How do I solve (eliminate) a recurring Kernal Panic that I can predict?

[tahoedrew]

Originally I thought my Kernal Panics in my PowerBook 1.67 DL were being caused by a bad RAM chip http://forums.macresource.com/read/1/273...msg-273322, but I managed to eliminate that as the source by booting up with only the original 512MB RAM chip and duplicating what I did the last time I got a kernal panic - and I still got one, so I'm thinking it can't be the RAM.

I've now been able to reproduce what I do when I get the KP and predict it happening.

I cloned the drive with SuperDuper and booted off the cloned FW drive and reproduced the KP as predicted as well.

When I'm running safari I minimize the app and close the PowerBook. Upon opening the PBook the machine KP's. It does not do it with any other application that I've found, and it doesn't do it if I leave Safari up before closing the lid.

Is there anything that I can do about the problem or is the only solution to nuke and pave the internal HD and then copy over my documents only from the cloned drive (I'm assuming here that if I copy over the applications I'll get what appears to be a corrupt Safari application as well).

Thanks for any help,
~A

[PeterB]

DiskWarrior?

It sounds like a corrupt pref file of some sort... cloning it may just duplicate the damaged file... I had something like you were describing once, and the problem turned out to be hard drive damage...

[Joey Cupcakes]

Have you tried creating a new user profile and seeing if you the new identity cab reproduce the problem?

If yes, then yo might want to do an archive and install of the system.

If no, then delete everything in the Users/Home/Library/Safari folder (you may want to hang on to the bookmarks file) and the file Users/Home/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist .

Good luck!

[viaripatti]

Your running OSX 10.4.3-6? There was an issue with my MDD panics when running an older OS. It is documented with some Macs and the solution was to upgrade to 10.4.8. It DID solve my problem.

[BLeonard]

I have a Powerbook G4 that was given to me by a school that was having frequent intermittent kernel panics. They wanted me to reimage it. It failed an erase and install and disk first aid wouldn't repair it. I used Disk Warrior which appeared to repair the directory but another attempt to install Tiger with a complete erase still brought up a Kernel Panic. I'm assuming hardware is the problem with this Powerbook but am not sure what to replace.

[Mike Johnson]

You could check your panic log and see if it names the culprit. It's probably cryptic and no help, but it's worth a peek.

/Library/Logs/panic.log

[tahoedrew]

I wasn't able to reproduce the problem in a new user, but deleting the plist file and all the files under the Users/Home/Library/Safari folder (except the bookmarks) didn't help either.

I only have DW 2.1, so I'll have to purchase the upgrade. At least I know how to prevent the KP's.

Thanks,
~A

[SteveO]

Drew, you may also want to check the Apple PB G4 support forums if you haven't already. Chances are good that someone else has had this problem.

[Joey Cupcakes]

[quote tahoedrew]I wasn't able to reproduce the problem in a new user, but deleting the plist file and all the files under the Users/Home/Library/Safari folder (except the bookmarks) didn't help either.

I only have DW 2.1, so I'll have to purchase the upgrade. At least I know how to prevent the KP's.

Thanks,
~A
While I would never discourage anyone from upgrading and using Disk Warrior, I doubt it will fix this problem. There is an errant file somewhere in your user profile. An Archive & Install might still help (less likely now that you've tried the new user), but if it's not too much trouble you might want to set yourself up as that new user from this point.

[Monster]

or it could just be that the internal memory is going bad.