2017 Macbook Pro 13” Stuck in Restart Loop

I have a “2017” (hardware was completely replaced in 2020 essentially making it new but it’s a 2017 model), Macbook Pro 13” Retina Display w/an Intel Processor and MacOS Big Sur 11.6.7. It’s been stuck randomly restarting non-stop for the past week and I’ve tried every (and i mean EVERY) possible solution i’ve found on the Apple Support website. It continues to report that it’s due to Kernel Panic, and I send every report to apple, it most often sites “panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff800ea9e626): element modified after free…” etc. But every report comes with a different item listed where it says: “Process Name Corresponding to Current Thread:___” and that’s making it hard to identify the exact issue. It always says “Backtrace (cpu 0), Frame: Return Address” & then a bit below, lists a bunch of different “Kernel Extensions in Backtrace”. I’ve spoken with Apple Support on 4 different occasions and nothing they’ve suggested has worked. At this point they just want me to send it in for servicing (i don’t live anywhere near an Apple store), but i JUST got it fixed a few months ago. The displays constantly blacks out on me on Macbooks, as it did recently, and I got it replaced but the new display cost me $600+ and took weeks, and like I said I got it replaced to the point of being essentially new in 2020 too. I also always lose data even though they back it up every time and that’s super frustrating since I’m a writer and I’ve lost some important writings from it.

This is my 4th 2017 Macbook Pro 13” in 8 years because of the constant random shut downs and display issues i’ve had. I never take it anywhere, I’m super careful with it. It just randomly restarted while watching a Youtube video last week & has been restarting since. And i told my parents who paid for the last repair I’d switch to a different computer brand if it broke again because of how much it’s cost me to repair it, only for it to then break again a few months later. I don’t know why Apple can’t figure it out since I always send in the reports, but the solutions they had me try made it significantly worse and now it’s barely on for a few seconds before restarting.


Here’s what i’ve tried so far:

  • Deleted all 3rd party apps - only Steam & an Ad blocker - both of which i’d had for months
  • Verified all the fonts
  • Ran an Apple Diagnostics test - it passed & said there were no issues detected
  • Only thing i’ve ever had connected was the power cord - restarts with or without it connected - I guess it could possibly be the cord but idk how to test that. It’s not the block bc I use the same block to charge my applewatch just fine.
  • Apple had me download Monterey installer - it downloaded but won’t upgrade even tho there’s enough space. Had even more problems since downloading the installer, but it doesn’t stay on long enough for me to delete the installer. I tried upgrading - it made it half way & restarted. I tried booting it up in safe mode & upgrading - made it about 1/2 way before restarting. I tried booting into MacOs Recovery to upgrade that way - same thing.
  • Tried using Recovery mode to reinstall the same version - Big Sur - it made it to the part of selecting a utility disk but couldn’t identify any disk. This happened all 3 times i tried to reinstall Big Sur.
  • Got rid of all my startup upon login items
  • I don’t have any external hardware like RAM or anything that i’ve ever added/installed on it
  • It never restarts at a common time - like when i’m on a certain app or anything - even in safe mode or recovery/reinstall mode it restarts. I always get the message “Your computer restarted because of a problem”

I want to know if there’s a way to identify which “kernel” is causing this - if that’s even how this works. Like I said I went to system information > applications & got rid of anything not from apple. So i don’t know what the issue is. But I REALLY don’t want to have to send it to apple for repair, at that point i’d just get an HP computer or something because this is so annoying and time consuming to deal with. But the hand-off & customizable features Apple offers for my watch, macbook, and phone are really convenient & i’ve only ever used macs so I really don’t want to have to switch over and learn a whole new OS now. I also just don’t have the $ to repair it anymore. Covid wiped me clean of any extra $. Any sort of advice would be much appreciated!

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Jul 29, 2022 8:07 PM

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Jul 31, 2022 10:19 AM in response to Ashtraaa

Post several of the Kernel Panic logs here using the "Additional Text" icon which looks like a piece of paper. Kernel Panic log file names begin with "kernel" and end in ".panic" and located in "/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports".


To look for possible software issues run EtreCheck and give EtreCheck "Full Disk Access" so the report includes more details which may provide more clues. Even though you think you removed the third party software, it is possible some bits may still remain on the system.


You can try booting into Safe Mode to see if it runs fine.


Try booting into Internet Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R to run Disk Utility First Aid on the hidden Container. Within Disk Utility you may need to click "View" and select "Show All Devices" so that the hidden Container appears on the left pane of Disk Utility. Even if First Aid says everything is "Ok", click "Show Details" and scroll back through the report to see if any unfixed errors are detected. If any unfixed errors are listed, then the whole physical SSD will need to be erased before restoring from a backup or clone.


The "element modified after free" can mean three things.

  1. Third part software is interfering with the normal operation of macOS which modified memory inappropriately
  2. An app has a bug which has modified memory inappropriately
  3. The laptop has a hardware issue (bad memory, CPU -- meaning bad Logic Board)


You can try running extended memory tests by using a bootable Memtest86 USB stick. I have found that customizing Memtest86's CPU settings to "Round Robin" or "Sequential" sometimes will help discover some intermittent memory/Logic Board issues on systems which are freezing or rebooting unexpectedly. It really helps to eliminate a software or drive issue.


Jul 29, 2022 8:22 PM in response to Ashtraaa

ashtray Said:

"2017 Macbook Pro 13” Stuck in Restart Loop: I have a “2017” (hardware was completely replaced in 2020 essentially making it new but it’s a 2017 model), [...]Covid wiped me clean of any extra $. Any sort of advice would be much appreciated!"

-------


Safe a few, and refer to the following...

Troubleshooting a Mac in a Boot Loop:

Being continuous, it seems there is an error in the caches. So, refer to the following...

A. Boot in Safe Mode:

In Safe ModeLogin Items do not run at login, certain preferences are set aside, and damaged system files are then reset. So, once booted in to Safe Mode, wait 30 seconds, and then boot up normally, attempting another update install. For instructions, go here: How to Use Safe Mode on your Mac - Apple Support


B. Reset your SMC and your NVRAM:

(Applies to Intel-Basel Macs Only): Sometimes changes (i.e. Installations) are made to the system and then settings (i.e. Networking) become corrupted, technically. So, reset both on your Mac. So, reset the SMC and reset the NVRAM or PRAM. It might take three tries. to fix this. So, be certain you have the time to do so.

Start With This:


C. Re-Mount the Drive:

Boot into Recovery Mode (Intel or Silicon) . You need to click the “Mount’ button to proceed. So, select the drives, and then click "Mount" Try rebooting once more. If of no success, then click unmount button, and then the mount button. Try rebooting once more. It looks dulled-out. So, if you cannot click it, then click the First Aid button to fix this volume.

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2017 Macbook Pro 13” Stuck in Restart Loop

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