WindowServer and Kernel Panics and Graphics Issues on macOS Sonoma - Need Help Diagnosing

Device and macOS Details:


MacBook Pro 2019 (Model: MacBookPro15,1)

macOS Version: Sonoma 14.7.1

GPU Details: Intel UHD Graphics 630 and Radeon Pro 555X


The Problem:


Frequent WindowServer & Kernel Panics: Occur during active use or after waking from sleep.

Screen completely freezes, cursor moves but no key combination achieves anything.

Have to restart.


WindowServer High CPU Usage: WindowServer often consumes significant CPU resources.

Graphics Issues: Suspected conflicts between Intel and AMD GPUs.


Current Observations:


Runs fine in Safe Mode (extensions and login items not loaded).

Crashes frequently in Normal Mode.

High CPU usage from processes like WindowServer, VTDecoderXPCService, and apfsd.


Steps Taken So Far:

- Two thorough visits at the Genius Bar within the last 10 months have not fixed the problem.

- All diagnostics do not report any hardware problems.

- Fresh installation of macOS Sonoma.

- Reset the PRAM

- Reset the SMC - HOWEVER unusual behavior: computer restarts when pressing just the three keys (Shift + Control + Option). It shouldn't. Those 3 keys alone should just prepare the system for the reset when combined with the power button.

- Observed behavior in Safe Mode versus Normal Mode.

- Ran EtreCheck reports to identify problematic extensions and processes.


EtreCheck Summary:


Reports unsigned files, high CPU usage, and kernel panics.

Identifies residual extensions and system modifications.


Request for Help:

Am running out of things to try.


Attachments: full EtreCheck report




MacBook Pro 15″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Dec 10, 2024 9:04 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 11, 2024 3:49 PM

Yes. There are too many. The number of them is not in itself a concern but as that Mac's Administrator, each such modification adds to your workload. Every single one must be individually maintained on at least a periodic basis, if not constantly.


You wrote that you were running out of things to try. I recommend uninstalling what you don't need. It's not anyone's business what you choose to install on your Mac, but no one needs things like "Memory Clean" or anything else with "clean" or "doctor" in its name for that matter. Names themselves are of course meaningless — and for all I know there may a beneficial product out there with "clean" in its name — but I have yet to hear of a single one, and there are several such examples installed on that Mac. One or more of them is likely to be a contributing factor, if not the direct cause of that Mac's problems.


Since you are running out of things to try I would start with them. Continue with anything else that does not provide a direct and tangible benefit to your needs. In each case be sure to follow their respective uninstallation instructions if you can find them, and assuming they work, which tends to be rare among similarly categorized products. Products that convey no benefit fall into a category of "junk" that serve no purpose.


At the other end of that spectrum are modifications that you may need or may be beneficial to your particular workflow. For example if you need Adobe products for your work, then you need them. Same goes for Microsoft or other well known, well supported products from responsible vendors.


In between are a broad swath of things that may or may not be beneficial or useful. In my opinion it is not necessary nor beneficial to have things like "DriveDX" or "Malwarebytes" installed and running all the time on a Mac. To my knowledge those two specific examples are not known for causing crashes or kernel panics, but they just add to the list of products it's incumbent upon you to maintain, including knowing how to get rid of when you no longer want them.


Add to that growing list a heap of other products with which I have no familiarity at all. "Buho"? "Caboodle"? I have no idea what those are. There are simply too many to enumerate.


Once again it's your Mac for you to install whatever you want, but if it were mine, I'd erase it and reconfigure it from the ground up. When doing so, conscientiously evaluate the necessity for what you install, perform due diligence (which means don't fall for clever marketing schemes convincing you of the need for whatever product is being peddled) and generally follow the principles in Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community, an excerpt from which follows:


  • Never install something without first knowing what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to get rid of it when you don't want it any more.

Similar questions

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 11, 2024 3:49 PM in response to LupoBello

Yes. There are too many. The number of them is not in itself a concern but as that Mac's Administrator, each such modification adds to your workload. Every single one must be individually maintained on at least a periodic basis, if not constantly.


You wrote that you were running out of things to try. I recommend uninstalling what you don't need. It's not anyone's business what you choose to install on your Mac, but no one needs things like "Memory Clean" or anything else with "clean" or "doctor" in its name for that matter. Names themselves are of course meaningless — and for all I know there may a beneficial product out there with "clean" in its name — but I have yet to hear of a single one, and there are several such examples installed on that Mac. One or more of them is likely to be a contributing factor, if not the direct cause of that Mac's problems.


Since you are running out of things to try I would start with them. Continue with anything else that does not provide a direct and tangible benefit to your needs. In each case be sure to follow their respective uninstallation instructions if you can find them, and assuming they work, which tends to be rare among similarly categorized products. Products that convey no benefit fall into a category of "junk" that serve no purpose.


At the other end of that spectrum are modifications that you may need or may be beneficial to your particular workflow. For example if you need Adobe products for your work, then you need them. Same goes for Microsoft or other well known, well supported products from responsible vendors.


In between are a broad swath of things that may or may not be beneficial or useful. In my opinion it is not necessary nor beneficial to have things like "DriveDX" or "Malwarebytes" installed and running all the time on a Mac. To my knowledge those two specific examples are not known for causing crashes or kernel panics, but they just add to the list of products it's incumbent upon you to maintain, including knowing how to get rid of when you no longer want them.


Add to that growing list a heap of other products with which I have no familiarity at all. "Buho"? "Caboodle"? I have no idea what those are. There are simply too many to enumerate.


Once again it's your Mac for you to install whatever you want, but if it were mine, I'd erase it and reconfigure it from the ground up. When doing so, conscientiously evaluate the necessity for what you install, perform due diligence (which means don't fall for clever marketing schemes convincing you of the need for whatever product is being peddled) and generally follow the principles in Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community, an excerpt from which follows:


  • Never install something without first knowing what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to get rid of it when you don't want it any more.

Dec 11, 2024 2:15 PM in response to John Galt

John, thank you so much for your suggestions.


I have been cleaning up all I could see - however I still have these crashes when in Normal mode. No crashes (but unbearably slow performance) in SAFE mode.


I attach the latest etrecheck report - do you see more "junk" that I get out of the way?


Currently I am still running with just the MBP monitor and graphics switching off - but that still not enough to prevent the crashes.


Luca

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WindowServer and Kernel Panics and Graphics Issues on macOS Sonoma - Need Help Diagnosing

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