Please help diagnose kernel panics

Question

Please help diagnose kernel panics

I'm having intermittent kernel panics on an Intel iMac (10.4.8). When they happen, it is always after a hotsync to a Palm Treo 680. I have never installed the Palm software, only MissingSync from MarkSpace. The sync looks like it's succeeded. MissingSync says it was fine, and the Treo has gone back to its normal hotsync screen. But just as that happens the panic occurs (sometimes). My guess is that it's when the Treo disconnects from the USB port. It's connected directly to a port on the back of the iMac. MarkSpace support had nothing obvious to suggest, other than uninstall, reset PRAM, repair disk, reinstall blah, blah. Can't see how this would help.

Anyone know if the Treo needs a USB driver as such, that would presumably be supplied by Macos or MissingSync? The panic report follows. Any pointers gratefully accepted!

panic(cpu 1 caller 0x001A3135): Unresolved kernel trap (CPU 1, Type 14=page fault), registers:
CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0x00000001, CR3: 0x00dd6000, CR4: 0x000006e0
EAX: 0x00000001, EBX: 0x05249b00, ECX: 0x351e2000, EDX: 0x037ef260
CR2: 0x00000001, EBP: 0x25643d18, ESI: 0x00000000, EDI: 0x0051b840
EFL: 0x00010206, EIP: 0x0039929c, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0x038a0010

Backtrace, Format - Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x25643ae8 : 0x128d1f (0x3c9540 0x25643b0c 0x131df4 0x0)
0x25643b28 : 0x1a3135 (0x3cf1f4 0x1 0xe 0x3cea24)
0x25643c38 : 0x19a8d4 (0x25643c50 0x764fe976 0x20 0x135920)
0x25643d18 : 0x51bab0 (0x5249b00 0x51b840 0x545d000 0x0)
0x25643d48 : 0x532a74 (0x545db00 0x545d000 0x0 0x1a1ec0)
0x25643d68 : 0x3afe9c (0x545d000 0x4ac694 0x25643db8 0x197b11)
0x25643d88 : 0x188174 (0x545d000 0x373a810 0x25643da8 0x19d23a)
0x25643db8 : 0x12b4da (0x48badb4 0x48a08a8 0x0 0x0)
0x25643df8 : 0x124b2b (0x48bad00 0x0 0x18 0x25643edc)
0x25643f08 : 0x1955a1 (0x25643f44 0x0 0x0 0x0)
0x25643fc8 : 0x19ad4e (0x3d26ae0 0x0 0x19d0b5 0x3748880) No mapping exists for frame pointer
Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0xb0080288
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient(2.6.0)@0x52f000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily(2.6.1)@0x515000
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily(2.6.1)@0x515000

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.8.1: Mon Sep 25 19:42:00 PDT 2006; root:xnu-792.13.8.obj~1/RELEASE_I386

Model: iMac5,1, BootROM IM51.0090.B03, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.16 GHz, 2 GB
Graphics: ATI Radeon X1600, ATY,RadeonX1600, PCIe, 128 MB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM1, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz
AirPort: spairport wireless_card_type_airportextreme (0x14E4, 0x87), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (4.80.79.1)
Bluetooth: Version 1.7.9f12, 2 service, 1 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Built-in Ethernet, Ethernet, en0
Serial ATA Device: WDC WD1600JS-40TGB0, 149.05 GB
Parallel ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R UJ-846
USB Device: Built-in iSight, Micron, Up to 480 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: USB2.0 Hub Controller, NEC Corporation, Up to 480 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: Mass Storage Device, Generic, Up to 480 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: Bluetooth HCI, Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: IR Receiver, Apple Computer, Inc., Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA

17" Intel iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Mar 30, 2007 5:26 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Mar 30, 2007 5:43 PM in response to Stephen Dawson1

Whatever the problem is specifically it has something to do with a USB device or driver. You might start by doing what was suggested by MarkSpace support.

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Answer 2

Mar 30, 2007 5:52 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks for that. Do you happen to know whether devices like Palms have specific drivers built into the OS or whether they're supplied by Palm/MarkSpace? Trying to decide where the problem most likely lie's!

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Mar 30, 2007 8:07 PM in response to Stephen Dawson1

All modern USB devices rely upon standard device drivers included with the operating system. OS X has built-in USB device drivers. However, not all USB devices are necessarily compliant.

As for the Treo I have no specific information on any incompatibilities with OS X when used with the proper software. If you use Missing Sync from MarkSpace just be sure you are using the most current version and that you don't also have Palm Desktop software installed as well. There is nothing specific in the panic.log file that points to The Missing Sync software directly, only that the panic was generated in one or more of the USB extensions.

Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on diagnosing kernel panics for more information.

I use Missing Sync with a Palm Tungsten E and it works fine on all my machines.

Do you use any other USB devices and/or USB hubs?

There are many possible causes of kernel panics. Corrupted device drivers and hardware defects are common causes. As I suggested before you would be wise to follow the suggestions given you by MarkSpace support.

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Answer 4

Mar 30, 2007 8:26 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks again, Kappy. I do have a USB hub connected at present, with an iPod dock and memory card reader, but I'm pretty sure this has happened with nothing else connected too. No Palm software has ever been installed on this iMac.

I use Missing Sync on a Powerbook G4 too, with a Treo 650, and I've never had a problem like this on the Mac. All very weird! Unless some other suggestions come up soon, I'll go through all the suggested steps and see what happens.

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Mar 30, 2007 8:32 PM in response to Stephen Dawson1

Well, rather than "guess" I would disconnect all those USB devices and connect the Treo directly to the computer's USB port. Also be sure you are using the universal binary version of Missing Sync version 5.1.2.

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Answer 6

Mar 30, 2007 8:42 PM in response to Kappy

The Treo has always been connected directly to the iMac, not through the hub. The hub is a recent addition. Definitely running MS 5.1.2. Wonder if this is something particular to the 680, it being a newer device?

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Answer 7

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Mar 30, 2007 8:50 PM in response to Stephen Dawson1

That I don't know. Not at all familiar with the Treos. According to MarkSpace the Missing Sync is compatible with that model.

I would still remove other USB devices. There could be an incompatibility between the Treo and the hub even though you don't connect it to the hub.

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Answer 8

Mar 30, 2007 8:55 PM in response to Kappy

Nah, it definitely happened even before I started using the hub. It's very intermittent, which in a way makes it all the more frustrating. Didn't happen for a couple of weeks, then twice in 3 days...

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Answer 9

Mar 30, 2007 11:22 PM in response to Stephen Dawson1

Interesting thing I've found with the 680 vs 650. I installed Growl and Hardware Monitor so I get notifications of USB device connections etc. I find that as soon as I connect the 680's sync cable, it creates a USB connection. The 650 only creates a connection when you actually hotsync.

Now on the 680, when you actually hotsync it disconnects from USB, and immediately reconnects. When the sync completes, it disconnects and immediately reconnects. Starting to wonder whether this very quick disconnect/reconnet is what's causing the problem...

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