Kernel Panic NVDA Errors - iMac 24" early 2009

Question

My first kernel panic with Mountain Lion. I was editing a word document and scrolling up - the screen started flashing. I was hoping it was going to be less unreliable than Lion!!! There were NVDA errors in the log:Jul 31 10:23:24 Eve-2 kernel[0]: NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! exception type &#x3D; 0xd &#x3D; GR: SW Notify ErrorJul 31 10:23:24 Eve-2 kernel[0]: IOVendorGLContext::ReportGPURestart Jul 31 10:23:24 Eve-2 kernel[0]: 0000006eJul 31 10:23:24 Eve-2 kernel[0]: 00200000 00005039 00000474 00000002Jul 31 10:23:24 Eve-2 kernel[0]: 0000047c 00000100 00000000 0000000aJul 31 10:23:24 Eve-2 kernel[0]: 00000000 00000000 00000043Jul 31 10:23:24 Eve-2 kernel[0]: 00000002 00000000Then the crash:Tue Jul 31 10:11:20 2012panic(cpu 1 caller 0xffffff7f8b4dfc85): NVRM[0/2:0:0]: Read Error 0x0061002c: CFG 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000, BAR0 0xd2000000 0xffffff808bc8e000 0x094700a1, D0, P3/4Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address0xffffff808afe3c60 : 0xffffff800a81d5f6 0xffffff808afe3cd0 : 0xffffff7f8b4dfc85 0xffffff808afe3d60 : 0xffffff7f8b5d95b7 0xffffff808afe3dc0 : 0xffffff7f8b80d79b 0xffffff808afe3de0 : 0xffffff7f8b5afb17 0xffffff808afe3e00 : 0xffffff7f8b66426b 0xffffff808afe3e70 : 0xffffff7f8b4c5a76 0xffffff808afe3f30 : 0xffffff7f8b480227 0xffffff808afe3f60 : 0xffffff800a83dcae 0xffffff808afe3fb0 : 0xffffff800a8b2677       Kernel Extensions in backtrace:         com.apple.NVDAResman(8.0)[6A699209-FB98-316B-A3C0-DCA82AA8C86B]@0xffffff7f8b478 000-&gt;0xffffff7f8b77afff            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.7)[8C9E06A4-13D0-33F5-A377-9E36F0ECC229]@0xffffff 7f8ad86000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.3.4)[E37F420A-B5CD-38ED-9441-5247583B6ACE]@0xff ffff7f8b466000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.4)[5D671681-D21B-3CCA-9810-B15E648C1B27]@0 xffffff7f8b42f000         com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal(8.0)[9CD95A4A-FD94-349E-A4B6-FC3B74E197F5]@0xffffff7f8 b77b000-&gt;0xffffff7f8ba9dfff            dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(8.0.0)[6A699209-FB98-316B-A3C0-DCA82AA8C86B]@0xffffff7f8b4 78000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.7)[8C9E06A4-13D0-33F5-A377-9E36F0ECC229]@0xffffff 7f8ad86000BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_taskBoot args: arch&#x3D;x86_64Mac OS version:12A269Kernel version:Darwin Kernel Version 12.0.0: Sun Jun 24 23:00:16 PDT 2012; root:xnu-2050.7.9~1/RELEASE_X86_64Kernel UUID: 8D5F8EF3-9D12-384B-8070-EF2A49C45D24Kernel slide:     0x000000000a600000Kernel text base: 0xffffff800a800000System model name: iMac9,1 (Mac-F2218FC8)System uptime in nanoseconds: 71673694028165last loaded kext at 65926777718083: com.apple.filesystems.afpfs          10.0 (addr 0xffffff7f8bf9c000, size 348160)loaded kexts:com.apple.filesystems.afpfs          10.0com.apple.nke.asp_tcp          7.0.0com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCDC          4.1.21com.apple.driver.AppleIntelProfile          97com.apple.filesystems.udf          2.3com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC          1.60com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor          1.9.5d0com.apple.filesystems.autofs          3.0com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet          1.0.0d1com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager          4.0.9f8com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver          2.3.0f2com.apple.driver.AGPM          100.12.69com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver          1.0.2d2com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver          122com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl          3.2.6com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient          3.5.10com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothUSBDFU          4.0.9f8com.apple.driver.AppleHDA          2.3.0f2com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X          7.0.0com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver          2.3.0f2com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight          170.2.3com.apple.GeForce          8.0.0com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHCIControllerUSBTransport          4.0.9f8com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl          3.2.6com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin          1.0.0com.apple.driver.AppleLPC          1.6.0com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl          1.0.33com.apple.driver.AppleIRController          320.15com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient          3.5.1com.apple.driver.XsanFilter          404com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver          3.0.1com.apple.BootCache          34com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331          600.15.20com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib          1.0.0d1com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless          1.0.0d1com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI          4.9.5com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage          2.2.0com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub          5.1.6com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM          1.6.1com.apple.driver.AppleRTC          1.5com.apple.nvenet          2.0.19com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI          5.1.5com.apple.driver.AppleUSBOHCI          5.1.5com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort          2.4.0com.apple.driver.AppleHPET          1.7com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons          1.6com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS          1.9com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC          1.6com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC          1.6com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient          196.0.0com.apple.security.quarantine          2com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall          4.0.39com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement          196.0.0com.apple.security.SecureRemotePassword          1.0com.apple.driver.AppleProfileTimestampAction          97com.apple.driver.AppleProfileThreadInfoAction          97com.apple.driver.AppleProfileRegisterStateAction          97com.apple.driver.AppleProfileReadCounterAction          97com.apple.driver.AppleProfileKEventAction          97com.apple.driver.AppleProfileCallstackAction          97com.apple.iokit.AppleProfileFamily          97com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothHIDKeyboard          165.5com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard          165.5com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothHIDMouse          175.8com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse          175.8com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver          4.0.9f8com.apple.kext.triggers          1.0com.apple.iokit.IOSurface          86.0.2com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily          10.0.6com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily          4.0.9f8com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib          2.3.0f2com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily          1.8.9fc9com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib          1.6com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert          1.0.4com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP          2.2.5com.apple.iokit.AppleBluetoothHCIControllerUSBTransport          4.0.9f8com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController          2.3.0f2com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily          2.3.0f2com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl          3.2.6com.apple.driver.AppleSMC          3.1.3d11com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy          1.0.0com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI          1.0.10d0com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily          5.2.0d16com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController          1.0.10d0com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal          8.0.0com.apple.NVDAResman          8.0.0com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport          2.3.4com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily          2.3.4com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver          5.0.0com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice          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mende1 · Answer

