for input or output sound (three different headsets, Surecom EAR01, Jabra 2020 and Orange G2).

We can pair the devices.

All devices exhibit the same sound problems on both MBPros:

1) Input has a constant rhythmic static noise and bears no resemblance to anything said
2) Output sound is only what can be described as a very poor grainy sound. Unusable.

Launching Audio Midi Setup or GarageBand makes no difference.

Recording the input (ie the rhythmic noise) in GarageBand into a basic audio track results in an audio segment that shrinks in size to a fraction of its realtime length once recording is stopped.

The same audio problems existed in 10.5.2 (updated straight from shipped OS)

However, note this: The same three headset devices work perfectly on PPC G4 Powerbooks running Tiger. Wired headsets do work.

This Is a Leopard problem.

Edit: I should also add that we also switched off all other BT devices (mouse, keyboard, phone) so that the only paired device was a single headset.

Message was edited by: G.Cactus

Jun 5, 2008 6:18 AM in response to ByronF

I have the same problems with Bluetooth on my MacPro 10.5.3 using my Plantronics 560 and a D-link Bluetooth usb. Skype Crashes or Mic pulses with static. It will crash the machine or even shut down my bluetooth headset. I have never seen anything turn off a headset

Jun 11, 2008 5:56 PM in response to G.Cactus

Have the same problem with a Motorola H800 & Skype. All I get is a reproducible grey screen of death.

I could never get bluetooth headsets to work on Windows either, but at least Apple is trying. I hope they fix this with 10.5.4 🙂

I wish I had a magic wand too. Jeez..

Remco Douma Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 11, 2008 7:33 PM in response to Remco Douma

Sounds like I'm not the only one. I guess I can safely assume that the statistic possibility of this being caused by a bad sector on my HDD is rather low.

Don't know if this is the way to go but I submitted a report using http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html.

Jun 12, 2008 1:45 AM in response to Remco Douma

I guess I can safely assume that the statistic possibility of this being caused by a bad sector on my HDD is rather low.

Ok, I get your derisory tone - I've duly noted the obvious disdain at my suggestions.

Perhaps all the alternative potential solutions posted here will solve your issue...

Remco Douma Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 12, 2008 4:32 AM in response to Julian Wright

It says what it says. The amount of people experiencing problems with bluetooth suggests that this is not an isolated problem caused by a very specific HDD error, because the statistic possibility of all these people having a bad sector in that exact driver seems quite low.

Really man, I am not sure what it is that is ticking you off all the time. No "derisory tone" was intended. I fail to see where I showed "disdain" for your suggestions. There is simply more data available that to me suggests that this is not an isolated problem.

Jun 12, 2008 6:28 AM in response to Remco Douma

The amount of people experiencing problems with bluetooth

At *the time of writing* my first replies, *no-one else* had responded with the same issue in response to your posts about this. Hence my perfectly reasonable initial suggestion that it maybe an issue specific to your system.

I never said that it *was definately* +"an isolated problem caused by a very specific HDD error"+, but that was the first possibility that came to mind, and one that could easily (in my view) be ruled out, which is what I suggested.

There is simply more data available that to me suggests that this is not an isolated problem.

Well yes, now, weeks later there is. Other people have since confirmed it's not an isolated incident, which of course rules out my initial suggestion of file corruption.

However, you still haven't mentioned whether you've been able to try different Macs (with different Bluetooth hardware) or different headsets. The more data available to Apple the easier it is for them to determine whether this is a general Bluetooth software bug, or a problem with specific Bluetooth hardware used in particular Macs or models of Bluetooth headsets.

Perhaps someone could compile a list of headsets and Macs for which this problem is (and isn't) occurring, and then submit that data to http://developer.apple.com/bugreporter/ - it's much more likely to be investigated than posting on a user-to-user forum.

Jun 17, 2008 7:45 AM in response to Remco Douma

I'm having the same problems on 10.5.3 with the Motorola HT820. I didn't have any issues whatsoever with 10.5.2. Maybe I'll go back...

