I'm sick and tired of Kernel Panics!

Question

I can't deal with this machine anymore. I realize that I have a four year old macbook that isn't the world's fastest machine, but after four years, this thing should still be able to hang. Unfortunately, it can't. I'm getting kernel panics at the silliest of times, lately the offense seems to be that my screen saver DARES to turn on (and no, it's not a third party screensaver - it's a native MAC screensaver). My fan is ALWAYS running, it seems, and I'm getting CPU spikes all over the place. If it's not crashing when the screen saver is active, it's crashing because flash pushes the CPU usage too high. If it's not freaking out then, it's freaking out when the CPU decides to spike when running Ableton live 8.01 into a presonus firebox; the CPU spikes, the audio freezes up, the firebox loses its connection to the computer, and everything hangs for a minute or so.
I'm not running any insane 3rd party software or hacks, everything is up to date, I run cron jobs all the time to keep things fresh, I run Onyx and repair permissions all the time, my disk is in fine order, I'm running 10.5.8, and yet, this machine is turning into a freaking brick. I'm not an idiot, I know more than I need to know about computers to know that this thing should be a lot more stable than it is. It's never been dropped, never had water damage, never been mistreated.
I've been in and out of the genius bar bringing this issue up multiple times, having run memory tests and other barrages of tests both on my own at the apple store to test for issues, and no, nothing's been found, but this machine just seems to get worse and worse. Of course, now my applecare has run out, so I'm SOL anyway if anything hardware related really is wrong with this machine, which I still believe it is.
This machine started with 10.4 installed on it, and I updated to 10.5. There were no issues in the update.
The only thing that I can think of doing is reinstalling OS X, but I REALLY don't want to do that right now. I have too many projects I'm working on, I can't take the full day it'll take to reinstall EVERY single piece of software that I have. I know that I'll have to do a full clean reinstall, because doing an archive and reinstall will only carry over software problems, if there are any.
I realize the good things that come with a clean install, but like I say, I really, really don't have time for it right now, and I can't say when I will, being that this machine is how I make my living. So what am I supposed to do?
Here's last night's crash report:
Process: HPIO Trap Monitor [97]
Path: /Library/Printers/hp/hpio/HPIO Trap Monitor.app/Contents/MacOS/HPIO Trap Monitor
Identifier: HPIO Trap Monitor
Version: ??? (???)
Code Type: X86 (Native)
Parent Process: launchd [1]
Date/Time: 2010-04-03 11:08:25.507 -0600
OS Version: Mac OS X 10.5.8 (9L31a)
Report Version: 6
Anonymous UUID: DA6AEB16-C2FF-401E-9DB6-AD9ACEEE7F89
Exception Type: EXC_BREAKPOINT (SIGTRAP)
Exception Codes: 0x0000000000000002, 0x0000000000000000
Crashed Thread: 0
Application Specific Information:
* single-threaded process forked *
Thread 0 Crashed:
