Mac constantly freezing and crashing

Question

Can someone please help me get to the bottom of my IMac woes. It&#x27;s a 20" late 2006 Intel model with 2GB RAM.  The computer freezes or crashes fairly regularly - sometimes within minutes of being started. I have wiped the hard disk several times and done a clean reinstall of Lion. The computer still crashes - again within minutes of the Finder launching. However, it behaves itself when I boot it into Windows, or if I do a Safe Boot. This is starting to drive me nuts.Here&#x27;s the latest kernel panic - can someone translate it for me?Thanks,KevInterval Since Last Panic Report:  7 secPanics Since Last Report:          1Anonymous UUID:                    191034D7-4251-469D-95CA-91BC16D27404Sun Mar 25 13:04:47 2012Machine-check capabilities (cpu 1) 0x0000000000000806: family: 6 model: 15 stepping: 6 microcode: 199 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU         T7400  @ 2.16GHz 6 error-reporting banks threshold-based error status presentMachine-check status 0x0000000000000005: restart IP valid machine-check in progressMCA error-reporting registers: IA32_MC0_STATUS(0x401): 0xb200004000000800 valid  MCA error code:            0x0800  Model specific error code: 0x0000  Other information:         0x00000040  Threshold-based status:    Undefined  Status bits:   Processor context corrupt   Error enabled   Uncorrected error IA32_MC1_STATUS(0x405): 0x0000000000000000 invalid IA32_MC2_STATUS(0x409): 0x0000000000000000 invalid IA32_MC3_STATUS(0x40d): 0x0020000000000000 invalid IA32_MC4_STATUS(0x411): 0x0000000000000011 invalid IA32_MC5_STATUS(0x415): 0xb200121020080400 valid  MCA error code:            0x0400  Model specific error code: 0x2008  Other information:         0x00001210  Threshold-based status:    Undefined  Status bits:   Processor context corrupt   Error enabled   Uncorrected errorpanic(cpu 1 caller 0x2ce3cc): "Machine Check at 0x01a6d819, trapno:0x12, err:0x0," "registers:
" "CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0x0c9b6000, CR3: 0x00100000, CR4: 0x00000660
" "EAX: 0x00000010, EBX: 0x05188000, ECX: 0x00000001, EDX: 0x00000000
" "ESP: 0x35ebbc80, EBP: 0x35ebbcb8, ESI: 0x00000000, EDI: 0x00000210
" "EFL: 0x00000046, EIP: 0x01a6d819
"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1699.24.23/osfmk/i386/trap_native.c:258Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)0x2f80ef38 : 0x22032e (0x6ad91c 0x2f80ef58 0x229f00 0x0) 0x2f80ef68 : 0x2ce3cc (0x6ba314 0x6ba449 0x1a6d819 0x12) 0x2f80f0d8 : 0x2ce409 (0x2f80f110 0xde 0x6ba449 0x1) 0x2f80f0f8 : 0x2e4a52 (0x2f80f110 0x0 0x0 0x0) 0x35ebbcb8 : 0x1a657f4 (0x29796100 0x2 0x5188000 0x0) 0x35ebbd58 : 0x1a67a99 (0xffffffff 0x7fffffff 0x0 0x0) 0x35ebbde8 : 0x2cfb83 (0xffffffff 0x7fffffff 0x35ebbe08 0x2cc4ca) 0x35ebbe08 : 0x22d335 (0x2f7a5000 0x768290b3 0x28 0x2f7a5de0) 0x35ebbe48 : 0x22e110 (0x5e10be8 0x2f7a5000 0x0 0x0) 0x35ebbe98 : 0x22f612 (0x5e10c04 0x2 0x12 0x519cd00) 0x35ebbef8 : 0x22f771 (0x215060 0x0 0x0 0x5e10be8) 0x35ebbf18 : 0x214fcd (0x215060 0x7000006 0xc00 0xffffffff) 0x35ebbf48 : 0x21b2f5 (0x6bca710 0x7000006 0xc00 0xffffffff) 0x35ebbf98 : 0x2b7767 (0x5d71a94 0x7fff 0x5d71ac4 0x8) 0x35ebbfc8 : 0x2e4997 (0x5d71a90 0x0 0x10 0x6b52110)       Kernel Extensions in backtrace:         com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement(167.3)[E7A581F5-68AD-40A7-9044-10 DBAE790332]@0x1a63000-&gt;0x1a8dfffBSD process name corresponding to current thread: mdworkerMac OS version:11D50Kernel version:Darwin Kernel Version 11.3.0: Thu Jan 12 18:48:32 PST 2012; root:xnu-1699.24.23~1/RELEASE_I386Kernel UUID: 8986BDEF-9D4E-32D2-8566-2196FD2D35B2System model name: iMac5,1 (Mac-F4228EC8)System uptime in nanoseconds: 177003594538last loaded kext at 171458046636: com.apple.filesystems.afpfs          9.8 (addr 0x1579000, size 376832)last unloaded kext at 107892500342: com.apple.driver.USBCameraFirmwareLoader          1.1.0 (addr 0xd59000, size 24576)loaded kexts:com.apple.filesystems.afpfs          9.8com.apple.nke.asp_tcp          6.0.1com.apple.filesystems.ntfs          3.10com.apple.filesystems.autofs          3.0com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor          1.9.4d0com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC          1.59com.apple.driver.AppleHDA          2.1.7f9com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient          3.5.9com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl          1.0.26com.apple.kext.ATIFramebuffer          7.1.8com.apple.ATIRadeonX1000          7.0.0com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight          170.1.9com.apple.driver.AppleLPC          1.5.3com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet          1.0.0d1com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X          7.0.0com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver          1.2.2com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin          4.7.5d4com.apple.driver.AppleIRController          312com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless          1.0.0d1com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib          1.0.0d1com.apple.BootCache          33com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient          3.0.3com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub          4.5.0com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage          2.0.1com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort          2.2.0com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI          4.5.8com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA          2.5.1com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI          4.8.9com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI          