Kernel Panic and Application Crashes when Accessing a Folder

Question

Hi,
I originally posted in the iTunes forum (http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=252516&tstart=75) with this problem as it was in iTunes where I first noted the issue. However since then I have discovered it is a system wide issue.
Everytime I try to access a specific folder, my iTunes Music folder, whichever application is accessing it will crash. Finder crashes when trying to view the folder, and other apps will crash when trying to open from or save to that folder. There will be no crash reporter when they crash either. I have also experienced two kernel panics, one when iTunes was playing, and another when Tech Tools Pro was doing its surface scan. The folder is on one of my two FW800 connected external hard drives. The kernel panic looks like this:
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x002478C8): hfs: block mark free: trying to free non-existent blocks (-1094886590 -1078469906 39039948)
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x00095698 0x00095BB0 0x0002683C 0x002478C8 0x00246F00 0x00245258 0x002453A8 0x00246150
0x0022AE54 0x0022B068 0x00220AD4 0x000FD688 0x000E8058 0x000E7FA0 0x000F0D64 0x002A9BF4
0x000ABE30 0x4D4C4C4C
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2E2EE500)
PC=0x90027ECC; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0xF0077300; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x92914CD0; R1=0xF00FEC00; XCP=0x00000030 (0xC00 - System call)
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.3.0: Mon Oct 3 20:04:04 PDT 2005; root:xnu-792.6.22.obj~2/RELEASE_PPCModel: PowerBook5,2, BootROM 4.7.1f1, 1 processors, PowerPC G4 (1.1), 1.25 GHz, 1 GB
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 9600, ATY,RV350M10, AGP, 64 MB
Memory Module: SODIMM0/J25LOWER, 512 MB, DDR SDRAM, PC2700U-25330
Memory Module: SODIMM1/J25UPPER, 512 MB, DDR SDRAM, PC2700U-25330
AirPort: AirPort Extreme, 404.2 (3.90.34.0.p16)
Modem: LastDash, UCJ, V.92, 4.0, APPLE VERSION 2.6.6
Bluetooth: Version 1.6.6f22, 2 service, 1 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Built-in Ethernet, Ethernet, en0
PCI Card: TXN,PCIXXXX-00, cardbus, PC Card
Parallel ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R UJ-816,
Parallel ATA Device: HTS548080M9AT00, 74.53 GB
USB Device: Bluetooth HCI, , Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: Kensington PocketMouse Pro, Kensington, Up to 1.5 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: psc 1310 series, hp, Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA
FireWire Device: 6B200P0, Initio, Up to 800 Mb/sec
I am not entirely sure as to what this means or how to deal with it. I am able to access the folder via terminal, but there are 2700 folders within my iTunes Music folder and 23137 songs, so it could take me a very long time to find the exact file or folder which is causing me problems. I could potentially have enough disk space should a backup be required but it would be backed up to 3 different drives and would be close. That is assuming of course that I would not experience the same panic when accessing the area. Can anyone help me with this?
Powerbook G4 1.25Ghz   Mac OS X (10.4.3)  

Answer 1

The first phase:
Since the Kernel Panic is temporarily a state of suspended animation because of a safe-boot solution, try the next step. This is a pre-caution to avoid any failures during ongoing troubleshooting.
After safe-boot, launch System Profiler and select /Software/Extensions/ directory in Contents (on the left column ) menu. Next, open /System/Library/Extensions/ folder by Go to Folder command or by manual. Compare the both contents. You'll see System Profiler shows less kernel extensions than /System/Library/Extensions/ folder. There are ".kext" files that are not shown in the loaded Extensions directory. If there is a most suspect third-party extension (perhaps FireWire's driver), try removing out of the folder to a temporary made folder on the desktop-- you may be prompted the admin or login password.
The second phase:
TechTool Pro fixed a file structure error in one file on the main drive, and some bad custom icons or bad bundle bits error now lie on on the main and one of your secondary drives, but not the previous problems. Also, you still cannot access that folder, however folders within that folder you can get to just fine, via the Go To Folder command or reveal in finder from iTunes.
Those symptoms appear to suggest that some directories structure and the volume information other than the main drive have lost their consistencies and a directory may be no longer accessible for some reason which happened before or during the Kernel Panic. Techtool Pro 4.0.6 seems to not be able to fix those problems. So if you have DiskWarrior 3.0.3, run it and hopefully fix them. If you do not have it, try the followings.
Connect the external FireWire drive in question, then boot into a Safe-mode. If this does not work well, first boot into a Safe-mode then connect the device.
Launch Terminal utility. Type diskutil list at the prompt. Here is an example to be displayed:
MyMachine:~ Myself$ diskutil list
/dev/disk0
#: type name size identifier
0: Applepartitionscheme *233.8 GB disk0
1: Applepartitionmap 31.5 KB disk0s1
2: Apple_HFS MacOSX_HD 70.7 GB disk0s3
3: Apple_HFS Data_HD 162.8 GB disk0s5
/dev/disk1
#: type name size identifier
0: Applepartitionscheme *111.8 GB disk1
1: Applepartitionmap 31.5 KB disk1s1
2: Apple_HFS Data21HD 69.9 GB disk1s3
3: Apple_HFS Debugger_HD 41.6 GB disk1s5
Find the disk identifier that points the external device in question. Type sudo fsck_hfs -fy /dev/disk1s3 if the target drive would be disk1s3. If the result shows you like below, the symptoms may be fixed.
MyMachine:~ Myself$ sudo fsck_hfs -fy /dev/disk1s3
** /dev/rdisk1s3
** Checking HFS Plus volume.
** Checking Extents Overflow file.
** Checking Catalog file.
** Checking Catalog hierarchy.
** Checking Extended Attributes file.
** Checking volume bitmap.
** Checking volume information.
** The volume Data21HD appears to be OK.
If the above solution fails, boot into a Single-user-mode and perform the same way as above-- a "sudo" parameter MIGHT not be needed to type.
The third phase:
Start up from Mac OS X 10.4.x Install disc. Launch Disk Utility program. Try repairing the target volume(s) on the external device and then repair the permissions.
If the above solution fails to fix all filesystem problems on that volume, then you may need to abandon hope some file or folder in question to trash it/them. Of course, I do not hope so.…
Also, when I booted into Safe Mode it started up the volume menubar item as usual but I had no sound... Is this normal during a Safe boot?
Certain Mac OS X features do not work when you are started up in Safe Mode. For example, you can't use DVD Player, capture video in iMovie, use an AirPort card, use audio input or output devices, or use an internal or external USB modem.
So it should be no problem on this matter.