Does it happen more? Boot pressing Shift key and check if it appears in the screen

Dogcow-Moof · Answer

As a whole, Mountain Lion is rather reliable.Your panic was caused by a NVidia graphics read error.That could be hardware, it could be an NVidia driver bug.Since there haven&#x27;t been a slew of similar reports as of yet, I&#x27;d lean towards a possible hardware issue with your machine.

cozar · Answer

IMac running hot? The Geforce card on these machines have a history.https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3938355

Fustbariclation · Answer

Thank you for this suggestion! I&#x27;ve had a few more crashes and freezes today.The most recent screen break-up happened a few minutes ago.I had taken your tip and am running &#x27;Quartz Debug&#x27; (from the Developer Applications). I&#x27;ve clicked &#x27;Enable Quartz Extreme&#x27; off - and it still happened, even with &#x27;Disable 2D Acceleration&#x27; on.So I clicked on &#x27;Force QuartzGL&#x27; (so both Disable 2D Acceleration and Enable Quartz Extreme are not ticked.This got rid of the screen break-up and has enabled the machine to keep running long enough for me to type this - which is an improvement.I&#x27;ll see how using &#x27;QuartzGL&#x27; instead of &#x27;Quartz Extreme&#x27; helps matters over the next few days - it would be great if this is a fix! If it is, it&#x27;d also be brilliant debug information for Apple Engineers.Now, if this was a problem with the hardware of my graphics card would clicking a button in &#x27;Quartz Debug&#x27; really have such an effect on a hardware error?

cozar · Answer

Don´t really know, but if you startup in Safe mode I seem to recall something about GPU-hardware is disabled and graphics are handled by CPU-software. So, if no crash there it ought to be your card.

Fustbariclation · Answer

If you boot in safe mode it may exclude a hardware component, I agree, and that&#x27;s what may be responsible.Whether you use QuartzGL or Quartz Extreme, though, you&#x27;re still using the GPU, just differently, which would point to a driver error, or, indeed, an error in Quartz Extreme and the way it&#x27;s using the GPU.

