Deleted AppleHWSensor.kext. Is this bad?

Question

I recently was getting kernel panics on my Mac Pro. The report put the AppleHWSensor.kext as the culprit. I recently removed it from Extensions and the kernel panics seem to have stopped.Is this "kext" file important?Am I damaging my system by not having it?What does it do?Best and THANKS for any help,KevinIn a 3+ year committed relationship with an Early 2009 Mac ProOSX 10.8.1 | 2.66 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon | 16GB RAM

kevloucat · Answer

I just found this:https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1511191?answerId&#x3D;7157590022#7157590022But it doesn&#x27;t answer the question of whether I&#x27;m damaging my system with its absence.Best,Kevin

Grant Bennet-Alder · Answer

You have solved the kernel panic reporting my taking a portion of your Mac&#x27;s Brain and removing it. That is not a good solution.The kernel extension you removed is vital for panic reporting and temperature control, as well as memory error accounting. You need it back. If you Trashed it, you may need to re-install Mac OS X to restore it.Kernel panics are like "suicide notes", and are stored in a log when the kernel cannot continue. That note still exists in your logs. If you can read out the log and post the text of the kernel panic here, Readers can examine it and see if the problem can be determined.Mac OS X: How to log a kernel panic

kevloucat · Answer

I placed the AppleHWSensor.kext file back in the extensions folder. I had it moved to another location.Once the kernel panic happens again, I&#x27;ll post the report and see what happens!Thanks for the information!Kevin

Grant Bennet-Alder · Answer

There is no need to wait, kernel panic logs are stored.Use the article to get the previous one and post it.

