Kernel Panic on startup

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Level 1

4 points

Kernel Panic on startup

Recently I have some trouble with my iMac when it crashes what looked like an issue with the graphics card within the pc. After restarting te iMac, he load like normal but crashes and restart when the loading bar is 50% filled. When restarting In verbose mode, I can see that there was a Kernel Panic that made the iMac restart. With that said, I have tried the following so see if I could resolve the problem:

Restart with recovery mode
Restart with internet recovery mode
Reset the SMC
Reset PRAM/NVRAM
Start with a bootable installation on a USB

Nothing works and results in a kernel panic crash but starting with single-user mode did work. With it I found all my data intact on the hard drive and I also found an crash report from the initial crash:

There were also some kernel panic logs but these weren't readable for me because a simple cat of the file would make it unreadable because of the massive stack trace and I couldn't export them on an USB.

Some useful information might be:

Using the fsck command on the single-user mode would give back an error that start that /dev/rdisk2 is writeable.
I am also running windows on bootcamp which also can't startup and the loading screen looks like a really low resolution, which also indicates that the graphics card might be broken.

Can someone confirm that it is indeed the graphics card that it may need replacing or is this the fault of the GPU?

Cheers!

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 11, 2021 10:55 AM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

91,534 points

Oct 11, 2021 1:33 PM in response to StPronk

The GTX 680MX GPU is in what system, a 2012 27" iMac?

Have you tried running the Apple Hardware or Apple Diagnostics Test?

see > https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202731

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Answer 2

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,494 points

Oct 11, 2021 10:59 AM in response to StPronk

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 3

den.thed

Level 10

91,534 points

Oct 11, 2021 2:15 PM in response to StPronk

Schedule and appointment at your local Apple Store or AASP and have them run their Diagnostics test on it.

https://getsupport.apple.com

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Answer 4

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,494 points

Oct 11, 2021 12:54 PM in response to StPronk

To test if it is RAM related, please remove the upgrade RAM you bought and then attempt to restart the computer with ONLY the original RAM that shipped with computer. If it starts then you know it is RAM related. RAM issues could be:

Incorrect RAM
Failed RAM
Unseated RAM

Experienced users on these forums ONLY buy RAM from either Crucial.com or Macsales.com. As you are in the Netherlands I would suggest Crucial.com as Macsales.com is a US based company. Why only these 2 companies, simple iMacs are VERY sensitive to using quality RAM and both firms sell very high quality products, offer lifetime warranties and have great service and reasonable pricing.

If the KPs are NOT RAM related then you may have a failed Fusion drive and need to take the computer to your local AASP to have it fully tested. You do not have adequate tools for testing the HDD.

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Answer 5

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,494 points

Oct 11, 2021 12:36 PM in response to StPronk

If the KPs are caused by hardware then you need to provide us with additional information. Please answer both questions completely. The most common hardware causes of KPs are RAM related or a failed or failing HDD.

Did you upgrade the RAM and if so let us know EXACTLY what brand you bought and where you got the RAM from?
Does your iMac use a Fusion drive or have a HDD in it?
Does your iMac have any external HDD's attached to it?

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Answer 6

den.thed

Level 10

91,534 points

Oct 11, 2021 11:12 AM in response to StPronk

Try starting up in Safe Mode.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

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Answer 7

StPronk Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 11, 2021 1:12 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Tested both sides, but doesn't make a difference. Both sets of RAM results in the previous result that is mentioned so as far as I can tell, this isn't a RAM issue. I will that your suggestion and take it to a local to have it fully tested.

Couple of question tho because I am curious myself:

If the problem appears to be with the Fusion Drive, why does does the iMac still let me access every file that is stored on it (when in signel-user mode)?
Also, it appear that the bootcamp version of windows is working file until it trying to load some graphics, shouldn't this fail earlier then?
Booting from an USB with an Mojava installer on it does the same thing but then the Fusion drive shouldn't be active right? (Atleast not being the same response?)

For now, thanks for your help and hopefully you can still awnser my questions!

Cheers!

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Answer 8

StPronk Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 11, 2021 1:52 PM in response to den.thed

NVIDIA GeForge GTX 680MX is the Graphics card that was build in with original iMac. The iMac is a 27" from late 2013 with the extension on the Fusion HDD and an Intel i5 Processor.

I have tried running the Apple Diagnostics Test with Command + D on startup but given back an error that a file is not found (Not sure which file was missing but it seems to be running problem when updating you iMac). Not sure what the commands are for the Hardware Test unless that is within the the Diagnostics Test.

Just to make sure, the only thing I can access at the moment is the Single-user mode which given me an command line tool that is very ristricted in his usage, even diskutil can't be used because it hasn't started at that point.

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Answer 9

StPronk Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 11, 2021 11:03 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Hi rkaufmann87,

The problem is that I can't get the startup to successfully complete which doesn't let me install the application....

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Answer 10

StPronk Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 11, 2021 11:31 AM in response to den.thed

Also tried starting in safe mode, did the same thing. 50% loading bar and then restarted again... :/

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Answer 11

StPronk Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 11, 2021 12:48 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Hi rkaigmann87,

I can awnser those question for you in the same order:

I did upgrade my ram from 8GB to 16GB (2 sticks of 4 GB to 4 sticks of 4GB) with 2 sticks being the original ram sticks and the other 2 being from the brand OWS (https://www.onlinemacwinkel.nl/owc-8gb-ram-2x4gb-imac-late-2012-tot-mid-2015.html, dutch website but may help indentify the brand)
The iMac in question uses a Fusion drive
The iMac in question does not has any external HDD attached

Useful information might be, I can still access and read the drive form the single-user mode.

Hopefully the information I gave you is sufficiënt & I can always give you more information if needed!

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Kernel Panic on startup

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