X11/Xquartz now inoperable, causes kernel panic, 100% reproducible

Here it is:

Interval Since Last Panic Report: 200004 sec

Panics Since Last Report: 5

Anonymous UUID: 2AC58F11-9C0A-4E28-A07D-041A8B1DBF25

Wed Feb 22 21:06:34 2012

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff8000328af2): "Negative open count?"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1699.24.23/bsd/miscfs/specfs/spec_vnops.c:1368

Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address

0xffffff8078a5bc10 : 0xffffff8000220702

0xffffff8078a5bc90 : 0xffffff8000328af2

0xffffff8078a5bcd0 : 0xffffff800032c895

0xffffff8078a5bd20 : 0xffffff8000318ef4

0xffffff8078a5bd60 : 0xffffff80002fd1aa

0xffffff8078a5bdb0 : 0xffffff80002fceae

0xffffff8078a5bdf0 : 0xffffff80002fe3d1

0xffffff8078a5be20 : 0xffffff8000316a1f

0xffffff8078a5be50 : 0xffffff8000540e29

0xffffff8078a5bec0 : 0xffffff800023ba0b

0xffffff8078a5bef0 : 0xffffff800023bf0a

0xffffff8078a5bf20 : 0xffffff800023bfa0

0xffffff8078a5bf50 : 0xffffff800021e0ce

0xffffff8078a5bf90 : 0xffffff80002c1c8a

0xffffff8078a5bfb0 : 0xffffff80002d79ec

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: luit

Mac OS version:

11D50b

Kernel version:

Darwin Kernel Version 11.3.0: Thu Jan 12 18:47:41 PST 2012; root:xnu-1699.24.23~1/RELEASE_X86_64

Kernel UUID: 7B6546C7-70E8-3ED8-A6C3-C927E4D3D0D6

System model name: MacBookPro5,5 (Mac-F2268AC8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 1577241651814

last loaded kext at 1486369522858: com.apple.iokit.IOAVBFamily 1.0.0d22 (addr 0xffffff7f80861000, size 36864)

last unloaded kext at 1412044450695: com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController 1.0.0d5 (addr 0xffffff7f80844000, size 20480)

loaded kexts:

org.pqrs.driver.KeyRemap4MacBook 7.0.0

com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower 1.5.2

com.apple.filesystems.smbfs 1.7.0

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelProfile 85.2

com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.4d0

com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch 66.6

com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0

com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver 122

com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 2.1.7f9

com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.59

com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver 2.1.7f9

com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.12.42

com.apple.driver.AppleSMCLMU 2.0.1d2

com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor 3.0.1d2

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBDisplays 317

com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 4.7.5d4

com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet 1.0.0d1

com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0

com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver 1.2.2

com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.5.9

com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.0.26

com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.5.3

com.apple.GeForce 7.1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight 170.1.9

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 225.2

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 225.2

com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 312

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1

com.apple.BootCache 33

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCardReader 3.0.1

com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 3.0.3

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.0.1

com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.8.9

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 4.5.0

com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331 513.20.19

com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.2.0

com.apple.nvenet 2.0.17

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 4.5.8

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBOHCI 4.4.5

com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 161.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.5.0

