kernal panics
Aaron
I was wondering if anyone can help me out. Im running a 1.8GHZ single core G5. My problem is whenever I run TenFourfox I get random kernal panics. I have tested multiple versions, I have cleared deleted the cache in my library, I have no idea whats going on. Nobody else seems to have this problem. While randomly browsing the web, I get the "you need to restart your computer message." Im pretty sure its software related, because ive never get kernal panics unless I run tenfourfox. Can anybody help? I much prefer this browser over Safari, because it doesn't bog down with multiple tabs open. Thanks
Keyboard shortcuts
Generic
| ? | Show this help |
|---|---|
| ESC | Blurs the current field |
Comment Form
| r | Focus the comment reply box |
|---|---|
| ^ + ↩ | Submit the comment |
You can use Command ⌘ instead of Control ^ on Mac
Support Staff 1 Posted by Cameron Kaiser on May 08, 2012 @ 01:49 AM
This post is coming from a quad 2.5 G5 and TenFourFox has never exhibited any such behaviour, nor on the dual 2.5 that a friend is using.
TenFourFox stresses the hardware and memory more than many other apps. Your problem suggests either RAM or the logic board. If the front LEDs show a red light when the kernel panics, you may have an impending hardware failure. If you have Apple Hardware Test or Applejack available, consider checking your RAM as well, since that is easier to correct.
On some marginal G5s, downgrading to 10.4 from 10.5 has bought users some time, but these machines will eventually fail also.
2 Posted by Aaron on May 08, 2012 @ 02:19 AM
Thanks for your quick reply. It is possible that RAM is the problem, because it was upgraded several months ago. But wouldnt I get kernal panics while running other apps too, if it was the RAM? I am also a little confused what you mean by "red light." The only light on my G5 box is the, white restart light on the front. It has always remained white. Also how does downgrading the operating system, fix this problem if it is a hardware issue? I do understand though, that my G5 is a little outdated considering its only a single core. I guess I will try the apple hardware test, but I hear it doesn't work very well. Once again thanks very much!
-Aaron
Support Staff 3 Posted by Cameron Kaiser on May 08, 2012 @ 02:35 AM
The G5 should have status LEDs at the front of the unit (inside the case, visible through the vent holes). They are different from the usual white power LED. If the red light comes on when it panics, that is usually a bad sign. If the red light is on all the time (which fortunately does not seem to be the case here), that is almost always a bad sign. They are normally off. The later G5s have even more, but all G5s have the red LED.
Downgrading the OS doesn't do anything to fix the hardware; it merely takes the load off the unit and requires less memory.
Early G5s had a higher than normal amount of memory failures; see http://www.macintouch.com/reliability/pmg5.html , unless you replaced the factory RAM entirely when you upgraded it.
4 Posted by Aaron Wisner on Jun 11, 2012 @ 07:41 PM
I finally got another kernal panic today, actually I got two. I searched all over for these status LED's and even took off the cover, but didnt find anything, so I assume they arnt turning on. Also a couple of moths ago I ran the apple hardware test overnight on a endless loop, it didnt find anything. The strange thing was the kernal panic I got today, I wasn't even using Tenfourfox. It was just open in the background without any web pages loaded. What does my g5 have against Tenfourfox? I dont know how to find the bad Ram (of thats the problem). I normally only get a kernel panic no more then once a week (even though I got two today). So it will take ages to test individual chips of Ram.Thanks a lot for your help earlier.
-aaron
Support Staff 5 Posted by Chris (chtrusch... on Jun 11, 2012 @ 08:55 PM
If you get kernel panics as much as once a week, I'd say from my ~10 years experience that this is highly unusual with Mac OS X. Your computer probably has nothing against TenFourFox, you have a hardware failure (RAM or logicboard, as suggested), or a misbehaving kernel extension (Logitech mouse driver comes to mind) or a failing external USB device (which is again a hardware problem) that's causing your problems. With a clean Mac OS X and healthy hardware, anything above 1-2 kernel panics a year is something I'd worry about.
6 Posted by Aaron Wisner on Jun 11, 2012 @ 09:55 PM
Thanks for the quick reply. I understand that, but I just find it strange that I only get kernel panics while TenFourFox is open. Not once have I gotten a kernel panic when it wasn't. I understand TFF is quite taxing on the hardware, but I have ran plenty of hard tasks through this G5 such as encoding HD movies, and not once have I gotten a kernel panic. Thanks, I will look into testing the RAM.
Support Staff 7 Posted by Chris (chtrusch... on Sep 04, 2012 @ 02:52 PM
Aaron, did anything emerge from the RAM tests?
8 Posted by Aaron Wisner on Sep 04, 2012 @ 06:48 PM
No, I ran the test on loop overnight, and it didn't find any problems. But apples Ram test is known not to be very good anyways.
9 Posted by Cool Hand on Dec 17, 2012 @ 11:13 PM
I have the same problem.
Aaron stated earlier that he got a kernel panic when he wasn't even running tenfourfox.
Then below he said he has never gotten one when he wasn't.
Please clarify.
Second, I replaced my RAM a while back and now I get the RESTART your mac gray screen of death once a week. I had some new replacement RAM fail before, and I suspect that is the case now.
10 Posted by Aaron on Dec 18, 2012 @ 01:12 AM
I think your a little confused. It was still running when I got the kernel panic, just in the background with a few windows open. I just was checking my email I think from the built in Mac email program. That was a long time ago. I eventually stopped getting kernel panics.
Don't ask me how but shortly after I last posted it just went away, I didn't have to replace RAM or anything. I did go into my system library and delete anything that had to do with firefox/tenfourfox in case it was interfering, so T4FF could create new ones. I'm not sure if that was the fix, but I stopped getting KP's around that time. But how you describe it sounds like your RAM is bad, I'd remove it and see if the problem goes away.
11 Posted by wellano on Dec 21, 2012 @ 06:19 PM
I have a Mac Mini G4 running OS 10.4.11, and the same problem. When I start TenFour Fox, I almost every time get the dark screen with the "you have to restart" button. After restart, T4F works fine.
My Mini is in original condition since 2005, I never opened it or replaced parts.
12 Posted by Cool Hand on Dec 21, 2012 @ 09:18 PM
I am starting to suspect T4F as well...
I will leave it off the next few days and see if things panic.
plus, I run internet radio through iTunes all afternoon while I work...
and I've begun to suspect that IT might have something to do with the mix....
maybe it doesn't play well with T4F... or who knows.
I may have mis-perceived the relationship.
I tried a RAM test using applejack, and something went wrong.... it appears to have locked up or gone south during the RAM test.
I will try again and post.
Support Staff 13 Posted by Cameron Kaiser on Dec 21, 2012 @ 09:36 PM
Although I appreciate the concerns, it's going to be next to impossible to distinguish this from hardware failure without a reliable means of reproduction. I haven't ever had a kernel panic from TenFourFox on the 4 test machines, though I can certainly panic them with weird USB devices, bad RAM (the fileserver had a bad stick), and other hardware or driver issues.