0 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x9735ae99 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 1817
1 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x9735baa8 CFRunLoopRunInMode + 88
2 com.apple.Foundation 0x918523d5 -[NSRunLoop(NSRunLoop) runMode:beforeDate:] + 213
3 com.apple.Foundation 0x9185e4f4 -[NSRunLoop(NSRunLoop) run] + 84
4 com.hp.hpio.trapmonitor 0x00002457 main + 431
5 com.hp.hpio.trapmonitor 0x000021fa _start + 228 (crt.c:272)
6 com.hp.hpio.trapmonitor 0x00002115 start + 41
Thread 1:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9578b286 machmsgtrap + 10
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x95792a7c mach_msg + 72
2 ...PServicesInterfaceFramework 0x00084b51 SIAuthObjectGetKey + 143629
3 ...PServicesInterfaceFramework 0x0007e617 SIAuthObjectGetKey + 117715
4 ...PServicesInterfaceFramework 0x0007e7aa SIAuthObjectGetKey + 118118
5 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x9735b8f5 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 4469
6 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x9735bb04 CFRunLoopRun + 84
7 ...PServicesInterfaceFramework 0x0007db7f SIAuthObjectGetKey + 115003
8 ...PServicesInterfaceFramework 0x000667c7 SIAuthObjectGetKey + 19843
9 libSystem.B.dylib 0x957bc155 pthreadstart + 321
10 libSystem.B.dylib 0x957bc012 thread_start + 34
Thread 2:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x95791312 stat + 10
1 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x9730cb8b _CFBundleCopyInfoDictionaryInDirectoryWithVersion + 955
2 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x972fcec5 CFBundleGetInfoDictionary + 85
3 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x9730133d _CFBundleCreate + 637
4 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x9734d077 CFPlugInCreate + 39
5 com.apple.framework.IOKit 0x94a8c969 IOCreatePlugInInterfaceForService + 253
6 ...PServicesInterfaceFramework 0x0007f4e2 SIAuthObjectGetKey + 121502
7 ...PServicesInterfaceFramework 0x00084c67 SIAuthObjectGetKey + 143907
8 ...PServicesInterfaceFramework 0x000667c7 SIAuthObjectGetKey + 19843
9 libSystem.B.dylib 0x957bc155 pthreadstart + 321
10 libSystem.B.dylib 0x957bc012 thread_start + 34
Thread 3:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9578b286 machmsgtrap + 10
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x95792a7c mach_msg + 72
2 ...PServicesInterfaceFramework 0x00084c37 SIAuthObjectGetKey + 143859
3 ...PServicesInterfaceFramework 0x000667c7 SIAuthObjectGetKey + 19843
4 libSystem.B.dylib 0x957bc155 pthreadstart + 321
5 libSystem.B.dylib 0x957bc012 thread_start + 34
Thread 0 crashed with X86 Thread State (32-bit):
eax: 0x10004002 ebx: 0x9735a797 ecx: 0xbffff58c edx: 0x9578b286
edi: 0xbffff6b0 esi: 0x002041f8 ebp: 0xbffffb88 esp: 0xbffff5d0
ss: 0x0000001f efl: 0x00000202 eip: 0x9735ae99 cs: 0x00000017
ds: 0x0000001f es: 0x0000001f fs: 0x00000000 gs: 0x00000037
cr2: 0xa08cd440
Binary Images:
0x1000 - 0x8fff +com.hp.hpio.trapmonitor 2.0.1 (2.0.1) /Library/Printers/hp/hpio/HPIO Trap Monitor.app/Contents/MacOS/HPIO Trap Monitor
0x15000 - 0x22fd7 +com.hp.hpio.HPPmlFramework 2.5.2 (2.5.2.675) /Library/Frameworks/HPPml.framework/Versions/B/HPPml
