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Level 1

10 points

Help me with my suspected kernel panic, please

My 24-inch Late 2006 iMac has been misbehaving lately. I've noticed odd graphic bits and pieces appearing on the screen, sometimes whole patches of weird patterns, sometimes a couple of tiny squares.

I presume this is connected: today I had what I think was a kernel panic, the second one in a few weeks. The machine restarted itself. The report is headed ...

Interval Since Last Panic Report: 1169677 sec

Panics Since Last Report: 1

Anonymous UUID: D9CEC4B4-BB8C-4EE4-9EA8-6E36CFCC5DE9

Tue Feb 12 07:57:21 2013

panic(cpu 1 caller 0x2ceabf): Kernel trap at 0x002f7cf0, type 14=page fault, registers:

CR0: 0x80010033, CR2: 0xff33503c, CR3: 0x199bd000, CR4: 0x00000660

EAX: 0x0c1fc9d4, EBX: 0x66bea393, ECX: 0x07cf7970, EDX: 0x18100000

CR2: 0xff33503c, EBP: 0x012e3bd8, ESI: 0x00000008, EDI: 0xff33501c

EFL: 0x00010282, EIP: 0x002f7cf0, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0x00000010

Error code: 0x00000000 ...

Does that tell anyone anything that might help me resolve this?

I'd be grateful for some guidance.

iMac 24-inch

Posted on Feb 12, 2013 12:27 AM

25 replies

TildeBee

Level 7

31,917 points

Feb 16, 2013 1:30 PM in response to nigmia

I stopped even opening Console unless something bad happens. They are all notations in there, and very difficult to read. Just be patient. If there is a KP, that report will tell us what's wrong.

nigmia Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 16, 2013 2:35 PM in response to TildeBee

OK, Bee, got it. Fingers still crossed but typing prtey well nonetheless ...

nigmia Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 17, 2013 9:47 AM in response to raunok

OK, panic at bay, I hope.

But I'm still getting these apparently random graphic squares and patterns within windows and odd chunks of windows coming adrift.

Not all the time, by any means, but just now and again.

So I'm now assuming the SMC Fan Control makes no difference.

Is there anything else to be done - or is it time to think of a new machine? This iMac is six or so years old, after all, which I know is completely ancient in computer years, and I do use it pretty hard every day.

Do I give in?

TildeBee

Level 7

31,917 points

Feb 17, 2013 7:36 PM in response to nigmia

nigmia --

Your question isn't addressed to me, but I do have some thoughts for you.

The random graphics issues sounds like a graphics card going bad. There's nothing you can do to improve that. It needs to be fixed by Apple, IMHO.

If, for some really weird reason, it's the result of bad software, your likely culprits remain:

com.rogueamoeba.hermes 4.1.0

com.logmein.driver.LogMeInSoundDriver 1.0.0

com.rogueamoeba.HermesAudio 4.1.0

com.AmbrosiaSW.AudioSupport 4.1.2

jp.plentycom.driver.SteerMouse 4.1.4

You keep stating that you have no rogueamoeba apps on there, but you most certainly do. They show up on your report twice.

If it were my Mac, I would dump all of the above. Find out of they can be just trashed, or if they need to be uninstalled.

That info can be found on their websites.

Kernel Panics are very serious. They can permanently damage your Hard Drive.

As to your question as to whether your Mac is still viable -- I have the same year's iMac. It a work horse! I would love a new one, but I can't justify it. It just keeps "going, and going and going . . ." It's on the latest OS, as well.

I think your machine is very much still viable, but I would take it in and have them check out the graphics card and the logic board.

But only after you've really deleted all the crap software on there, and at least you are positive they are not causing your problems.

Hang in . . .

nigmia Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 19, 2013 12:59 AM in response to TildeBee

Thanks again, Bee, that's all interesting.

I did eventually find some Rogue A files, which I deleted. I also got rid of Logmein, unistalled the audiosupport bit of Ambrosia's Wiretap Studio, and dumped Steermouse (and put in Microsfot's Intellipoint instead to control my MS mouse).

Now, a little later, i'm getting odd noises from the iMac's hard drive. Not the dreaded ticking, but an almost whistling, squeaking noise every so often. Not particularly related to any activity. Not good, anyway, I suppose. I fear my machine is dying, despite what you say about its warhorse qualities.

Do you think the drive noise is related? I know that's hard to say, but I note what you say about kernel panics being able to damage drives.

Are Apple likely to look at a six-or-so-year-old machine?

Sorry, all these questions, but I'm very worried now.