kernel panics

Question

kernel panics

Lately my iMac has been kernel panicking without much warning.

Sometimes it happens while I'm running Aperture and Photoshop, sometimes it happens when I'm only browsing the internet using Chrome, sometimes the machine refuses to wake from sleep.

When I force restart the iMac and then go to open an application, Aperture for example, I am given a message that the permissions may not be right for the library.

Running DiskUtility on the iMac does nothing to fix the problem (even if it does repair some permissions) and the only way I have been able to get the machine operating again is to start it in target mode, connect it to my MacBookPro and run DiskUtility on it from there.

Here are the specs on the iMac:

Model Name: iMac

Model Identifier: iMac11,3

Processor Name: Intel Core i7

Processor Speed: 2.93 GHz

Number Of Processors: 1

Total Number Of Cores: 4

L2 Cache (per core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 8 MB

Memory: 12 GB

Mac OS X: Version 10.6.8

and here is a video screen shot of the results of repairing the disk: http://screencast.com/t/2BrAto0fD1

Notice in the video that "Invalid Volume File Count" and "Invalid Volume Directory Count" are off by one. This is always the case.

Once the machine is repaired, I run Onyx 2.0.4 automation to clean caches, repair permissions, etc... to get the machine back to better.

The machine will run again sometimes for a few hours, sometimes for a few days or weeks, but inevitably it crashes again and consistently exhibits the same "Invalid Volume File Count" and "Invalid Volume Directory Count" errors when being repaired.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jul 22, 2012 10:22 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Jul 22, 2012 10:30 PM in response to Rich Cirminello

Here's my extreme recommendation:

Backup using Restore Option of Disk Utility

Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
Select the destination volume from the left side list.
Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
Check the box labeled Erase destination.
Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.

Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.

Erase and Install Snow Leopard

1. Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.

2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.

3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.

4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.

5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.

6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.

7. After formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Install Snow Leopard. Download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 updater.

Reinstall your Aperture and Photoshop software, but do not use Chrome nor install any other third-party software. Use the system for a couple of days to see if you are panic free.

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Answer 2

Jul 22, 2012 11:23 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks for the suggestion, but you lost me.

"6. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field."

What 'source?'

"Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive."

What external backup drive?

and further down the line...

my iMac will not start from the startup DVDs that came with it; this is why I have to repair it in target disk mode instead of using DiskUtility on the startup DVD.

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Jul 22, 2012 11:32 PM in response to Rich Cirminello

Source refers to the internal hard drive, Destination refers to an external backup drive.

"my iMac will not start from the startup DVDs that came with it; this is why I have to repair it in target disk mode instead of using DiskUtility on the startup DVD."

Where did you state that you did not have installer DVDs? You will need them in order to reinstall OS X. Without them you are dead in the water.

I can recommend you try creating a new user account. Log into the new account and see if this helps any.

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Answer 4

Jul 23, 2012 1:50 AM in response to Kappy

I didn't say that I don't have disks... I said the iMac won't start from them. It just doesn't work. I've had six Macs and this is the first one that won't start from the disks.

As for the external backup drive, that assumes that I have a backup of the iMac system, does it not?

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Answer 5

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Jul 23, 2012 7:31 AM in response to Rich Cirminello

Your boot drive is failing, or you have some other hardware fault in the mass-storage subsystem.

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Jul 23, 2012 12:25 PM in response to Rich Cirminello

As for the external backup drive, that assumes that I have a backup of the iMac system, does it not?

No. It assumes you have an external drive you can use.

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Answer 7

iCare

Level 4

2,490 points

Jul 23, 2012 1:09 PM in response to Rich Cirminello

If there is any question about the mechanical/electrical integrity of your internal hard drive I suggest running the SMART Utility application from Volitans Software. It will pull the SMART (Selef-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) log files from your hard drive. If there are any errors then you'll be able to view them and make the determination on whether or not your hard drive should be replaced. You can run the application in the demo mode.

http://www.volitans-software.com/smart_utility.php

If the status of the drive is listed as failing or failed then it would be in your best interests to make sure you have a current backup of your data. Recovering data from a failed drive can be a heartbreaking and/or expensive venture. Unfortunately I know from experience.

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Answer 8

Jul 23, 2012 6:07 PM in response to iCare

Thanks.

I'll try that.

I too know how painful it is to loose data; It's happened to me more times than I care to recall.

As for this particular iMac, it should still be under AppleCare so if the drive is dying, it should only be a matter of me getting it serviced for a new one.

Fortunately, there isn't much on it that's critical other than apps. My 'important' data is my seven Aperture libraries which are redundantly stored on external drives.

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