0x2a000 - 0x2affd libmx.A.dylib ??? (???) /usr/lib/libmx.A.dylib
0x5f000 - 0xaefc3 +com.hp.hpio.HPServicesInterfaceFramework 2.5.2 (2.5.2.675) /Library/Frameworks/HPServicesInterface.framework/Versions/B/HPServicesInterfac e
0xbe000 - 0x105045 +libHPIOnetsnmp.5.dylib ??? (???) /Library/Frameworks/HPServicesInterface.framework/Versions/B/Libraries/libHPIOn etsnmp.5.dylib
0x8fe00000 - 0x8fe2db43 dyld 97.1 (???) <458eed38a009e5658a79579e7bc26603> /usr/lib/dyld
0x90003000 - 0x9008aff7 libsqlite3.0.dylib ??? (???) <aaaf72c093e13f34b96e2688b95bdb4a> /usr/lib/libsqlite3.0.dylib
0x900e2000 - 0x9013fffb libstdc++.6.dylib ??? (???) <04b812dcec670daa8b7d2852ab14be60> /usr/lib/libstdc++.6.dylib
0x907f2000 - 0x908a4ffb libcrypto.0.9.7.dylib ??? (???) <d02f7e5b8a68813bb7a77f5edb34ff9d> /usr/lib/libcrypto.0.9.7.dylib
0x908c6000 - 0x908dcfff com.apple.DictionaryServices 1.0.0 (1.0.0) <ad0aa0252e3323d182e17f50defe56fc> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Diction aryServices.framework/Versions/A/DictionaryServices
0x90bb1000 - 0x90bb8fe9 libgcc_s.1.dylib ??? (???) <f53c808e87d1184c0f9df63aef53ce0b> /usr/lib/libgcc_s.1.dylib
0x91219000 - 0x912c0fec com.apple.CFNetwork 438.14 (438.14) <5f9ee0430b5f6319f18d9b23e777e0d2> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CFNetwo rk.framework/Versions/A/CFNetwork
0x91808000 - 0x9180cfff libmathCommon.A.dylib ??? (???) /usr/lib/system/libmathCommon.A.dylib
0x91813000 - 0x91a8ffe7 com.apple.Foundation 6.5.9 (677.26) <c68b3cff7864959becfc7fd1a384f925> /System/Library/Frameworks/Foundation.framework/Versions/C/Foundation
0x92e60000 - 0x92f99ff7 libicucore.A.dylib ??? (???) <f2819243b278259b9a622ea111ea5fd6> /usr/lib/libicucore.A.dylib
0x941e8000 - 0x94267ff5 com.apple.SearchKit 1.2.2 (1.2.2) <3b5f3ab6a363a4d8a2bbbf74213ab0e5> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SearchK it.framework/Versions/A/SearchKit
0x94270000 - 0x942fdff7 com.apple.LaunchServices 292 (292) <a41286c7c1eb20ffd5cc796f791070f0> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchS ervices.framework/Versions/A/LaunchServices
0x9434f000 - 0x94386fff com.apple.SystemConfiguration 1.9.2 (1.9.2) <41d5aeffefc6d19d471f51ae0b15024f> /System/Library/Frameworks/SystemConfiguration.framework/Versions/A/SystemConfi guration
0x94727000 - 0x948f8ff3 com.apple.security 5.0.6 (37592) <c7c68c3ba198b36d571d4b1e028a1a77> /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/A/Security
0x94a85000 - 0x94b12ff7 com.apple.framework.IOKit 1.5.2 (???) <7a3cc24f78f93931731203854ae0d891> /System/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Versions/A/IOKit
0x94bbb000 - 0x94bc9ffd libz.1.dylib ??? (???) <5ddd8539ae2ebfd8e7cc1c57525385c7> /usr/lib/libz.1.dylib
0x94c5d000 - 0x94c7bfff libresolv.9.dylib ??? (???) <0e26b308654f33fc94a0c010a50751f9> /usr/lib/libresolv.9.dylib
0x94c7c000 - 0x94ca7fe7 libauto.dylib ??? (???) <4f3e58cb81da07a1662c1f647ce30225> /usr/lib/libauto.dylib
0x94d33000 - 0x94d3bfff com.apple.DiskArbitration 2.2.1 (2.2.1) <ba64dd6ada417b5e7be736957f380bca> /System/Library/Frameworks/DiskArbitration.framework/Versions/A/DiskArbitration