com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.4

com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.6

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.4

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.7

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.4

com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.5

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 167.3.0

com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 3.2.30

com.apple.security.quarantine 1.1

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 167.3.0

com.apple.iokit.IOAVBFamily 1.0.0d22

com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController 1.0.0d5

com.apple.driver.AppleProfileTimestampAction 85.2

com.apple.driver.AppleProfileThreadInfoAction 85.2

com.apple.driver.AppleProfileRegisterStateAction 85.2

com.apple.driver.AppleProfileReadCounterAction 85.2

com.apple.driver.AppleProfileKEventAction 85.2

com.apple.driver.AppleProfileCallstackAction 85.2

com.apple.iokit.AppleProfileFamily 85.2

com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothHIDKeyboard 152.3

com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard 152.3

com.apple.driver.AppleMultitouchDriver 220.62.1

com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver 4.0.3f12

com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0

com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 2.1.7f9

com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 2.1.7f9

com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 2.1.7f9

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.10d0

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.2.4

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBAudio 2.8.2f5

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 4.7.5d4

com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 80.0

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 4.0.3f12

com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.5

com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.1d8

com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.8.6fc6

com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.3

com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl 3.0.16

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.10d0

com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 3.0.16

com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert 1.0.3

com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal 7.1.8

com.apple.NVDAResman 7.1.8

com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.3.2

com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.3.2

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 227.1

com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController 4.0.3f12

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 4.0.3f12

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.0.3f12

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 4.4.5

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 3.0.3

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 3.0.1

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 4.5.3

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 4.5.8

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 3.0.3

com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.6

com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.7

com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.7

com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 403

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI 2.0.1

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 3.0.3

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.4.5

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 4.5.8

com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 412.2

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.7

com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 2.0

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 4.5.8

com.apple.driver.NVSMU 2.2.9

com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.5.0

com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.7.1

com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1

com.apple.security.sandbox 177.3

com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1

com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 7

com.apple.driver.DiskImages 331.3

com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.7

com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 28.18

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.4

com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6.8

com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4

Model: MacBookPro5,5, BootROM MBP55.00AC.B03, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.26 GHz, 4 GB, SMC 1.47f2

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, PCI, 256 MB

Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x0198, 0x393930353432382D3030312E4230304C4620

Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x0198, 0x393930353432382D3030312E4230304C4620

AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x8D), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.100.98.75.19)

Bluetooth: Version 4.0.3f12, 2 service, 18 devices, 1 incoming serial ports

Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en1

Network Service: FireWire, FireWire, fw0

Serial ATA Device: Hitachi HTS545016B9SA02, 160.04 GB

Serial ATA Device: HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS23N

USB Device: hub_device, apple_vendor_id, 0x9126, 0x26200000 / 3

USB Device: iPod, apple_vendor_id, 0x129e, 0x26220000 / 7

USB Device: Display iSight, apple_vendor_id, 0x8508, 0x26250000 / 6

USB Device: Display Audio, apple_vendor_id, 0x1105, 0x26240000 / 5

USB Device: Apple LED Cinema Display, apple_vendor_id, 0x9226, 0x26260000 / 4

USB Device: Internal Memory Card Reader, apple_vendor_id, 0x8403, 0x26500000 / 2

USB Device: Built-in iSight, apple_vendor_id, 0x8507, 0x24400000 / 2

USB Device: BRCM2046 Hub, 0x0a5c (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0x06100000 / 2

USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, apple_vendor_id, 0x8213, 0x06110000 / 5

USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad, apple_vendor_id, 0x0236, 0x04600000 / 3

USB Device: IR Receiver, apple_vendor_id, 0x8242, 0x04500000 / 2

Hi Linc,

It seems that even in safe mode, X11 still causes this same kernel panic. Actually I discovered a couple small differences in behaviour, but it always resulted in a kernel panic in the end. I tried it twice in safe mode.

The first time in safe mode, I ran X11, then chose Terminal from the menu. Immediately, before xterm appeared, everything froze (panic).

The second time, I tried running Xquartz instead. Xquartz refused to start, instead showing me an error message about some "display" not being available (IIRC) and giving me the option to "Crash" or "Cancel" (strange options IMHO). I chose "Cancel". Then I ran X11. From the X11 menu I chose Terminal, but nothing happened. I waited and there was no crash and no window appeared. I chose Terminal again, and again nothing. I clicked it a third time, and finally the xterm window in fact appeared (a first), but was only there for half a second before the same kernel panic occurred and I had to reboot.

I'll attach that last panic report, but it's very similar to the last one so I don't know how useful it will be:

Interval Since Last Panic Report: 247897 sec

Panics Since Last Report: 7

Anonymous UUID: 2AC58F11-9C0A-4E28-A07D-041A8B1DBF25

Thu Feb 23 10:45:02 2012

panic(cpu 1 caller 0xffffff8000328af2): "Negative open count?"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1699.24.23/bsd/miscfs/specfs/spec_vnops.c:1368

Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address

0xffffff80779bbc10 : 0xffffff8000220702

0xffffff80779bbc90 : 0xffffff8000328af2

0xffffff80779bbcd0 : 0xffffff800032c895

0xffffff80779bbd20 : 0xffffff8000318ef4

0xffffff80779bbd60 : 0xffffff80002fd1aa

0xffffff80779bbdb0 : 0xffffff80002fceae

0xffffff80779bbdf0 : 0xffffff80002fe3d1

0xffffff80779bbe20 : 0xffffff8000316a1f

0xffffff80779bbe50 : 0xffffff8000540e29

0xffffff80779bbec0 : 0xffffff800023ba0b

0xffffff80779bbef0 : 0xffffff800023bf0a

0xffffff80779bbf20 : 0xffffff800023bfa0

0xffffff80779bbf50 : 0xffffff800021e0ce

0xffffff80779bbf90 : 0xffffff80002c1c8a

0xffffff80779bbfb0 : 0xffffff80002d79ec

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: luit

Boot args: -x

Mac OS version:

11D50b

Kernel version:

Darwin Kernel Version 11.3.0: Thu Jan 12 18:47:41 PST 2012; root:xnu-1699.24.23~1/RELEASE_X86_64

Kernel UUID: 7B6546C7-70E8-3ED8-A6C3-C927E4D3D0D6

System model name: MacBookPro5,5 (Mac-F2268AC8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 607623052113

last loaded kext at 251079426064: com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.4d0 (addr 0xffffff7f815c7000, size 28672)

last unloaded kext at 313699825802: com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver 225.2 (addr 0xffffff7f80e01000, size 8192)

loaded kexts:

com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.4d0

com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0

com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0

com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.12.42

com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 4.7.5d4

com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.5.3

com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight 170.1.9

com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch 66.6

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 225.2

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCardReader 3.0.1

com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 3.0.3

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 225.2

com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 312

com.apple.BootCache 33

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.0.1

com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331 513.20.19

com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.8.9

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 4.5.0

com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.5.0

com.apple.nvenet 2.0.17

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 4.5.8

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBOHCI 4.4.5

com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 161.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.4

com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.6

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.4

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.7

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.4

com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.5

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 167.3.0

com.apple.security.quarantine 1.1

com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 3.2.30

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 167.3.0

com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0

com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal 7.1.8

com.apple.NVDAResman 7.1.8

com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl 3.0.16

com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 3.0.16

com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.1d8

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 4.7.5d4

com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert 1.0.3

com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.3.2

com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.3.2

com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothHIDKeyboard 152.3

com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard 152.3

com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver 4.0.3f12

com.apple.driver.AppleMultitouchDriver 220.62.1

com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController 4.0.3f12

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 4.0.3f12

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.0.3f12

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 227.1

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 3.0.1

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 3.0.3

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 3.0.3

com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.6

com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.7

com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.7

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 4.4.5

com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 403

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 4.5.3

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 4.5.8

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI 2.0.1

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 3.0.3

com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 412.2

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.4.5

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 4.5.8

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.7

com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 2.0

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 4.5.8

com.apple.driver.NVSMU 2.2.9

com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.5.0

com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.7.1

com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1

com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 7

com.apple.security.sandbox 177.3

com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1

com.apple.driver.DiskImages 331.3

com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.7

com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 28.18

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.4

com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6.8

com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4

Model: MacBookPro5,5, BootROM MBP55.00AC.B03, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.26 GHz, 4 GB, SMC 1.47f2

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, PCI, 256 MB

Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x0198, 0x393930353432382D3030312E4230304C4620

Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x0198, 0x393930353432382D3030312E4230304C4620

AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x8D), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.100.98.75.19)

Bluetooth: Version 4.0.3f12, 2 service, 18 devices, 1 incoming serial ports

Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en1

Network Service: FireWire, FireWire, fw0

Serial ATA Device: Hitachi HTS545016B9SA02, 160.04 GB

Serial ATA Device: HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS23N

USB Device: Built-in iSight, apple_vendor_id, 0x8507, 0x24400000 / 2

USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad, apple_vendor_id, 0x0236, 0x04600000 / 3

USB Device: IR Receiver, apple_vendor_id, 0x8242, 0x04500000 / 2

USB Device: hub_device, apple_vendor_id, 0x9126, 0x26200000 / 3

USB Device: iPod, apple_vendor_id, 0x129e, 0x26210000 / 7

USB Device: Display iSight, apple_vendor_id, 0x8508, 0x26250000 / 6

USB Device: Apple LED Cinema Display, apple_vendor_id, 0x9226, 0x26260000 / 5

USB Device: Display Audio, apple_vendor_id, 0x1105, 0x26240000 / 4

USB Device: Internal Memory Card Reader, apple_vendor_id, 0x8403, 0x26500000 / 2

USB Device: BRCM2046 Hub, 0x0a5c (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0x06100000 / 2

USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, apple_vendor_id, 0x8213, 0x06110000 / 4

(BTW: It shows above that I have my iPod and LED Cinema Display connected, but my hardware must have been polled only just now after the reboot because I most definitely didn't have either of those devices connected while I was in safe mode. Seems odd that an accurate listing of my hardware isn't captured at the time of the crash and included in /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/*.panic – just a shortcoming of the panic reporting mechanism, I imagine?)

Hi Linc,

I've done as you said, and now I am even more certain that the hardware summary that /System/Library/CoreServices/Problem Reporter.app appends to the end of the panic report is generated at time of system recovery, after it has rebooted from a panic, not at the time of the kernel panic. Here's why.