kevloucat · Answer

All right. It happened about 5 minutes ago. Here&#x27;s the report. Is the "last loaded kext" the thing I should be looking at?Thanks!KevinInterval Since Last Panic Report:  205214 secPanics Since Last Report:          1Anonymous UUID:                    300EE43F-9F5E-478A-A738-158466678DECMon Sep 17 23:01:35 2012panic(cpu 2 caller 0xffffff801a4b7b95): Kernel trap at 0xffffff7f9bbdf975, type 13&#x3D;general protection, registers:CR0: 0x0000000080010033, CR2: 0xffffff821430d000, CR3: 0x000000001ccf6000, CR4: 0x0000000000000660RAX: 0xffffff804ff1b400, RBX: 0xffffff8044649800, RCX: 0xffffff803cbab841, RDX: 0x0000000000000000RSP: 0xffffff81eac8bd90, RBP: 0xffffff81eac8bdb0, RSI: 0xffffff804fecdd00, RDI: 0xffffff804fecdd00R8:  0x0000000000000cf0, R9:  0x0000000000000000, R10: 0x00000000000195b4, R11: 0x00000000ffffffffR12: 0x0000000000000001, R13: 0xffffff81ba9610b4, R14: 0xffffff81ba961000, R15: 0xffffff804986a800RFL: 0x0000000000010286, RIP: 0xffffff7f9bbdf975, CS:  0x0000000000000008, SS:  0x0000000000000010Fault CR2: 0xffffff821430d000, Error code: 0x0000000000000000, Fault CPU: 0x2Backtrace (CPU 2), Frame : Return Address0xffffff81eac8ba30 : 0xffffff801a41d5f6 0xffffff81eac8baa0 : 0xffffff801a4b7b95 0xffffff81eac8bc70 : 0xffffff801a4ce4ad 0xffffff81eac8bc90 : 0xffffff7f9bbdf975 0xffffff81eac8bdb0 : 0xffffff7f9bbdf6f3 0xffffff81eac8be00 : 0xffffff7f9bbdf6ab 0xffffff81eac8be50 : 0xffffff7f9bbdf936 0xffffff81eac8be80 : 0xffffff7f9bbc45d2 0xffffff81eac8bed0 : 0xffffff7f9bbc259f 0xffffff81eac8bef0 : 0xffffff801a847078 0xffffff81eac8bf30 : 0xffffff801a845b8a 0xffffff81eac8bf80 : 0xffffff801a845cb9 0xffffff81eac8bfb0 : 0xffffff801a4b2677       Kernel Extensions in backtrace:         com.apple.GeForce(8.0)[4B9BE287-5251-398E-96B0-BB16C9BFB2D9]@0xffffff7f9bbbe000 -&gt;0xffffff7f9bc80fff            dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(8.0.0)[6A699209-FB98-316B-A3C0-DCA82AA8C86B]@0xffffff7f9ab 43000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.3.4)[99CA4184-8D92-31B2-8726-46139E8E3DFF]@0xff ffff7f9ab2f000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.7)[8C9E06A4-13D0-33F5-A377-9E36F0ECC229]@0xffffff 7f9aa4d000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.4)[2600903C-EEDE-321B-A023-169DC9B26EA6]@0 xffffff7f9aaec000BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_taskMac OS version:12B19Kernel version:Darwin Kernel Version 12.1.0: Tue Aug 14 13:29:55 PDT 2012; root:xnu-2050.9.2~1/RELEASE_X86_64Kernel UUID: 3005059E-270B-3B9F-940D-7A66C05DDC9DKernel slide:     0x000000001a200000Kernel text base: 0xffffff801a400000System model name: MacPro4,1 (Mac-F221BEC8)System uptime in nanoseconds: 57614751549947last loaded kext at 38836657595: com.parallels.kext.prl_vnic          7.0 15107.796624 (addr 0xffffff7f9c6c4000, size 20480)last unloaded kext at 102278483131: com.apple.driver.AppleIntel8254XEthernet          3.1.1b1 (addr 0xffffff7f9b64a000, size 69632)loaded kexts:com.parallels.kext.prl_vnic          7.0 15107.796624com.parallels.kext.prl_netbridge          7.0 15107.796624com.parallels.kext.prl_hid_hook          7.0 15107.796624com.parallels.kext.prl_hypervisor          7.0 15107.796624com.parallels.kext.prl_usb_connect          7.0 15107.796624com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor          1.9.5d0com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC          1.60com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager          4.0.9f8com.apple.filesystems.ntfs          3.10com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver          1.0.2d2com.apple.driver.AGPM          100.12.69com.apple.filesystems.autofs          3.0com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver          122com.apple.driver.AppleHDA          2.3.0f2com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet          1.0.0d1com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver          2.3.0f2com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X          7.0.0com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl          3.2.6com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin          1.0.0com.apple.driver.AppleLPC          1.6.0com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHCIControllerUSBTransport          4.0.9f8com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient          3.5.10com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl          1.0.33com.apple.GeForce          8.0.0com.apple.driver.XsanFilter          404com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage          2.2.1com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient          3.5.1com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless          1.0.0d1com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib          1.0.0d1com.apple.BootCache          34com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub          5.1.6com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI          4.9.5com.apple.driver.Intel82574L          2.3.0b4com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331          601.15.21com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort          2.4.0com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI          5.1.5com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI          5.1.5com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM          1.6.1com.apple.driver.AppleRTC          1.5com.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.nke.applicationfirewall          4.0.39com.apple.security.quarantine          2com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement          196.0.0com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily          10.0.6com.apple.kext.triggers          1.0com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib          2.3.0f2com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily          1.8.9fc9com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib          1.6com.apple.iokit.IOSurface          86.0.2com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily          4.0.9f8com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP          2.2.5com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI          1.0.10d0com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl          3.2.6com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy          1.0.0com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily          5.2.0d16com.apple.driver.AppleSMC          3.1.3d11com.apple.iokit.AppleBluetoothHCIControllerUSBTransport          4.0.9f8com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController          2.3.0f2com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily          2.3.0f2com.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.driver.AppleUSBHIDKeyboard          165.5com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard          165.5com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver          5.0.0com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice          3.5.1com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub          5.1.5com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass          3.5.0com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite          5.0.0com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice          3.5.1com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily          1.7com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily          1.7.1com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily          1.7.1com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI          2.5.0com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily          3.5.1com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient          5.0.0com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily          4.5.5com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family          500.15com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily          3.0com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily          2.2.0com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily          5.1.6com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime          1.6.1com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily          1.8.0com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily          1.1com.apple.security.sandbox          220com.apple.kext.AppleMatch          1.0.0d1com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet          7com.apple.driver.DiskImages          344com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily          1.8com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore          28.18com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform          1.6com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily          2.7com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily          1.4com.apple.kec.corecrypto          1.0Model: MacPro4,1, BootROM MP41.0081.B07, 4 processors, Quad-Core Intel Xeon, 2.66 GHz, 16 GB, SMC 1.39f5Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 120, NVIDIA GeForce GT 120, PCIe, 512 MBGraphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 120, NVIDIA GeForce GT 120, PCIe, 512 MBMemory Module: DIMM 1, 4 GB, DDR3 ECC, 1066 MHz, 0x857F, 0x463732353155363446393333334700000000Memory Module: DIMM 2, 4 GB, DDR3 ECC, 1066 MHz, 0x857F, 0x463732353155363446393333334700000000Memory Module: DIMM 3, 4 GB, DDR3 ECC, 1066 MHz, 0x857F, 0x463732353155363446393333334700000000Memory Module: DIMM 4, 4 GB, DDR3 ECC, 1066 MHz, 0x857F, 0x463732353155363446393333334700000000AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x8E), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.98.81.21)Bluetooth: Version 4.0.9f8 10405, 2 service, 18 devices, 1 incoming serial portsNetwork Service: Wi-Fi, AirPort, en2PCI Card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 120, sppci_displaycontroller, Slot-2PCI Card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 120, sppci_displaycontroller, Slot-1Serial ATA Device: HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GH41NSerial ATA Device: WDC WD6400AAKS-41H2B0, 640.14 GBSerial ATA Device: ST31000333AS, 1 TBUSB Device: LaCie Hard Drive USB, 0x059f  (LaCie), 0x1018, 0xfa200000 / 2USB Device: HL-2270DW series, 0x04f9  (Brother International Corporation), 0x0042, 0xfd300000 / 3USB Device: Keyboard Hub, apple_vendor_id, 0x1006, 0xfd100000 / 2USB Device: USB Receiver, 0x046d  (Logitech Inc.), 0xc526, 0xfd130000 / 5USB Device: Apple Keyboard, apple_vendor_id, 0x0220, 0xfd120000 / 4USB Device: BRCM2046 Hub, 0x0a5c  (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0x5a100000 / 2USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, apple_vendor_id, 0x8215, 0x5a110000 / 3FireWire Device: built-in_hub, 800mbit_speed

japamac · Answer

Try removing one of the Geforce graphics cards.If it still panics, swap out the other card.BTW, that kext only aids in the reporting of temperatures, graphics cards in particular.It doesn&#x27;t hurt cooling functions, only reporting sensors.A system without the kext will run fine, but one won&#x27;t be able to use temperature reporting software.If a graphics card temp sensor is failing/ has failed, a panic is quite possible.Geforce temp sensors have been known to cause issues in the past.Also, does this problem only occur when running Parallels, or not?