WindowServer kCGErrorFailure in 40-station Snow Leopard lab (elementary school)
Hello,
I've been teaching computers to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders for nearly 17 years. I started with DOS, went to Windows95, then found out that computers don't need to freeze up 5-10 times a class period, when we switched to Macs (OS 9). Anyway, I say that because I'm so frustrated with our new Snow Leopard lab. It freezes up so often that I feel like I stepped back 10 years.
The bottom line problem is that I my machines freeze up often when running Safari, Excel, or Logging in/out. In trying to determine the source of the problem I found a WindowServer error that happens every time any user logs in. I finally decided to take one machine and completely erase the hard drive and do a fresh install of 10.6.8. Surprisingly, I got the very same error after the install. I followed all the advice I could find here in the community...
permission repairs
verify disk
verify start up volume
restart in safe mode
hardware test
PRAM and NVRAM reset
sudo chown root:amin /
removed cache and sysconfig folders
the photobooth user pic didn't apply
Anyway, I ran the console after each step of the process and got the kCGErrorFailure every time. The truth is, this error may have nothing to do with my freezing problem, but I sure wish I knew what was causing it. Anyway, here's the very first log after fresh install...
2/6/12 9:40:13 AM | com.apple.launchd[1] | *** launchd[1] has started up. *** |
2/6/12 9:40:27 AM | com.apple.launchd[1] | (com.apple.bsd.dirhelper) Throttling respawn: Will start in 6 seconds |
2/6/12 9:40:27 AM | com.apple.launchd[1] | (com.apple.smb.sharepoints[24]) Exited with exit code: 71 |
2/6/12 9:40:29 AM | com.apple.launchd[1] | (com.apple.bsd.dirhelper) Throttling respawn: Will start in 4 seconds |
2/6/12 9:40:40 AM | com.apple.service_helper[87] | launchctl: Error unloading: com.apple.backupd-auto |
2/6/12 9:40:40 AM | com.apple.service_helper[87] | launchctl: Error unloading: com.apple.backupd-wake |
2/6/12 9:40:40 AM | com.apple.service_helper[87] | launchctl: Error unloading: com.apple.backupd-attach |
2/6/12 9:40:41 AM | com.apple.fontd[81] | FODBCheck: foRec->annexNumber != kInvalidAnnexNumber (0) |
2/6/12 9:40:42 AM | com.apple.fontd[81] | FODBCheck: foRec->annexNumber != kInvalidAnnexNumber (0) |
2/6/12 9:42:54 AM | com.apple.coreservicesd[51] | ThrottleProcessIO: throttling disk i/o |
2/6/12 9:44:18 AM | com.apple.service_helper[128] | org.ntp.ntpd: Already loaded |
2/6/12 9:54:28 AM | com.apple.coreservicesd[51] | ThrottleProcessIO: throttling disk i/o |
2/6/12 10:00:19 AM | com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[202] | (com.apple.ReportCrash) Falling back to default Mach exception handler. Could not find: com.apple.ReportCrash.Self |
2/6/12 10:00:19 AM | migCacheCleanup[209] | Flushing Cache Locations... |
2/6/12 10:00:19 AM | com.apple.loginwindow[192] | 2012-02-06 10:00:19.316 migCacheCleanup[209:903] Flushing Cache Locations... |
2/6/12 10:00:20 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | Checking for updates |
2/6/12 10:00:20 AM | com.apple.fontd[220] | FODBCheck: foRec->annexNumber != kInvalidAnnexNumber (0) |
2/6/12 10:00:21 AM | com.apple.fontd[220] | FODBCheck: foRec->annexNumber != kInvalidAnnexNumber (0) |
2/6/12 10:00:23 AM | com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[202] | (com.apple.Kerberos.renew.plist[233]) Exited with exit code: 1 |
2/6/12 10:00:25 AM | ServerScanner[230] | Launching serverJoiner for nridge.net with user zLocalAdmin |
2/6/12 10:00:25 AM | com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[202] | (com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-nwelch@me.com-SharedServices[236]) Exited with exit code: 1 |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.NetworkUtility"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.dashboardlauncher"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.frontrowlauncher"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.exposelauncher"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.QuickTimePlayerX"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.spaceslauncher"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.appstore"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.backup.launcher"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.BluetoothFileExchange"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.PodcastCapture"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.keychainaccess"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.PhotoBooth"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.VoiceOverUtility"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.Safari"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.Console"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.Safari"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:29 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.remoteinstallmacosx"></bundle> |
2/6/12 10:00:39 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | Downloading "SuperDrive Firmware Update" |
2/6/12 10:00:48 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | Auto-download of "SuperDrive Firmware Update" SUCCESSFUL. |