0x94d67000 - 0x94e48ff7 libxml2.2.dylib ??? (???) <b3bc0b280c36aa17ac477b4da56cd038> /usr/lib/libxml2.2.dylib
0x9578a000 - 0x958f1ff3 libSystem.B.dylib ??? (???) <ae47ca9b1686b065f8ac4d2de09cc432> /usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib
0x95ca3000 - 0x95ca3ffa com.apple.CoreServices 32 (32) <2fcc8f3bd5bbfc000b476cad8e6a3dd2> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/CoreServices
0x95cbd000 - 0x95f97ff3 com.apple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 786.11 (786.14) <d5cceb2fe9551d345d40dd1ecf409ec2> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CarbonC ore.framework/Versions/A/CarbonCore
0x9601a000 - 0x960d4fe3 com.apple.CoreServices.OSServices 228 (228) <bc83e97f6888673c33f86652677c09cb> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/OSServi ces.framework/Versions/A/OSServices
0x96176000 - 0x96256fff libobjc.A.dylib ??? (???) <3ca288b625a47bbcfe378158e4dc328f> /usr/lib/libobjc.A.dylib
0x966a3000 - 0x966c7fff libxslt.1.dylib ??? (???) <adfe90a3d564d824d5ae0fa6df8d6c3f> /usr/lib/libxslt.1.dylib
0x96744000 - 0x96773fe3 com.apple.AE 402.3 (402.3) <dba512e47f68eea1dd0ab35f596edb34> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/AE.fram ework/Versions/A/AE
0x972e8000 - 0x9741bfe7 com.apple.CoreFoundation 6.5.7 (476.19) <a332c8f45529ee26d2e9c36d0c723bad> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/Versions/A/CoreFoundation
0x9756a000 - 0x975b3fef com.apple.Metadata 10.5.8 (398.26) <e4d268ea45379200f03cdc7c8bedae6f> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Metadat a.framework/Versions/A/Metadata
0x975b4000 - 0x975bbffe libbsm.dylib ??? (???) <d25c63378a5029648ffd4b4669be31bf> /usr/lib/libbsm.dylib
0xfffe8000 - 0xfffebfff libobjc.A.dylib ??? (???) /usr/lib/libobjc.A.dylib
0xffff0000 - 0xffff1780 libSystem.B.dylib ??? (???) /usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib
And, here's a panic Log from March 3rd, relating directly to the screen saver:
Wed Mar 3 08:57:54 2010
panic(cpu 1 caller 0x00194B15): "pmapflushtlbs() timeout: " "cpu(s) failing to respond to interrupts, pmap=0x542600 cpustorespond=0x1"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1228.15.4/osfmk/i386/pmap.c:4582
Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x343b3478 : 0x12b4c6 (0x45f91c 0x343b34ac 0x13355c 0x0)
0x343b34c8 : 0x194b15 (0x465c58 0x542600 0x1 0xbd01)
0x343b3538 : 0x195cc2 (0x542600 0x36bb9000 0x0 0x2)
0x343b35d8 : 0x1750ec (0x41dd1 0x0 0x119cff8 0x2)
0x343b3678 : 0x16ab90 (0x812908c 0x0 0x0 0x54c000)
0x343b3798 : 0x16b18d (0x36c41000 0x0 0x0 0x0)
0x343b37d8 : 0x1836b5 (0x9add07c 0x366f5000 0x0 0x36c41000)
0x343b3838 : 0x433524 (0x9add07c 0x366f5000 0x0 0x54c000)
0x343b3898 : 0x433588 (0x4fcdd00 0x1782f80 0x43ec180 0x0)
0x343b38b8 : 0x433679 (0x43ec180 0x10206 0x343b3918 0x0)
0x343b38d8 : 0x433650 (0x43ec180 0x0 0x2 0xc0)
0x343b38f8 : 0x3f1571 (0x43ec180 0x0 0x10 0x23d4e000)
0x343b3918 : 0xce32ec (0x43ec180 0x35feb020 0x292d021 0xa)
0x343b3988 : 0xce3908 (0xa763000 0x0 0x0 0x5a0)
0x343b3a48 : 0xcc80b7 (0xa763000 0x0 0x0 0x5a0)
0x343b3ad8 : 0xcc8695 (0xa763000 0xa7630ec 0x1 0xa7630ec)
Backtrace continues...
