Kernel Panic: You need to restart you computer. Hold down the Power button until it turns off, then press the Power button again.

Question

I apologize for writing a book, but I think explaining the full story may possibly get me a correct answer.  I hope that someone can give me some insight as to what is the problem with my MacBook Pro.  I have a MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2008), model identifier: MacBookPro4,1 running OSX Lion 10.7.5 with 6 GB memory.  My wife first noticed a problem with the display.  Every so often it would get fuzzy with jumping lines going across the screen making it vitually unviewable.  The final time that incident took place the computer froze which required holding down the power button to restart the computer.  The computer started up to the point of the Apple logo and the spinning gear for quite some time until the screen darkened from top to bottom displaying the following message in five different languages: "You need to restart your computer. Hold down the Power button until it turns off, then press the Power button again."  I have read other blogs and support communities where people get the message intermittently, but my computer would not go past that point no matter what.  Through research and the Apple Store I was told that this is a Kernel Panic.  The so called "Apple Genius" at the local Apple Store was unable to get the computer to boot past that point even with his gadget.  It would not startup in recovery mode, safe mode or off of a disc.  I forget exacty what he told me, but he said it was getting past the first two startup steps, but it would not get past the third step which is to mount the desktop.  He guessed that it may be a problem with the hard drive; a loose wire or something or other.  I disconnected the hard drive completely and took it out.  Everything appered to be connected properly.  Then I installed it back correctly, but it did not solve the issue.  So I guess I disproved his theory of a loose wire...  I purchased ProSoft Data Rescue 3 and connected my MacBook Pro to another Apple computer using a firewire 400 cable.  I was able to get everything I needed off of the hard drive.  I did some more research and I decided to restart the MacBook Pro in verbose mode (holding down the command button and V button).  The computer magically started up!!!  I was upset that I wasted my money on the ProSoft Data Rescue 3.  I managed to take additional items off of the computer and back it up on to an external hard drive.  After some time the computer froze.  I repeated the power button process to restart and received the same kernel panic.  I managed to get the computer to startup approximately six or seven more times via verbose mode; each time the computer staying on for a shorter amount of time before it would freeze.  I managed to run Disk Utitlity.  I performed first aid to fix the hard drive and it said that the hard drive appeared to be fine.  After first aid I erased the hard drive and booted off of a Lion disc to perform a clean install or an erase and install.  Lion installed until the progress bar got the the end where I received a message that there was an error installing Lion, please try again.  Each time I attempted to install the software I would receive the same message.  Eventually the computer would not boot from the Lion disc.  I went back to the Apple Store and the Apple Genius was able to get the computer to boot off of his gadget where Lion istalled completely.  I set up the computer as a new computer.  He said that he partitioned the hard drive as DOS and then back to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) which would get rid of any errors the drive may have had.  He guessed that the problem was the hard drive, but was not exactly sure.  When I brought it home I installed all of the software applications I had on it previously.  Approximately three days later, which may have been the fifth of sixth time starting up the computer, the display became fuzzy again and the computer froze.  The computer did restart once and I was able to retreive a "log" which I have pasted below.  After if froze for the second time it restarted once using verbose mode and froze almost immediately.  After holding down the power key to shut it down and then restart; I received the same kernel panic after the Apple logo and spinning gear which put me right back to square one.  Now the computer will not boot via any method.  It freezes at the end of verbose mode which forces you to hold down the power button to shut down.  I also read that poorly seated ram may cause this issue, but I removed and installed the ram multiple times.  I even purchased new ram from Other World Computing (Mac Sales) 6 GB, but that did not make a difference.  I think I may see six possible problems on the verbose screen mode, five errors and one warning; I will type them out here:
1. SMC: :smcReadKeyAction ERROR: smcReadData8 failed for key $Num (kSMCKeyNotFound)
2. SMC: :smcReadKeyAction ERROR: $Num kSMCKeyNotFound(0x84) fKeyHashTable=0x0
3. SMC: :smcInitHelper ERROR: MMIO regMap ==NULL - fall back to old SMC mode
4. WARNING - ACPI_SMCCtrlLoop: :initCPUCtrlLoop - no sub-config match for MacBookPro4,1 with 8 p-states, using default stepper instead
5. SMC: :smcReadKeyAction ERROR: smcReadData8 failed for key MOTP (kSMCKeyNotFound)
6. SMC: :smcReadKeyAction ERROR: smcReadData8 failed for key BEMB (kSMCKeyNotFound)
I was hoping that someone could read my log to ascertain wether or not they see a problem that stands out.  I was also hoping that someone could tell me if verbose mode provides any information that may be wrong with my computer.  I just hope that someone can give me some insight as to what may be wrong with my computer.  If it is the hard drive I will easily replace it, but I want to make sure that is the problem first before I waste money on a hard drive or anything else.  Please let me know if anyone requires any other information from me.
