[Macbook Pro M1 - Ventura 13.5] Rebooting creats a reboot loop. Only resolves upon reinstalling MacOS

Hi,

When I restart my Macbook Pro M1 and enter my password, the machine goes into a reboot loop.

Only when I access recovery, and reinstall MacOS again, does it allow me to login.

Note that the issue only occurs when I restart the machine (which you dont need to do very often for macbooks). So its not blocking my work, but could become a potential problem down the line.


Potential issues could be

  • Virus
  • A bootup utility/app (I have removed all 3rd party startup items though)


Other points

  • Its not a password issue, as entering a random password give me back the wrong password animation of the password field.
  • When updating to Ventura 13.1 from Monterey (some time back), my update had failed. But it handled itself and on the second try, updated itself successfully.
  • I have a refurbished MBP M1.


What would the community recommend I do (prior to going to an apple store)?

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 13.5

Posted on Jul 30, 2023 4:21 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 31, 2023 8:24 AM

There have been multiple kernel panics - which presumably is what happens when that reboot loop happens:


2023-07-30 12:58:45 Kernel Panic (14 times)

Details:

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xfffffe001792ea8c): busy timeout[0], (60s): 'IOUse

rResources' (a,4020001) @IOService.cpp:5670

Panicked task 0xfffffe24cd0cd078: 258 pages, 4 threads: pid 126: watch

dogd



You have Surfshark, which is crashed repeatedly. Try uninstalling it and see how that goes.


By the way, does restarting in Safe Mode incur on the same problem?

14 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 31, 2023 8:24 AM in response to prerak30Z

There have been multiple kernel panics - which presumably is what happens when that reboot loop happens:


2023-07-30 12:58:45 Kernel Panic (14 times)

Details:

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xfffffe001792ea8c): busy timeout[0], (60s): 'IOUse

rResources' (a,4020001) @IOService.cpp:5670

Panicked task 0xfffffe24cd0cd078: 258 pages, 4 threads: pid 126: watch

dogd



You have Surfshark, which is crashed repeatedly. Try uninstalling it and see how that goes.


By the way, does restarting in Safe Mode incur on the same problem?

Aug 11, 2023 6:40 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

  1. Restarting in SafeMode leads to the same issue
  2. I removed the VPN app - SurfShark (and all associated services) and also Hue Light Sync.
    1. Initially, I tried to set the options within each app to not initialize on Startup. But that only worked for the Surfshark app.


Now the problem is resolved. Thank you everyone involved for your inputs.


Any clues on why a VPN app leads to this problem?

Aug 11, 2023 6:59 AM in response to prerak30Z

The SurfShark VPN may has installed 3 different Kernel Extension which are not playing right with the Operating System


If you review an earlier posting above, regarding System Extensions:


For additional reading in System and Kernel Extensions from Apple


System and kernel extensions in macOS - Apple Support (CA)


Excerpt from above link


" Important: Kexts are no longer recommended for macOS. Kexts risk the integrity and reliability of the operating system. Users should prefer solutions that don’t require extending the kernel and use system extensions instead. "


Jul 30, 2023 4:35 AM in response to prerak30Z

prerak30Z wrote:

Hi,
When I restart my Macbook Pro M1 and enter my password, the machine goes into a reboot loop.

Initial question would be How Much Empty Space is on the drive ?


If and only if the computer is running very very low on empty space it may have problems loading the Operating System


The Restart you have done, make have emptied just enough of some cache files to allow it to boot up


Only when I access recovery, and reinstall MacOS again, does it allow me to login.
Note that the issue only occurs when I restart the machine (which you dont need to do very often for macbooks• ). So its not blocking my work, but could become a potential problem down the line.

Potential issues could be
Virus

There are no Viruses that would macOS


The Operating System resides in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that can not be opened by the User nor by Third Party Applications.


The only Entity that can open and modify or alter this Volume is Apple.


That would occur when a update or UpGrade is performed.


• A bootup utility/app (I have removed all 3rd party startup items though)
Other points
Its not a password issue, as entering a random password give me back the wrong password animation of the password field.
• When updating to Ventura 13.1 from Monterey (some time back), my update had failed. But it handled itself and on the second try, updated itself successfully.

A failed update may have some how created an issue with the Drive Structure


Suggest running the below Terminal command and post back the output


You can Copy and Paste into Terminal and hit the return key


diskutil list


• I have a refurbished MBP M1.

Refurbished by Whom ?


From where was this machine purchased ?



What would the community recommend I do (prior to going to an apple store)?


Jul 30, 2023 9:29 AM in response to prerak30Z

The diskutil list all looks right


Crash Logs are not in my area of expertise 😔


That is best left to Software Engineers or this Contributors with way more experience in Crash Logs


The Best I can offer as second best >>


Download the Application Etrecheck directly from the Developer.


This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer.


It makes a coherent and readable inventory of both the Hardware and Software used on the computer 


The application is free or paid from added features. 


The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 


Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - >>>> using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last ) <<<<


Jul 31, 2023 8:59 AM in response to prerak30Z

To build on the suggestion from @ Luis Sequeira1


Just be sure to get ALL the Elements of Surfshark



System Extensions:

[Running] Surfshark Antivirus - version 4.8.1 (SURFSHARK LTD - 2023-04-26)

Application: /Applications/Surfshark.app - version 4.8.1 (SURFSHARK LTD - 2023-04-26)

Description: System Extension enables Surfshark app to provide antivirus features.


