FIXME: IOUnserialize has detected a string that is not valid

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Level 1

11 points

FIXME: IOUnserialize has detected a string that is not valid

I wasn't sure were to post this, but I hope someone had help. I also couldn't find any advice via a Google search.

Every 30 seconds the following line appears in system.log:

*configd[[14]]: FIXME: IOUnserialize has detected a string that is not valid UTF-8, "�SMB012".*

This line appears thousands of times. Any idea what it means and who I fix it?

Thanks,
M.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Mar 19, 2011 3:02 AM

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Answer 1

Mateus109 Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 19, 2011 8:15 AM in response to Mateus109

Apparently "FIXME" is a message for engineers? Seems ridiculous that this message appears thousands of times in the log.

(please excuse my spelling/grammar in post one!)

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Answer 2

Mateus109 Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 21, 2011 2:33 AM in response to Mateus109

Seriously does no one have any ideas? Others with this issue said the only solution was to reinstall OSX! 😟

I'm not alone: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=846406

I managed to change the message slightly by removing the Airport network interface option to read: *+...not valid UTF-8, ""+*. But after re-enabling Airport, the original message returned: *+...not valid UTF-8, "�SMB012"+*

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Answer 3

Mateus109 Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 22, 2011 2:09 PM in response to Mateus109

Just in case any else has this problem and finds this thread, I've found the fault. With help from an other user, I ran the configd in debug and checked all the bundles. Running the following gave loads of odd messages in System.log:

*sudo /usr/libexec/configd -dv -t /System/Library/SystemConfiguration/PowerManagement.bundle*

Assuming power must be to blame, I removed the battery and the messages stopped!

The battery must be faulty and sending codes to the Mac that it doesn't understand.

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Answer 4

ahanuban

Level 1

0 points

Mar 31, 2012 10:56 AM in response to Mateus109

I have a similar error coming from powerd and from any program that checks the battery's status (iStat in Dashboard, System Information/Profiler)

3/31/12 1:52:18.076 PM powerd: FIXME: IOUnserialize has detected a string that is not valid UTF-8, "�SMB012".

It seems the battery's serial number is using a non UTF-8 character. This has happened to me with two third-party batteries, but I don't think it's happend with an authentic apple battery. When I take the battery out, the messages stop.

I'm on a 15" 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro 2007, this has happened with 10.6 through 10.7.3.

I think it might also be causing my mac to crash. Often, it will crash completely (shut off power altogether) immediately after displaying this message.

Also, my mac won't enter safe sleep when the battery reaches a low charge level.

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Answer 5

Mateus109 Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 17, 2012 4:05 AM in response to ahanuban

Apparently the Apple batteries are quite complex as they contain hard-wired programs to accurately manage the power supply (third-party batteries are a lot more basic). My 2008 MacBook Pro does won't enter safe sleep either as I believe the battery is not telling the OSX when it reaches low charge.

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Answer 6

May 16, 2015 10:09 AM in response to ahanuban

I also had this problem. I was using an Anker battery. I removed it (just a few minutes ago!), am running the laptop of off wall plug power with no battery, and the error messages stopped. I don't know if I'll be able to run the computer without rebooting for days, to verify, but this seems like the fix.

Thanks to the users who tracked this down; it's been an issue for months for me.

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