Thank you!
Interval Since Last Panic Report:  21959 sec
Panics Since Last Report:          1
Anonymous UUID:                    B62D9AB4-53DD-4F76-90B2-32453302297E
Sat Aug 31 15:20:06 2013
panic(cpu 1 caller 0xffffff80002c4794): Kernel trap at 0xffffff7f81d9d774, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x0000000080010033, CR2: 0x0000000000000010, CR3: 0x0000000011d06000, CR4: 0x0000000000000660
RAX: 0x0000000000000004, RBX: 0xffffff809eb71000, RCX: 0xffffff8000892604, RDX: 0xffffff80b69d3aa8
RSP: 0xffffff80b69d3bd0, RBP: 0xffffff80b69d3bd0, RSI: 0x0000000000000000, RDI: 0x0000000000000000
R8:  0x0000000000000000, R9:  0x00000000010751b4, R10: 0xfffffffffffffff4, R11: 0xffffff8000640fd4
R12: 0xffffff809eb71000, R13: 0x0000000000000000, R14: 0x0000000000000000, R15: 0x0000000000000010
RFL: 0x0000000000010202, RIP: 0xffffff7f81d9d774, CS:  0x0000000000000008, SS:  0x0000000000000010
CR2: 0x0000000000000010, Error code: 0x0000000000000000, Faulting CPU: 0x1
Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff80b69d3880 : 0xffffff8000220792
0xffffff80b69d3900 : 0xffffff80002c4794
0xffffff80b69d3ab0 : 0xffffff80002da55d
0xffffff80b69d3ad0 : 0xffffff7f81d9d774
0xffffff80b69d3bd0 : 0xffffff7f81d8913a
0xffffff80b69d3c20 : 0xffffff7f81d89928
0xffffff80b69d3c40 : 0xffffff7f81d5be8f
0xffffff80b69d3c70 : 0xffffff7f8087f832
0xffffff80b69d3cb0 : 0xffffff7f8087f93d
0xffffff80b69d3cd0 : 0xffffff7f8088b625
0xffffff80b69d3d40 : 0xffffff7f80889c76
0xffffff80b69d3d80 : 0xffffff80006245ca
0xffffff80b69d3dd0 : 0xffffff8000657d4e
0xffffff80b69d3e30 : 0xffffff80002a3851
0xffffff80b69d3e80 : 0xffffff8000223096
0xffffff80b69d3eb0 : 0xffffff80002148a9
0xffffff80b69d3f10 : 0xffffff800021bbd8
0xffffff80b69d3f70 : 0xffffff80002aef10
0xffffff80b69d3fb0 : 0xffffff80002daec3
      Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
         com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.4)[D0A1F6BD-E66E-3DD8-9913-A3AB8746F422]@0 xffffff7f80874000->0xffffff7f808acfff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.7)[5C23D598-58B2-3204-BC03-BC3C0F00BD32]@0xffffff 7f80849000
         com.apple.GeForce(7.3.2)[7E1D7726-416F-3716-ACCB-E1E276E35002]@0xffffff7f81d590 00->0xffffff7f81e1bfff
            dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(7.3.2)[97284661-2629-379E-B86B-D388618E8C30]@0xffffff7f808 bf000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.3.4)[7C8672C4-8B0D-3CCF-A79A-23C62E90F895]@0xff ffff7f808ad000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.7)[5C23D598-58B2-3204-BC03-BC3C0F00BD32]@0xffffff 7f80849000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.4)[D0A1F6BD-E66E-3DD8-9913-A3AB8746F422]@0 xffffff7f80874000
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: WindowServer
Mac OS version:
11G63
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 11.4.2: Thu Aug 23 16:25:48 PDT 2012; root:xnu-1699.32.7~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: FF3BB088-60A4-349C-92EA-CA649C698CE5
System model name: MacBookPro4,1 (Mac-F42C89C8)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 62230646656
last loaded kext at 53384504695: com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0 (addr 0xffffff7f81efc000, size 45056)
loaded kexts:
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.59
com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver 1.0.2d2
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.5.9
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver 2.2.5a5
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 2.2.5a5
com.apple.GeForce 7.3.2
com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor 3.0.2d6
com.apple.driver.AppleSMCPDRC 5.0.0d8
com.apple.driver.AppleSMCLMU 2.0.1d2
com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl 3.1.33
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight 170.2.2
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.0.33
com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet 1.0.0d1
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 4.0.8f17
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver 1.2.3
com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl 3.1.33
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 5.0.0d8
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.6.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 227.6
com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController 4.0.8f17
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver 227.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 227.6
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 312
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.BootCache 33
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 3.2.1
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 404
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.1.0
com.apple.iokit.AppleYukon2 3.2.2b1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 5.1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.6.1
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43224 501.36.15
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.9.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA 2.5.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 5.1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI 5.1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 161.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.9