[Running] Surfshark. WireGuard - version 4.8.1 (SURFSHARK LTD - 2023-04-26)

Application: /Applications/Surfshark.app - version 4.8.1 (SURFSHARK LTD - 2023-04-26)

Description: System Extension enables Surfshark app to connect using WireGuard protocol.


Application: /Applications/Surfshark.app - version 4.8.1 (SURFSHARK LTD - 2023-04-26)

Description: System Extension enables Surfshark app to connect using WireGuard protocol.

Sep 9, 2023 8:43 AM in response to prerak30Z

First, there is no reason to ever install or run any 3rd party "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus, VPN or security apps on your Mac.  This documents describe what you need to know and do in order to protect your Mac: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community and Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support.  


There are no known viruses, i.e. self propagating, for Macs.  There are, however, adware and malware which require the user to install although unwittingly most of the time thru sneaky links, etc.   


Anti Virus developers try to group all types as viruses into their ad campaigns of fear.  They do a poor job of the detecting and isolating the adware and malware.  Since there are no viruses these apps use up a lot of system resources searching for what is non-existent and adversely affect system and app performance.


There is one app, Malwarebytes, which was developed by a long time contributor to these forums and a highly respected member of the computer security community, that is designed solely to seek out adware and known malware and remove it.  The free version is more than adequate for most users.  


Also, unless you're using a true VPN tunnel, such as between you and your employer's, school's or bank's servers, they aprovide false security from a privacy standpoint.  Read these two articles: Public VPN's are anything but private and Former Malware Distributor Kape Technologies Now Owns ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, Zenmate, and a Collection of VPN “Review” Websites



So uninstall the Shark software according to the developers instructions. You can check to see if you've removed all of the supporting files by downloading and running the shareware app Find Any File to search for any files with the application's or the developer's name in the file name.  For the SurfShark software you'd do the following search(es): 


1 - Name contains surfshark

2 - Name contains fireguard


Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.


FAF can search ar eas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.  


If you get warnings that the file can't be deleted because it is in use or used by another app boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and delete from there.


Note:  if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode.  This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will assure a successful boot into Safe Mode.



Sep 9, 2023 2:27 AM in response to prerak30Z

In this specific situation, the Third Party Kernel Extension ( WireShark ) is causing issues on this computer resulting in the issue at hand "  Rebooting creats a reboot loop. "


It is Interfering with the Normal Operating of the Operating System


Just for the record 3 Third Party Kernel Extensions


System Extensions:

[Running] Surfshark Antivirus - version 4.8.1 (SURFSHARK LTD - 2023-04-26)

Application: /Applications/Surfshark.app - version 4.8.1 (SURFSHARK LTD - 2023-04-26)

Description: System Extension enables Surfshark app to provide antivirus features.


[Running] Surfshark. WireGuard - version 4.8.1 (SURFSHARK LTD - 2023-04-26)

Application: /Applications/Surfshark.app - version 4.8.1 (SURFSHARK LTD - 2023-04-26)

Description: System Extension enables Surfshark app to connect using WireGuard protocol.


Application: /Applications/Surfshark.app - version 4.8.1 (SURFSHARK LTD - 2023-04-26)

Description: System Extension enables Surfshark app to connect using WireGuard protocol.


Jul 30, 2023 5:34 AM in response to prerak30Z

  1. I have a 750GB in disk space
  2. "diskutil list" gives the following output
/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *1.0 TB     disk0
   1:             Apple_APFS_ISC Container disk1         524.3 MB   disk0s1
   2:                 Apple_APFS Container disk3         994.7 GB   disk0s2
   3:        Apple_APFS_Recovery Container disk2         5.4 GB     disk0s3


/dev/disk3 (synthesized):
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      APFS Container Scheme -                      +994.7 GB   disk3
                                 Physical Store disk0s2
   1:                APFS Volume Macintosh HD            9.2 GB     disk3s1
   2:              APFS Snapshot com.apple.os.update-... 9.2 GB     disk3s1s1
   3:                APFS Volume Preboot                 5.1 GB     disk3s2
   4:                APFS Volume Recovery                801.2 MB   disk3s3
   5:                APFS Volume Data                    233.4 GB   disk3s5
   6:                APFS Volume VM                      20.5 KB    disk3s6


3. Its an Apple refurbished Mac purchased from the apple website.

4.I also received a "Your computer restarted because of a problem" after reinstalling Ventura: The output log is here -- https://pastebin.com/n15dmzBT


Sep 9, 2023 2:41 AM in response to Owl-53

Hi,

The Etrecheck text says they (i.e. Surfshark Antivirus and Surfshark. WireGuard) are "System Extensions". But you still referred to them as "Kernel Extensions". Why is that? My understanding is that they are different.


Also, there was no text that says "WireShark".


I just wanted to be clear on this, as then I could take this issue up with the developers of Surfshark VPN.

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[Macbook Pro M1 - Ventura 13.5] Rebooting creats a reboot loop. Only resolves upon reinstalling MacOS

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