4.4.5com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43224          500.36.11com.apple.iokit.AppleYukon2          3.2.2b1com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM          1.5.0com.apple.driver.AppleRTC          1.4com.apple.driver.AppleHPET          1.6com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons          1.4com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS          1.7com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC          1.4com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC          1.5com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient          167.3.0com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall          3.2.30com.apple.security.quarantine          1.1com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement          167.3.0com.apple.security.SecureRemotePassword          1.0com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothHIDMouse          170.4com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse          170.4com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver          4.0.3f12com.apple.kext.triggers          1.0com.apple.driver.AppleAVBAudio          1.0.0d11com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib          2.1.7f9com.apple.kext.ATI1600Controller          7.1.8com.apple.kext.ATISupport          7.1.8com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert          1.0.3com.apple.iokit.IOSurface          80.0com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager          4.0.3f12com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily          10.0.5com.apple.iokit.IOAVBFamily          1.0.0d22com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController          1.0.0d5com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily          1.8.6fc6com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib          1.3com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP          2.2.4com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController          2.1.7f9com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily          2.1.7f9com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl          3.0.16com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl          3.0.16com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport          2.3.2com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily          2.3.2com.apple.driver.AppleSMC          3.1.1d8com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily          4.7.5d4com.apple.driver.CSRUSBBluetoothHCIController          4.0.3f12com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController          4.0.3f12com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily          4.0.3f12com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub          4.5.3com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver          4.4.5com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite          4.5.8com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice          3.0.3com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily          1.6com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily          1.7com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily          1.7com.apple.driver.XsanFilter          403com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport          3.0.0com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily          3.0.3com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient          4.5.8com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily          2.0.7com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily          2.5.1com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily          4.4.5com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily          4.5.8com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family          412.2com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily          2.0com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime          1.5.0com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily          1.7.1com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily          1.1com.apple.security.sandbox          177.3com.apple.kext.AppleMatch          1.0.0d1com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet          7com.apple.driver.DiskImages          331.3com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily          1.7com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore          28.18com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform          1.4com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily          2.6.8com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily          1.4Model: iMac5,1, BootROM IM51.0090.B09, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.16 GHz, 2 GB, SMC 1.9f4Graphics: ATI Radeon X1600, ATY,RadeonX1600, PCIe, 128 MBMemory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz, 0xCE00000000000000, 0x4D342037305432393533435A332D43453620Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM1, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz, 0xCE00000000000000, 0x4D342037305432393533435A332D43453620AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x87), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.131.36.11)Bluetooth: Version 4.0.3f12, 2 service, 18 devices, 0 incoming serial portsNetwork Service: Ethernet, Ethernet, en0Serial ATA Device: WDC WD5000AADS-00M2B0, 500.11 GBParallel ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-85JUSB Device: Built-in iSight, apple_vendor_id, 0x8501, 0xfd400000 / 2USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, apple_vendor_id, 0x8206, 0x7d100000 / 3USB Device: IR Receiver, apple_vendor_id, 0x8240, 0x7d200000 / 2