1. I shut down my Mac, then disconnected all devices - even the power supply. I also turned off my Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad.
2. I started my Mac in safe mode.
3. Upon logging in, I ran the System Information app to see what USB devices OS X thinks I have attached:
   As you can see, no Apple LED Cinema Display or iPod devices are listed.
4. I ran X11, tried to run xterm, and my system promptly kernel-panicked.
5. I shut down the Mac.
6. I plugged in my Apple LED Cinema Display and iPod.
7. I restarted my Mac.
8. After logging in, the Problem Reporter (/System/Library/CoreServices/Problem Reporter.app) app automatically launches. I immediately skim the "Problem Details and System Configuration" report, and at first glance I see that the report ends here:
   ...
   com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 28.18
   com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.4
   com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6.8
   com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4
   (I'd like to point out to you that this is also how the file /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Kernel_2012-02-23-143316_paul.panic ends. There is NO hardware information logged in any of my panic report files in that directory.)
9. After a few seconds, these lines are then appended to the "Problem Details and System Configuration" report in Problem Reporter:

Model: MacBookPro5,5, BootROM MBP55.00AC.B03, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.26 GHz, 4 GB, SMC 1.47f2

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, PCI, 256 MB

Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x0198, 0x393930353432382D3030312E4230304C4620

Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x0198, 0x393930353432382D3030312E4230304C4620

AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x8D), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.100.98.75.19)

Bluetooth: Version 4.0.3f12, 2 service, 18 devices, 1 incoming serial ports

Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en1

Network Service: FireWire, FireWire, fw0

Serial ATA Device: Hitachi HTS545016B9SA02, 160.04 GB

Serial ATA Device: HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS23N

USB Device: Built-in iSight, apple_vendor_id, 0x8507, 0x24400000 / 2

USB Device: hub_device, apple_vendor_id, 0x9126, 0x26200000 / 3

USB Device: iPod, apple_vendor_id, 0x129e, 0x26210000 / 7

USB Device: Apple LED Cinema Display, apple_vendor_id, 0x9226, 0x26260000 / 6

USB Device: Display Audio, apple_vendor_id, 0x1105, 0x26240000 / 5

USB Device: Display iSight, apple_vendor_id, 0x8508, 0x26250000 / 4

USB Device: Internal Memory Card Reader, apple_vendor_id, 0x8403, 0x26500000 / 2

USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad, apple_vendor_id, 0x0236, 0x04600000 / 3

USB Device: IR Receiver, apple_vendor_id, 0x8242, 0x04500000 / 2

USB Device: BRCM2046 Hub, 0x0a5c (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0x06100000 / 2

USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, apple_vendor_id, 0x8213, 0x06110000 / 4

As you can see, Problem Reporter is reporting what I have plugged in right now. It makes sense that there was a bit of a delay before these lines appeared, because Problem Reporter was probably polling my hardware for a moment. I agree that it doesn't make any sense, and in my opinion this is a major bug of OS X's crash reporting system.

If you still don't believe me, I highly encourage you to try this out yourself, if you know of a way to generate a kernel panic on your system. All you have to do is shut down, unplug your hardware, start up again, generate a kernel panic, shut down, plug your hardware back in, then start your computer and see what Problem Reporter claims to be your hardware profile. It will be a profile of your hardware after your system has recovered and rebooted, not what it was when the kernel panic occurred.

This is all beside the point for me right now, since I haven't changed any of my hardware in weeks and this kernel panic has started happening only in the last week. I doubt it's hardware related, and suspect that it has more to do with the OS X 10.7.3 update. I just thought I'd explain the above make sure you understood why the hardware list was inaccurate.

So, at this point I guess I need to reinstall Mac OS X. Was hoping it wouldn't come down to that.

Thanks, Linc, for your suggestions. I've never come across such a confounding problem in all my years of using OS X. Alas, I guess no OS is perfect! Well, here goes the reinstall...

I just thought I'd post an update. I tried reinstalling OS X Lion over top of my old installation. That didn't make any difference, X11 continued to crash as before.

So then I installed Lion onto a separate external drive, and am now booting my Mac from that drive. This crazy bug isn't happening anymore! I most definitely have the latest version of Lion installed.

I'm slowly copying over my apps, settings and documents from my old drive to this new one... so far so good. Thanks for the tips!

Sorry to hear it, mcavoys. Basically I had to install OS X fresh, on a new drive - but you could also just reformat your current drive, and rely solely on your latest Time Machine backup to copy your data files over. If I let OS X installer try to 'restore' my old install in any way, then the X11 panic bug would return. Basically just had to carefully copy data files over manually. I know it's a drag!