2/6/12 10:00:48 AM | SoftwareUpdateCheck[218] | Downloading "Mac OS X Update Combined" |
2/6/12 10:01:12 AM | UpgradeUser[284] | Found user zLocalAdmin in node /LDAPv3/nridge.net |
2/6/12 10:01:12 AM | [0x0-0x13013].com.apple.systempreferences[265] | 2012-02-06 10:01:12.636 UpgradeUser[284:903] Found user zLocalAdmin in node /LDAPv3/nridge.net |
2/6/12 10:01:14 AM | UpgradeUser[284] | [ABSPlugin-ERROR] 'Error Domain=NSURLErrorDomain Code=-1004 UserInfo=0x101ec0550 "Could not connect to the server." Underlying Error=(Error Domain=kCFErrorDomainCFNetwork Code=-1004 UserInfo=0x101ec1690 "Could not connect to the server.")' during operation: Sending HTTP request: HTTP Request: PROPFIND https://zlocaladmin@nridge.net:8843/↵//zlocaladmin@nridge.net:8843/↵ Headers: {↵ "Content-Type" = "text/xml; charset=utf-8";↵ Depth = 0;↵}↵ Body: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>↵<D:propfind xmlns:D="DAV:" xmlns:C="DAV:">↵<D:prop>↵<C:current-user-principal/>↵</D:prop>↵</D:propfind>↵↵ |
2/6/12 10:01:14 AM | [0x0-0x13013].com.apple.systempreferences[265] | 2012-02-06 10:01:14.547 UpgradeUser[284:3f0f] [ABSPlugin-ERROR] 'Error Domain=NSURLErrorDomain Code=-1004 UserInfo=0x101ec0550 "Could not connect to the server." Underlying Error=(Error Domain=kCFErrorDomainCFNetwork Code=-1004 UserInfo=0x101ec1690 "Could not connect to the server.")' during operation: Sending HTTP request: HTTP Request: PROPFIND https://zlocaladmin@nridge.net:8843/↵//zlocaladmin@nridge.net:8843/↵ Headers: {↵ "Content-Type" = "text/xml; charset=utf-8";↵ Depth = 0;↵}↵ Body: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>↵<D:propfind xmlns:D="DAV:" xmlns:C="DAV:">↵<D:prop>↵<C:current-user-principal/>↵</D:prop>↵</D:propfind>↵↵ |
2/6/12 10:01:14 AM | com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[202] | (com.apple.Kerberos.renew.plist) Throttling respawn: Will start in 549 seconds |
2/6/12 10:01:15 AM | UpgradeUser[284] | Finished prefs setup, will not configure backup |
2/6/12 10:01:15 AM | [0x0-0x13013].com.apple.systempreferences[265] | 2012-02-06 10:01:15.301 UpgradeUser[284:903] Finished prefs setup, will not configure backup |
2/6/12 10:01:27 AM | com.apple.loginwindow[192] | Mon Feb 6 10:01:27 Local-Admins-iMac.local loginwindow[192] <Warning>: CGSShutdownServerConnections: Detaching application from window server |
2/6/12 10:01:27 AM | com.apple.loginwindow[192] | Mon Feb 6 10:01:27 Local-Admins-iMac.local loginwindow[192] <Warning>: CGSDisplayServerShutdown: Detaching display subsystem from window server |
2/6/12 10:01:28 AM | com.apple.launchd[1] | (com.apple.suhelperd[222]) Exited with exit code: 2 |
2/6/12 10:01:28 AM | com.apple.WindowServer[302] | Mon Feb 6 10:01:28 Local-Admins-iMac.local WindowServer[302] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged. |
2/6/12 10:01:34 AM | com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[202] | (com.apple.ReportCrash) Falling back to default Mach exception handler. Could not find: com.apple.ReportCrash.Self |
2/6/12 10:01:35 AM | Dock[326] | failed to create directory for <DOCKFolderTile: 0x101834b30> Personal Networks error = Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDomain Code=-35 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (OSStatus error -35.)" (no such volume) |
2/6/12 10:01:35 AM | Dock[326] | failed to create directory for <DOCKFolderTile: 0x100231870> InternetWebServer error = Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDomain Code=-35 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (OSStatus error -35.)" (no such volume) |
2/6/12 10:01:35 AM | Dock[326] | failed to create directory for <DOCKFolderTile: 0x10022e770> Student Menu error = Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDomain Code=-35 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (OSStatus error -35.)" (no such volume) |
2/6/12 10:01:35 AM | Dock[326] | failed to create directory for <DOCKFolderTile: 0x10183b910> Northridge Network error = Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDomain Code=-35 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (OSStatus error -35.)" (no such volume) |
2/6/12 10:01:35 AM | com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[202] | (com.apple.Kerberos.renew.plist[341]) Exited with exit code: 1 |
2/6/12 10:01:35 AM | ServerScanner[338] | Not scanning because node /LDAPv3/nridge.net is in searchPath |
2/6/12 10:01:35 AM | com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[202] | (com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-nwelch@me.com-SharedServices[344]) Exited with exit code: 1 |
If it helps, here's my system profile...
Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac9,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.26 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: IM91.008D.B08
SMC Version (system): 1.44f0
I saw one post on the video card. Here's mine...
NVIDIA GeForce 9400:
Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 9400
Type: GPU
Bus: PCI
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0867
Revision ID: 0x00b1
ROM Revision: 3379
Displays:
iMac:
Resolution: 1680 x 1050
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Built-In: Yes
Display Connector:
Status: No Display Connected
Thanks --nw
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)