SeaPapp · Answer

I didn&#x27;t read through your entire log, but I&#x27;ll tell you this right away.....running Lion with the minimum 2GB of ram is at least part of your problem. In reality the minimum is 4GB.

SeaPapp · Answer

Kev, I&#x27;m not an expert but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night! I read your log and I don&#x27;t see anything except you&#x27;re running Lion on a minimum machine with minimum ram. If I were you and I didn&#x27;t NEED Lion&#x27;s features I would downgrade to Snow Leopard and even at that I would add ram. I also have a 2.16 core2 duo macbook and I have 4gb installed but the mac only recognizes 3gb, running SL and it&#x27;s still working great.

Linc Davis · Answer

It has a hardware fault. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store to have the machine tested. Back up all data before you go.

Kev Meredith · Answer

We don&#x27;t have Apple Stores in Sweden so that&#x27;s a non-starter.

Linc Davis · Answer

But you do have authorized Apple dealers who provide service.

SeaPapp · Answer

Linc, is the hardware fault listed in the panic log? Like I admitted I&#x27;m not an expert by any means but I don&#x27;t see it. Thanks

Kev Meredith · Answer

Yes, we do - at the cost of an arm and a leg just for them to open the lid!I&#x27;ve put some new RAM in it now, as suggested by Mike and people in Another Place so we&#x27;ll see what happens. Fingers crossed. Kev

SeaPapp · Answer

Is this it?   Processor context corrupt   Error enabled   Uncorrected errorIA32_MC1_STATUS(0x405): 0x0000000000000000 invalidIA32_MC2_STATUS(0x409): 0x0000000000000000 invalidIA32_MC3_STATUS(0x40d): 0x0020000000000000 invalidIA32_MC4_STATUS(0x411): 0x0000000000000011 invalidIA32_MC5_STATUS(0x415): 0xb200121020080400 valid  MCA error code:            0x0400  Model specific error code: 0x2008

JoelRois · Answer

Unfortunately I come with bad news. I have the exact same problem on the exact same computer and I have been researching this for a long time. What I found is that there is a unique issue with the graphic card that came with some models of the Macbook Pro on 2006-07 that cause them to overheat, get funny lines on the screen, makes the screen go blank, get choppy sound quality and disturded sounds on video (such as on Youtube). Their solution? Replace the motherboard. Apple issued an official programs to fix MBP with these graphic cards but we only had 2 to 4 years from the time of purchase to get it fix. When I took it to Apple thy confirmed what I&#x27;m telling you now but told me I was 3 months passed the 4 years I had. Since I just recently found this out, i guess i missed out. They didn&#x27;t do much to get the word our to customers about this issue, understandable, since this doesn&#x27;t help their image. Apple blamed Envidia for supplying faulty graphic card, but Apple was the one that sold us the defected product under a false promise. Yes, they set up that program to fix it, but then they don&#x27;t do well at getting the word out and then they set a time limit for us to bring in the product. It shouldn&#x27;t matter when we bring the product in, if it&#x27;s faulty due to manufacturers lack of testing.Notice how "com.apple.kext.ATI1600Controller" is on your panic report. Research issues relating that graphics card and you&#x27;ll find your answers.Here are some of my findings: Google Search, "problems with my MacBook pro with the x1600"http://superuser.com/questions/73518/ati-x1600-driver-problem-on-machttp://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10330060-263.htmlhttps://discussions.apple.com/thread/2570597?start&#x3D;0&amp;tstart&#x3D;0https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2071507?start&#x3D;0&amp;tstart&#x3D;0Sorry i couldn&#x27;t give you a solution but at least it will save all the headaches of not knowing way your MBP has become so problematic. Cheers!Joel R. President &amp; Founderhttp://lenguamaterna.es

MoJoKs · Answer

I also come with bad news.  I am experiencing the exact same problems with my iMac and I am running Snow Leopard.  Since we are now three months past your original post, I am wondering what has happened since then.  Are you still operating with intermittent shutdowns?  Did the machine die?  Did you find a fix?Jolene G. Topeka, Ks

Kev Meredith · Answer

It&#x27;s still playing up. It boots fine into Safe Mode and Windows 7, but Lion is still a bit hit and miss.

MoJoKs · Answer

Sorry to hear that.  I did check and it seems I do have the same controller on my Video card that Joel R. commented about.  Your experience makes me really glad I&#x27;m not trying to upgrade this imac to Lion.  But I have another question for you. What kind of setup do you have electrically?  What I mean is, are you in new construction with modern wiring or an older home like me in a residential neighborhood where, although the outlets and breaker box are updated, there is still some really old wiring between my computer plug and the breaker box?  One post I read on one of these forums suggested that might be a factor due to the irregularity of the voltage coming through the line.  Maybe if you are housed in new construction and new wiring that&#x27;s not an issue.  If so, I&#x27;d like to be able to rule that out.  One of the reasons I wonder about this is that I have had three external drives get fried in the last two years.  1 Drobo drive and two portables.  Seems excessive.Jolene GTopeka, Ks

Kev Meredith · Answer

I&#x27;m in a 2006-vintage apartment block so I don&#x27;t think the electrical system is to blame here.

MoJoKs · Answer

Great!  Glad to hear it.  Thanks for being so responsive!

RDStokes · Answer

JoelRois descriptions are my problems exactly with a late 2006 iMac 17" 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with X1600.  (Surprisingly, I had a MacBook Pro with the same problem; fortunately, I caught the issue in Apple Motherboard swap plan.)  I was suspecting the issue was heat related but JoelRois confirmed it.My solution was to install SMS Fan Control.  I ran a lot of computation and graphic tests on the computer; I found the computer would bomb with the CPU fan at anything less than 4000 RPMs.  The other two fans in the computer are sitting at Apple&#x27;s original default settings.  Yes, the computer now sounds like a jet plane but it also doesn&#x27;t freeze anymore!Note: There is no guarantee that the tolerance of the X1600 won&#x27;t continue to deteriorate thus the temperature at which the computer freezes may lower...Rob