How to find a .ips file following a system crash

Question

Level 1

45 points

How to find a .ips file following a system crash

My iMac just (Jan 12, 2024 @ around 21:53) crashed again, but nothing is reported under Crash Reports in the Console app on this day. Why?

I sent the following crash report to Apple and the panic task was Arc (my web browser).

kernel panic0

The developers are asking me to provide them with a .isp crash report, but I can't find it any where! I was able to locate a .panic file, but no .isp file. Why is that and where can I find this file?

If the panic task is Arc, does this mean that the corresponding app caused my system to crash?

When an app causes a system to crash, is a .isp file always generated?

Why am I seeing no trace of my system crash in the Console app?

I really am finding that Apple are not helpful enough to help users diagnose what is causing a system to crash and therefore remedy the situation. There is zero follow up on the crash reports we are submitting, so we're basically left in the dark!

I also noticed that my past posts have been removed from the Apple Community Support website and I can no longer access them. Why is that?

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 14.2

Posted on Jan 12, 2024 1:53 PM

Reply

Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,683 points

Jan 12, 2024 5:55 PM in response to numbles45

I don't have any, but I'd get Find Any File...

http://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/index.php

Hold Option or alt key when selecting Find to Find All.

Reply

Answer 2

leroydouglas

Level 10

201,492 points

Jan 12, 2024 2:10 PM in response to numbles45

numbles45 wrote:

How to find a .ips file following a system crash

the panic task was Arc (my web browser).

What is is ".ips" ?

ips | Apple Developer Documentation

I would Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/VPN/Anti-Virus

all known to cause issues on the macOS

?if AdGuard is your issue uninstall the browser extension and try again restarting your Mac and compare your results.

? Arc Renderer browser tab association (?)uninstall, quit or try another browser— restarting your Mac and compare your results

? Arc the Mac browser —uninstall and try again restarting your Mac and compare your results

Reply

Answer 3

leroydouglas

Level 10

201,492 points

Jan 12, 2024 2:38 PM in response to numbles45

numbles45 wrote:

I am not a software engineer or computer scientist! I don't understand the answer that you sent!

The creators of Arc sent me this message, so I'm trying to provide them with the .ips file:

You do not need to be a "software engineer or computer scientist" to uninstall a problem application.

My first step would be to uninstall this "arc browser"—why have I never heard of it..

Then compare your results.

Initial release date: July 25, 2023 License: Proprietary software

If Arc support can not advise you a way forward why bother with their issues.

— "How to find a .ips file" ...(?)

— "The developers are asking me to provide them with a .isp crash report"... (?)

I would try a trusted, well established web browser that works, there are many trouble free browser out there.

For your third party app—

if in doubt search the developers website or contact their: Support/Help/FAQ/Known issues/compatibility/updates…

Contact a third-party vendor - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 4

leroydouglas

Level 10

201,492 points

Jan 13, 2024 3:13 PM in response to numbles45

numbles45 wrote:

Thank you for your recommendation. I gave FAF a try and it found only 1 .ips file, but it was related to the AdGuard app and not Arc. No other .ips files were found, which is why I was wondering when .ips files get generated and why I didn't get one related to my last system crash with the panic task being Arc.

BDAqua wrote:

I wonder if it isn't AdGuard causing the problem for Arc???

? There are only so many ways you can say—

"...AdGuard is your issue uninstall the browser extension and try again restarting your Mac and compare your results."

Reply

Answer 5

numbles45 Author

Level 1

45 points

Jan 12, 2024 3:43 PM in response to leroydouglas

Leroy,

I am not a software engineer or computer scientist! I don't understand the answer that you sent!

Please answer the questions I asked, so that I can better understand what I can do next:

If the panic task is Arc, does this mean that the corresponding app caused my system to crash?

When an app causes a system to crash, is a .ips file always generated?

Why am I seeing no trace of my system crash in the Console app?

The creators of Arc sent me this message, so I'm trying to provide them with the .ips file:

[Edited by Moderator]

Reply

Answer 6

numbles45 Author

Level 1

45 points

Jan 13, 2024 8:36 AM in response to numbles45

Dear Leroy,

The Chinese sentence (你希望我对此有何反应) I had included earlier translates to "What am I to make of this?"

I had no intention of insulting anyone. It just isn't my kind of thing, especially when I'm asking for help. I'm sorry if this was not understood and thank you for the help that you have provided in the past.

I was just a bit frustrated with the answer linking to Apple documentation on this web page, because I don't understand a word of it or what to do with it.

I also would like to continue using Arc because I really like this web browser, so uninstalling it is not the best of solutions for me! My goal is to try and help the developers of Arc to debug the issue so that my system no longer crashes. Along the way, and because I often encounter unexplained system crashes and have to identify the cause, I'm always keen to learn more about the inner workings of my mac. That is why I would greatly appreciate if I can get answers to my questions below that help me progress and namely help me understand if my Console app is properly configured.

If the panic task is Arc, does this mean that the corresponding app caused my system to crash?

When an app causes a system to crash, is a .ips file always generated?

Why am I seeing no trace of my system crash in the Console app?

Reply

Answer 7

numbles45 Author

Level 1

45 points

Jan 13, 2024 8:46 AM in response to BDAqua

Thank you for your recommendation. I gave FAF a try and it found only 1 .ips file, but it was related to the AdGuard app and not Arc. No other .ips files were found, which is why I was wondering when .ips files get generated and why I didn't get one related to my last system crash with the panic task being Arc.

Reply

Answer 8

numbles45 Author

Level 1

45 points

Jan 14, 2024 9:36 AM in response to BDAqua

I was getting crashes even before installing AdGuard and the panic task was almost always Arc Renderer. I got another system crash 5 minutes ago and the panic task was Arc Renderer again! However, what completely puzzles me is that no .ips file is being generated! But I will send the .ips file that I have for the AdGuard crash that took place on January 9th to their support. Thank you for your help.

Reply