YoganB

Q: It keeps restarting, debugging panic

Hi,

I only have access to the serial number. So this is what I found online

MacBook Pro 15" - Mid 2009

Model Number A1286

RAM 4GB

Storage 320 GB

Processor: 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo


We have updated to OS X El Capitan about 1-2 months ago. I can't say for sure if it is the latest version.

 

Source: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2 .66-aluminum-15-mid-2009-sd-unibody-spec…

 

This is my mom's computer. I asked her what happened. They were watching Netflix. The video was not playing, yet the audio was working. The application, firefox, was frozen. They did a forced shutdown. When they turned it on. The computer showed the loading the bar. It was going really slow which was unusual to my mom. They, my mom and her friend, had waited for a long time. Usually or normally it would be quicker according to her. I told her to try shutting it down again and turn it on again. And this time I told her to leave it until it loaded all the way even if it takes all night, and if it doesn't work then there is a serious problem.

 

So later in the night my mom said she saw that the loading bar reached the end but then

 

I spoke with an Apple Technician (I don't know the proper title) and he walked with me to the do the following steps:

1. Access Safe Mode Hold Shift     --took 5-7 minutes to reach 60% load then proceeded to restart--

2. Clear the NVRAM Hold Command, Option, P and R  -- the computer did restart instantly as supposed to with this action, but at 60% load it also restarted.

3. Start up in Recovery Mode Hold Command and R  -- took 20 minutes to load to 100% but it is frozen/stuck there for 8 minutes. The fans are on high, and the laptop feels hot to touch --

 

On my own, I accessed Verbose mode with Command and V. -- this did work!!! -- I looked through the text to look for any errors. The 4th from the bottom line read:  disk0s2: I/O error

I looked this up online, including here on the apple support forum, and I got a general sense or idea of what could be wrong and what could fix it, and also the possibility that it can't be fixed.

 

Right before the computer would restart it would display a message on the left hand side. It was really quick/short, 20 secs, so I decided to take a video of it so I can view the still frames. I took a still frame of the picture to upload here.

 

I notice that it would display something slightly different if I would leave it to restart a second time.

 

Screen Shot 2016-05-31 at 11.51.35 AM.png

 

I looked up the following code because they seemed significant:

Process 1 exec of /sbin/Launched failed, errno 8"@/Library


I also looked up the meaning of Debugger panic


I also tried the following on my own:

Open Diagnostics Tool Hold D   ---Didn't open, same problem as above--

 

I haven't tried starting in Singular user mode yet. At this point I wanted to share what I have found, to get help.

 

On one website I read that having the storage space that reaches its capacity, can lead to a Panic Kernal

http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/lackofram.html

Based on what I know of my mom, and how she uses the computer, it is a possibility she might have used the storage space to a dangerously low level for work. The only lines of code that could suggest this is the case is this:

Failed to open swap file 30

vm_swap_create_file failed @ 133 secs

Failed to open swap file 30

vm_swap_create_file failed @ 222 secs

Debugger called <panic>

I know that vm stands for Virtual Memory. The Above code appeared as an addition within the code in the above picture, however it only appeared when I left it to restart.

 

During my tests, the following screen and message appeared 2-3 times, not every time: Your computer restarted because of a problem. Press a key or wait a few seconds to continue start up. OS X: When your computer spontaneously restarts or displays "Your computer restarted because of a problem." - Apple Supp…

 

 

What steps shall I try next?


Is it worthwhile reinstalling El Capitan? Is that even possible given the state of my computer? If it is worthwhile how do I do it? Should I bring this into the Apple Repair and they can do it?

 

Is there a way to test/know what the storage space is left on the computer, to rule out that as a cause?

 

What are things I haven't considered yet?

 

Because I was able to access Verbose Mode, one time (I haven't tried again), is there a way to use this to do something, to test something out, fix something, or to gather more information? However, I had 3 minutes in Verbose mode before the computer continued to restart itself.


Thank you Kindly,

Yogan

MacBook Pro, El Capitan.

Posted on May 31, 2016 12:27 PM

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Q: It keeps restarting, debugging panic

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 31, 2016 6:44 PM in response to YoganB
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    May 31, 2016 6:44 PM in response to YoganB

    The startup drive is failing, or there is some other internal hardware fault.

    Back up all data on the drive immediately if you don't already have a current backup. There are ways to back up a computer that isn't fully functional—ask if you need guidance.

    Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

    If privacy is a concern, erase the data partition(s) with the option to write zeros* (do this only if you have at least two complete, independent backups, and you know how to restore to an empty drive from any of them.) Don’t erase the recovery partition, if present.

    Keep your confidential data secure during hardware repair.

    Apple recommends that you deauthorize a device in the iTunes Store before having it serviced.

    *An SSD doesn't need to be zeroed.

  • by YoganB,

    YoganB YoganB Jun 1, 2016 6:03 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 1, 2016 6:03 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Hi Linc, thanks for responding.

     

    The data isn't backed up yet. I don't know how to backup the data with the computer's current state. So I do need some help to do that.

    I made a Genius appointment for Thursday, tomorrow. Will they be able to backup the information for us? Am I correct to assume that the more time passes the greater chance there is to lose information on the computer? So I should back it up right away? We do have a portal hard drive.

     

    Privacy isn't a concern. And my mom doesn't use her itunes account, meaning she hasn't purchased anything. The information on there is very important to her.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jun 1, 2016 7:28 PM in response to YoganB
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    Jun 1, 2016 7:28 PM in response to YoganB

    There are several ways to back up a Mac that is not fully functional. You need an external hard drive or other storage device to hold the data.

    1. Start up from the Recovery partition, or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) When the OS X Utilities screen appears, launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article. You'll be "restoring" the startup volume to the backup volume.

    If you use FileVault 2, then you must first unlock the startup volume. Select its icon ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name.) It will be nested below another disk icon. Select Unlock from the File menu. Enter your login password when prompted.

    2. If Method 1 fails because of disk errors, then you may be able to salvage some of your files by copying them in the Finder. If you already have an external drive with OS X installed, start up from it. Otherwise, if you have Internet access, follow the instructions on this page to prepare the external drive and install OS X on it. You'll use the Recovery installer, rather than downloading it from the App Store.

    3. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, start the non-working Mac in target disk mode. If one Mac has Thunderbolt and the other has FireWire, you need a FireWire cable and an adapter. A Retina MacBook (2015 or later model) with a USB-C port can also be started in target disk mode and connected to another Mac using a USB cable and another adapter.

    Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive.

    This technique won't work with USB (except on a Retina MacBook), Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. Note that a Retina MacBook Pro (with Thunderbolt) is different from a Retina MacBook, and it can't be connected to another Mac via USB in target disk mode.

    4. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.