One thing I do notice however, I currently use HardwareGrowler to track hardware changes, mounting, etc and before I get these errors I get messages like this from the Growler:

IOUSBWirelessControllerDevice Disconnected
IOUSBCompositeDevice Disconnected

Shortly after that my bluetooth icon at the top will have a squigly line over it and when I click on the bluetooth icon in my status bar it says 'Bluetooth: Not Available'. Like right now it keeps connecting and disconnecting about every 5 minutes or so. Bluetooth seems to be the only thing effected by it.

On my TimeCapusle at home I notice my Wireless connection dives in and out too but I'm pretty sure that's isolated from this stuff.

Hopefully that provides some insight...

-Eric

Jun 19, 2008 8:33 PM in response to eric.grimes

Ok, this could be completely unrelated, but I installed the developers tools last week (just to have a play) and since then I hadn't have the kernel panic problems!

Jun 24, 2008 11:39 PM in response to eric.grimes

Similar problem. Bluetooth connection to a Sony Z550i mobile phone was working a few months ago. I have upgraded to 10.5.3 and now get the grey curtain of death and restart message when trying to connect. I will try looking for and trashing the bluetooth prefs file and report back.

ByronF

Level 1

0 points

Jun 24, 2008 11:43 PM in response to matogertel

matogertel wrote:
Ok, this could be completely unrelated, but I installed the developers tools last week (just to have a play) and since then I hadn't have the kernel panic problems!

I also have the developer tools installed, but my system still crashes with my headphones.

Jun 25, 2008 12:03 AM in response to Michael Paine

Trashed the bluetooth preferences in Macintosh HD Library/Preferences and the iMac still crashes. Trashed them again plus several "bluetooth" pref files in home/library preferences and it did not crash...
So there might be a problem with using some older pref files with 10.5.3

ByronF

Level 1

0 points

Jun 25, 2008 12:34 AM in response to Michael Paine

Michael Paine wrote:
Trashed the bluetooth preferences in Macintosh HD Library/Preferences and the iMac still crashes. Trashed them again plus several "bluetooth" pref files in home/library preferences and it did not crash...
So there might be a problem with using some older pref files with 10.5.3

Could you explain what you mean by "trashed"? If you have a systematic way of altering your system so that the crashes no longer occur I for one would be interested in knowing it. Thanks.

Jun 25, 2008 2:32 AM in response to ByronF

OS X is quite a robust operating system. My understanding is that applications generate preference files (that have a .pref extension) to manage the user preferences and other options. Sometimes these preferences files develop glitches that cause unusual behaviour, including the crashes that several of us report in this discussion.

The preference files are usually located in the Preferences folder of either the Macintosh_HD/Library folder or home/Library/ folder. In most cases they can be dragged to the trash can to overcome the glitches. It is important that the application concerned is not running when the pref files are trashed. Next time you start the application (eg turn on bluetooth) a new set of preference files is created. Sometimes this means re-entering passward or software serial numbers but not with bluetooth.

In the case of the bluetooth pref files, I searched for files containing "bluetooth" in the above folders and dragged them to the trash can. This seems to have solved my problem of the iMac crashing when attempting to connect to my phone.

I am not a Mac OS X expert so please treat this advice with caution. I was just pointing out the way that I fixed my problem. I learnt about pref files from an EyeTV FAQ:
http://faq.elgato.com/index.php/faq/more/61

allusion

Level 1

0 points

Jun 25, 2008 3:21 AM in response to Michael Paine

I have a Motorola HS820 headset. The problem is a pulsing static through the microphone (the speaker works fine).

I have tried two solutions:
1-zapping the PRAM
2-unpairing the device and deleteing bluetooth preferences

In both cases when I get the headset paired up again the microphone works fine for around 5-10 seconds, then a little static glitch starts and builds up until there is nothing but pulsating static again. If I switch the headset off then on again the static is there from the start.
The headset works fine with my phone.

I had tried a different motorola headset with 10.5.2 and had no problems, so this seems to be a 10.5.3 issue.

OSX 10.5.3 still having kernel panic with Bluetooth audio