Computer Restarting: macOS watchdog detected

Question

Computer Restarting: macOS watchdog detected

Anyone know why my new 2020 iMac has frozen and the shut down/restarted? I would get this message when the computer came back on. I think both times I was sharing my screen on a Google Meets (web) meeting. I was having sleep-wake issues and less than a week ago I wiped my computer and did a fresh install (then upgraded to Big Sur). Things seemed to be working better. The only software I reinstalled was through the APP store and Anaconda/Python. I am pretty sure there is no software conflicts. I got rid of anything that might have possibly been software related. Again, the sleep wake issues are fixed and the computer doesn't take several hours to boot up once powered on. I've had this computer for like 7 months and it's been never ending issues. I thought I finally turned a corner. Apple Support on the phone has been no help and when I took it to the store they blamed my 3rd Party RAM. Which definitely was not the problem as the same issues persisted with the original RAM being used.

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xfffffff0288eb4c4): macOS watchdog detected

Debugger message: panic

Memory ID: 0x6

OS release type: User

OS version: 18P4347

macOS version: 20D91

Kernel version: Darwin Kernel Version 20.3.0: Tue Jan 5 18:50:06 PST 2021; root:xnu-7195.80.35~4/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010

Kernel UUID: 8FA2D31D-1BF0-3625-9EBC-76A13C76E519

iBoot version: iBoot-6723.80.19

secure boot?: YES

x86 EFI Boot State: 0xe

x86 System State: 0x0

x86 Power State: 0x0

x86 Shutdown Cause: 0x0

x86 Previous Power Transitions: 0x20002000200

PCIeUp link state: 0x94721614

Paniclog version: 13

Kernel slide: 0x0000000020a18000

Kernel text base: 0xfffffff027a1c000

mach_absolute_time: 0x35f7f0fd7fb

Epoch Time: sec usec

Boot : 0x607f66f3 0x0000a876

Sleep : 0x607f66fd 0x00091446

Wake : 0x607f66fe 0x0002a755

Calendar: 0x6081c290 0x00089741

Panicked task 0xffffffe19b65f0c0: 9084 pages, 185 threads: pid 0: kernel_task

Panicked thread: 0xffffffe19b7a2b70, backtrace: 0xffffffe00004b710, tid: 407

lr: 0xfffffff0280e4494 fp: 0xffffffe00004b750

lr: 0xfffffff0280e42f0 fp: 0xffffffe00004b7c0

lr: 0xfffffff02820ad7c fp: 0xffffffe00004b890

lr: 0xfffffff0286f95fc fp: 0xffffffe00004b8a0

lr: 0xfffffff0280e4024 fp: 0xffffffe00004bc20

lr: 0xfffffff0280e4024 fp: 0xffffffe00004bc80

lr: 0xfffffff028fdab34 fp: 0xffffffe00004bca0

lr: 0xfffffff0288eb4c4 fp: 0xffffffe00004bcd0

lr: 0xfffffff0288d9ab8 fp: 0xffffffe00004bd30

lr: 0xfffffff0288db9f8 fp: 0xffffffe00004bdc0

lr: 0xfffffff0288d9160 fp: 0xffffffe00004be50

lr: 0xfffffff0287c9250 fp: 0xffffffe00004be80

lr: 0xfffffff028655bc0 fp: 0xffffffe00004bec0

lr: 0xfffffff028655440 fp: 0xffffffe00004bf00

lr: 0xfffffff0287045a0 fp: 0x0000000000000000

Posted on Apr 22, 2021 12:34 PM

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Answer 1

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,452 points

Apr 22, 2021 1:13 PM in response to AppleMeteorologist

Remove the OWC RAM and test again. If the KP's disappear then it's the RAM however if the KPs continue it is likely something else. At that point I'd recommend doing the following:

Please navigate to www.Etrecheck.com and download the free version of EtreCheck. Once you have you downloaded the app and installed it, please run the report and save it. This report will help us get a good idea what has been installed on your system and help us be able to diagnose what may be wrong.

When you have your report, you can attach it when you reply to this message and we can then review it and help you determine what is needed to get your system running well again.

For instructions on how to download your EtreCheck report and attach it to your reply to this message please click https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250000211

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Answer 2

Apr 22, 2021 1:06 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Thanks for responding. I got the ram from OWC. 128GB (32GB x 4) DDR4-2666 Kit. OWC actually replaced it the first time but from January - April the problem got worse and I was using the manufacturers RAM. Apple store told me that was the right RAM but that it might be had RAM, so OWC actually replaced it for me and sent me new sticks.

The original issues first started in January. I had the upgraded RAM in since I got the computer in October. Then once apple removed the RAM back in early January I never reinstalled the upgraded RAM. I was originally dual booting the computer with a number of things that could have been causing underlying software issues. I wanted to prove the issues persisted which they did and got worse.

I was busy with life and as long as the computer didn't completely shut down there were no issues. I created a new user profile and the sleep wake issues did not happen if I did not try to access that user profile. Even if I logged out completely. So that worked. However, if I went to boot up the computer (it was off) it would take several hours. So I had some time and I did a full wipe.

I didn't dual boot. Fresh OS install and upgraded to the latest OS. I only added a limited number of software (AnyConnect VPN, Anaconda/Python, Adobe, Microsoft Office, Github Desktop App, Mendeley, GoToMeeting, Zoom, and a few other app store downloads). I am not running any anti-virus or cleaning or maintenance apps.

I did a PRAM/SMC reset after the first one of these errors happened which was like 2 days ago. Again, I believe that I was sharing my screen using Google Meet on Google Chrome when these issues both occurred. There might have been a 3rd time that I cannot remember.

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Answer 3

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,452 points

Apr 22, 2021 12:53 PM in response to AppleMeteorologist

It very well could be the RAM. Please answer both questions below:

Exactly what brand of RAM did you buy?
Exactly where did you purchase the RAM
By chance are you running any third party antivirus, cleaning or other maintenance apps?

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Answer 4

Apr 22, 2021 1:23 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Here is the report

Report file

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Computer Restarting: macOS watchdog detected

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