Level 2

169 points

watchdog kernel panic preventing startup

Watchdog appears to be keeping my iMac from booting. Diagnostics doesn’t show any issues with it and I have reinstalled macOS Ventura from both regular recovery and Internet recovery. I can boot into safe mode every time. Suggestions? Below is a copy of the first several lines frok

the kernel panic.

panic(cpu 2 caller 0xffffff802019591a): watchdog timeout: no checkins from watchdogd in 98 seconds (31 total checkins since monitoring last enabled)

Panicked task 0xffffff8ba87e8bf8: 224 threads: pid 0: kernel_task

Backtrace (CPU 2), panicked thread: 0xffffff8ba8688598, Frame : Return Address

0xffffffe7e978fbb0 : 0xffffff801ce7207d

0xffffffe7e978fc00 : 0xffffff801cfc6164

0xffffffe7e978fc40 : 0xffffff801cfb5c77

0xffffffe7e978fc90 : 0xffffff801ce12951

0xffffffe7e978fcb0 : 0xffffff801ce7235d

0xffffffe7e978fda0 : 0xffffff801ce71a07

0xffffffe7e978fe00 : 0xffffff801d5db4d3

0xffffffe7e978fef0 : 0xffffff802019591a

0xffffffe7e978ff20 : 0xffffff80201950a1

0xffffffe7e978ff50 : 0xffffff801e4f060b

0xffffffe7e978ffa0 : 0xffffff801ce1219e

Kernel Extensions in backtrace:

com.apple.driver.watchdog(1.0)[BD08CE2D-77F5-358C-8F0D-A570540A0BE7]@0xffffff8020193000->0xffffff8020195fff

com.apple.driver.AppleSMC(3.1.9)[DD55DA6A-679A-3797-947C-0B50B7B5B659]@0xffffff801e4de000->0xffffff801e4fafff

dependency: com.apple.driver.watchdog(1)[BD08CE2D-77F5-358C-8F0D-A570540A0BE7]@0xffffff8020193000->0xffffff8020195fff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.4)[D342E754-A422-3F44-BFFB-DEE93F6723BC]@0xffffff801f43c000->0xffffff801f43dfff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[1DE0C664-DA38-3436-89ED-1BA79DF0A726]@0xffffff801f8ac000->0xffffff801f8ddfff

Process name corresponding to current thread (0xffffff8ba8688598): kernel_task

Boot args: -v

Mac OS version:

22G90

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 13.5

Posted on Aug 29, 2023 3:17 PM

Similar questions

4 replies

Old Toad

Level 10

215,646 points

Aug 29, 2023 4:18 PM in response to arizonadonn

One last test: create and log into a new, basic, admin user account, Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac, and see if the problem persists. This tells us if the problem is limited to your user account or is system wide.

Note: do not launch any 3rd party apps in the account so as to not install any of the supporting files that most create.

If the problem persists the problem is system wide and will probably will require a visit to the nearest U or Apple Authorized Service Provider for a free idangostic text.

Old Toad

Level 10

215,646 points

Aug 29, 2023 3:35 PM in response to arizonadonn

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following;

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

NOTE 2: 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 insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

arizonadonn Author

Level 2

169 points

Aug 29, 2023 4:10 PM in response to Old Toad

So I attached the keyboard and it boots into safe mode. Note that it boots into safe mode wireless also. Then when I reboot it just hangs for 20 minutes on the loading bar. Then I reboot into safe mode and I get the kernel panic message because it’s telling me your computer restarted because of a problem. I report and that’s when I see the kernel info.

arizonadonn Author

Level 2

169 points

Aug 29, 2023 8:32 PM in response to Old Toad

I can create a new account but I never get to the login screen to use it. It always hangs at the loading bar.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

watchdog kernel panic preventing startup