Fustbariclation · Answer

Well, the system is still running this morning - and I&#x27;ll be using it quite a bit, if there are going to be any freezes or kernel panics they should happen within the next six hours.I see from the console that there have been some GPU error messages - even with QuartzGL - but they haven&#x27;t crashed the machine or broken up the display. They were:31/07/2012 19:33:21.000 kernel[0]: NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! exception type &#x3D; 0xd &#x3D; GR: SW Notify Error31/07/2012 19:33:21.000 kernel[0]: IOVendorGLContext::ReportGPURestart 31/07/2012 19:33:21.000 kernel[0]: 0000006e31/07/2012 19:33:21.000 kernel[0]: 00200000 00008297 00000474 0000010031/07/2012 19:33:21.000 kernel[0]: 0000047e 00001b0c 1000f010 0000000431/07/2012 19:33:21.000 kernel[0]: 00000000 00000000 0100001131/07/2012 19:33:21.000 kernel[0]: 00000100 0000000031/07/2012 19:33:22.000 kernel[0]: NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! exception type &#x3D; 0xd &#x3D; GR: SW Notify Error31/07/2012 19:33:22.000 kernel[0]: 0000006e31/07/2012 19:33:22.000 kernel[0]: 00200000 00008297 00000474 0000010031/07/2012 19:33:22.000 kernel[0]: 0000047e 00000ff8 00400000 0000000431/07/2012 19:33:22.000 kernel[0]: 00000000 00000000 01bfdc0331/07/2012 19:33:22.000 kernel[0]: 00000100 00000000

cozar · Answer

Crossing fingers..

neosublime1 · Answer

I seem to be experiencing similar issues as well. So far all the panics, have happen while working in Safari. Coincidence? 2009 Mac Pro w/ 3 NVidia GT120s driving 3 Cinema Displays.

seven. · Answer

My MBP was experiencing similar strange behaviour under 10.8.2 . I found a solution for this situation and share this with you, as this may safe you lots of sweat and time.Symptoms:Sometimes in programms, rather irreproducibly, the screen just froze showing interesting psycho patterns. It happend as well when waking from sleep mode. The mouse still moved, so the system lived. I was able to shutdown by pressing the physical power button and guessing where the "Agree" button on the screen was. Also you can cycle down the System safely when logged on from external. I handled that with an iPhone over WLAN using vSSH lite.command:sudo shutdown -h nowAnalysis:- Console mentioned the NVDA channel exceptions with subsequent kernel panic.- The diagnosis in the Repair Center showed no hardware defect- An old system 10.6.8 worked perfectly- A cleanly installed 10.8.2 worked just fine !!!!!!!!!!!!So this already tells you all.Solution:Mirror the drive to an external disk with Recovery HD.- reformat HD- install 10.8 and update to 10.8.2- Migrate the old data to the freshly installed systemMagically the system is stable again.Be aware:- Back up everything before. - Actually I performed the operation on a mirrowed system first. And mirrored it over again- File Vault may cause painLearning:Yes it is the NVDA driver of the onboard graphics.My former system was migrated over many times so this may be a lame foot.But the clean system works, so Apple isn&#x27;t as bad as one may think.I never tried to just restore the backup of 10.8.1, maybe that does the job, too.Yes I do regular backups with TM but I don&#x27;t trust it in real liefe. I just had it as a safety net and didn&#x27;t actually use it.Why this works now, I really can&#x27;t tell. But that shall not be our care, that&#x27;s Apple&#x27;s. Sounds simple but took a while to realize. I hope this helps you.MBP (mid 2009), 4GB, GeForce 9400M - no dedicated Graphics Card !

neosublime1 · Answer

Okay, I believe I may have solved my issue.The kernel panics were only hapening when I was in Safari. I started watching my actions very closely when a panic happened and I realized I was scrolling at the time of the panic. I use a logitech mouse, and I had the "Logitech Control Center" drivers installed.I uninstalled them, and installed USB Overdrive to add support the extra buttons on my mouse,  and have yet to see another panic!

youclavier · Answer

Hello, could you please be specific how to operate for the solution you provided? I don&#x27;t really understand every step you said such as mirror the drive to external disk with recovery hd?