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 195.0.0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 3.2.30
com.apple.security.quarantine 1.4
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 8
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 195.0.0
com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 2.2.5a5
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal 7.3.2
com.apple.nvidia.nvGK100hal 7.3.2
com.apple.nvidia.nvGF100hal 7.3.2
com.apple.NVDAResman 7.3.2
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert 1.0.4
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.10d0
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 2.2.5a5
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 2.2.5a5
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 80.0.2
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.5
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.8.6fc18
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 3.1.33
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.3.4
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.3.4
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.3d10
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy 5.0.0d8
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.10d0
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 5.1.1d6
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 13
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 4.0.8f17
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.0.8f17
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 230.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 5.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 5.1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 5.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 3.2.1
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.7
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport 3.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 3.2.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 5.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.8
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 420.3
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 2.1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.4.8
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily 2.5.1
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 5.1.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.security.sandbox 177.11
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 331.7
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.7.2
com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 28.18
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.5
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.7
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4
Model: MacBookPro4,1, BootROM MBP41.00C1.B00, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.4 GHz, 6 GB, SMC 1.27f3
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT, GeForce 8600M GT, PCIe, 256 MB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 4 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz, 0x7F7F7F7F7F9B0000, 0x4354353132363441433636372E4D31364643
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM1, 2 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz, 0x7F7FBAFFFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x8C), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.131.36.15)
Bluetooth: Version 4.0.8f17, 2 service, 18 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Wi-Fi, AirPort, en1
Serial ATA Device: Hitachi HTS543225L9SA02, 250.06 GB
Parallel ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-867
USB Device: BRCM2046 Hub, 0x0a5c  (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0x1a100000 / 2
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, apple_vendor_id, 0x820f, 0x1a110000 / 5
USB Device: Built-in iSight, apple_vendor_id, 0x8502, 0xfd400000 / 2
USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad, apple_vendor_id, 0x0230, 0x5d200000 / 3
USB Device: IR Receiver, apple_vendor_id, 0x8242, 0x5d100000 / 2

Answer 1

I had already written a book and I did not want to bombard people with more information, but in my previous research I did come across the major issues with the NVIDIA card.  I also was well aware that Apple offered a replacement program that ended in December of 2012.  I was going to add that in my original post, but I discounted that theory because I put my faith in the so called "Apple Genius" when I made my second trip to the Apple Store.  I brought the NVIDIA card issue to his attention and asked him if he thought that may be the problem, but he said no.  He said if it was the NVIDIA card that the screen would be completely black and there would be no startup chime.  When I experienced the screen issues I thought it was a problem with the NVIDIA card or the logic board.  I asked myself, how can a flawed hard drive cause the screen to act funny.
nbar and Rick Warren, I thank you both for your help and insight; people like you are the real "Apple Geniuses."  I was hoping there was a way I could wipe the hard drive before I dumped the computer or attempted to sell it.  I guess I will look into purchasing a new machine when I have the funds.  Again...thank you both!