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelGMA950(5.4.8)@0xcb5000->0xcebfff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.7.3)@0x6c9000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x623000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.3)@0x690000
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: ScreenSaverEngin
Mac OS version:
9L31a
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.8.0: Wed Jul 15 16:55:01 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1228.15.4~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacBook2,1 (Mac-F4208CA9)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 59878263435880
unloaded kexts:
com.apple.driver.iTunesPhoneDriver 1.0 - last unloaded 22358313172987
loaded kexts:
com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.leopard 5.7.2
com.kensington.mouseworks.driver.VirtualMouse 3.0
se.coolbook.driver2 2.0.8
com.kensington.mouseworks.iokit.KensingtonMouseDriver 3.0
com.AmbrosiaSW.AudioSupport 2.0.0
com.apple.filesystems.smbfs 1.4.6 - last loaded 32532308358164
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 2.0.8
com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothHIDMouse 1.2.4b3
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 2.0.2
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 1.7.1a2
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 2.7.5
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 1.7.7
com.apple.driver.AppleFWAudio 2.4.6fc8
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelGMA950 5.4.8
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 113
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 2.1.9f10
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelIntegratedFramebuffer 5.4.8
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 1.7.1a2
com.apple.driver.AirPort.Atheros 320.16.2
com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor 2.1.1d2
com.apple.driver.ACPISMCPlatformPlugin 3.4.0a17
com.apple.DontSteal_Mac_OSX 6.0.3
com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver 1.0.6
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight 1.6.0
com.apple.driver.CSRUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.1.9f10
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTrackpad 1.7.4f1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver 1.7.4f1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 1.7.4f1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 3.5.2
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 2.1.1
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 2.1.1
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 2.7.91
com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport 1.5.3
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 1.2.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 3.4.9
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 3.5.2
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 1.7.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA 2.0.1
com.apple.iokit.AppleYukon2 3.1.13b2
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 3.9.7
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 3.4.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI 3.5.2
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 158.10.5
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.2.3
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPCI 1.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.4
com.apple.security.seatbelt 107.12
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 1.6.77
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 3
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 76.2.0
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 199
com.apple.BootCache 30.4
com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver 2.1.9f10
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse 1.2.4b3
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 1.7.1a2
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 9.4
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 1.7.1a2
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 216.1
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 3.4.0a17
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 2.3.1d1
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.6.9fc5
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireAVC 2.2.3
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 1.7.3
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 1.7.3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.1.9f10
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 2.1.9f10
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 3.4.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 3.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 2.1.1
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.5
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.5
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.5
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 2.1.1
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 1.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily 2.0.1
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 1.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 3.4.9
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 3.5.2
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.5.6
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.5.5
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.2.5
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6

Answer 1

I'm not running any insane 3rd party software or hacks, everything
is up to date, I run cron jobs all the time to keep things fresh, I run
Onyx and repair permissions all the time, my disk is in fine order,
I'm running 10.5.8, and yet, this machine is turning into a freaking
brick. I'm not an idiot, I know more than I need to know about
computers to know that this thing should be a lot more stable than
it is. It's never been dropped, never had water damage, never been
mistreated.
HP printer drivers (current crash). I guess that is not insane, but
then again, I always found the HP drivers to be annoying
But your March 3rd crash seems to be 'ScreenSaverEngin'.
Years and years ago, I know I had issues with Screen Savers.
So these days I run about as basic a screen saver as I can
("Computer Name"). I also got tired of the fancy stuff,
so the "Computer Name" screen saver is fine with me.
If the process/driver that crashes is always different, then Memory
is the most common cause, especially if there is 3rd party memory
installed (I have nothing against 3rd party memory, as I use it all
the time; it has just been a factor in may crash situations). And
Apple memory is not always innocent, but less frequently guilty
of failing.
Now if there have been zero memory changes in the 4 years, then
I would be less likely to single out any memory, and now I would
lump it in equally with the Motherboard failing.
System tests might not detect anything if the problem is environmentally
triggered, such as the unit becoming warm. When you take it to
an Apple Store, it will most likely have cooled down, and may take a
while to get to the warm failing state.
Oh yea. Do you plug in USB devices? I ask, because historically, the
second most common cause of repeated system crashes have been
caused by a failing USB device. Then again, that also tends to
include the USB driver in the list of kernel components at the time
of the crash.
The only thing that I can think of doing is reinstalling OS X, but I
REALLY don't want to do that right now. I have too many projects
I'm working on, I can't take the full day it'll take to reinstall EVERY
single piece of software that I have. I know that I'll have to do a
full clean reinstall, because doing an archive and reinstall will only
carry over software problems, if there are any.
I realize the good things that come with a clean install, but like I
say, I really, really don't have time for it right now, and I can't say
when I will, being that this machine is how I make my living. So
what am I supposed to do?
Since you are running Leopard, you can do an "Archive & Install"
which will leave your personal stuff alone, and just replace the
Operating System.