Let's solve this kernel panic :)

Question

OK here it is, just the facts.
Imac Intel slot-loading 20” Flatpanel, exactly as I bought it 2yrs ago from applestore(haven’t touched any RAM or ever opened the computer)
Safari 10.4.1x (recently downloaded the most recent updates)
No backups, so I cannot Erase and Reinstall, my son’s pictures are on here. Save your flames for someone else.
I was running a disk-burning utility and the Itunes cover art screensaver was on (the screensaver being my most probable suspect for crash because of its documented bugginess, but the cause is moot for me at this point.) I came back to my mac to check the progress and the screen was frozen on the screensaver (I want to note that the hue of the screensaver was pinkish as opposed to the actual color of the “album covers”, a not too subtle hint that somethin’ ain’t right) At this point nothing worked but a hard shutdown by holding the power button. Upon restart, kernel panic. Sigh
After several days of reading forums I present to you my not so unique, but as of yet unsolved problem, and a list of what I have tried unsuccessfully to do to resolve it. I am pasting this in several forums hoping to resolve it so you can search if someone does come up with a solution. Pardon me if I mix up cmd, option, ctrl, and alt…I am using a PC keyboard. I know what keys to press through trial and error at this point, I just don’t know what they’re called on macs :P ..
-zapped PRAM, take note a mac “compatible” keyboard is needed for this (Logitech g15 doesn’t work for this task, but the cheapie Logitech “Classic”200 does, focus on the problem people)
-C after startup to boot Installation disk and running Disk utility/Repair Disk gives error
Checking HFSPlus volume
/red catalog file entry not found for extent
Volume check failed
Error: The underlying task reported failure
Techtool Deluxe showed error in repairing the volume and directory tests, the rest passed
The partition which previously held Windows and has now been erased and formatted in an unsuccessfull attempt to install a copy of OSX onto reports as “no problems detected”: Attempts to erase this partition and install OSX onto it result in errors
-Shift(safe mode) gives kernel panic
-cmd/alt-O/F Firmware boot gives kernel panic
-T at startup makes a target disk I guess but since I don’t have several mac computers laying around this isn’t a viable option atm
-cmd/V (Verbose mode) loads the info below and stops
-cmd /S (Single User Mode) does the same as verbose mode, I am unable to type at the prompt, it is essentially frozen at the end
-Option at startup only gives kernel panic
-Archive and Reinstall-The main hard drive won’t mount so it seems all I will be able to do is erase that partition
- I think I covered all of them, If I missed something, it didn’t help, either :P
-I tried a brief attempt at giving myself a crash course in terminal bash commands, but decided to do this before I rack my brain over that (as a last resort I will learn to program another **** language that will become useless in a few years before I erase my son’s pictures)…..the terminal is the only place I could run a fsck but it just returns the next prompt, no sign that it did anything,
-I have heard that occasionally some people’s KP’s “resolve themselves”. I am not sure if this is while the panic screen is showing or just on a successive reboot. I would love for that to happen here. That would be BCS(Best Case Scenario)
Following is what appears when I start in Verbose or Single-user mode
Se .Looking for kernel cache file ‘System\Library\Caches\com.apple.kernelcahes\kernelcache.BC122279…………………………………… …………………<then pause for 30-45sec, then “finishes quickly with script below which goes too quick for me to read>
Loading mach kernel?
Read error (hexadecimal#)
………………………………………………………………………………………………root device uuid?
loading drivers?
<next screen>
I will just put some of the stuff here that might describe an error, and some stuff to give you an idea where it comes in –the hexadecimal numbers(hex)
Started CPU 01
BSM auditing present
Disabled
Rooting via boot-uuid from/chosen:
Waiting on <dict ID=”0”><key>IOProviderClass</key>…yadayadayada
USB caused wake event (EHCI)
Firewire…yada
Got Boot device = yadayada
BSD root
CSRHIDTransitionDriver::probe: -v (I am assuming that this is where it picks up my input to enter Verbose mode)
CSRHIDTransitionDriver::start before command (single user mode prints “probe booting in single-user... do not match then skips the next two lines)
CSRTransitionDriver::stop
IOBluetoothController::start Idle Timer Stopped
Disk0s2: Hex# (Undefined).
Disk0s2: Hex#(Undefined).
Disk0s2:data underrun.
Pid 1 exited (signal 0,exit 1)panic(cpu 1 caller hex#): init died
State at last exception:
Debugger called: <panic>
Backtrace, Format – Frame : Return address (4 potential args on stack)
Hex# :Hex# more hex #’s No mapping exists for frame pointer
Backtrace terminated – invalid frame pointer 0xbffff968
Kernel version yada yada yada
That’s it. Same happens in single-user mode. The cursor stops and I have to restart.
I can access the original install disc and suspect that if I can delete the cache files, or preference files, or whatever is pointing the boot sequence to the corrupted info I would be okay
*okay this is new, after clicking restart from “startup disk” on Installation disk I was holding down shift to try a safe boot again, and as the Kp screen came down there was text on the screen
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x00399CA3) : Unable to find driver for this platform: “ACPI”.
Debugger…yada yada invalid frame pointer 0x0
It seems if I choose to use the install disks option to startup to the install disk then I can properly boot into single user mode in which fsck does work but it checks the install disk and not the HD, any way to switch that? is the HD "mounted at this point?

Answer 1

Well, either way you will probably be spending a little money and more time on
the Mac project; the difference in buying a relatively inexpensive external FW
HDD and learning how to use it (and have it for backups and doing your own
tech work) -- or -- not having it, and paying someone who does have those tools
on-hand, is you won't have the hardware or ability to backup your stuff, or fix it.
You can get a good FW enclosed backup hard disk drive of reliable quality
from Other World Computing and use free Carbon Copy Cloner. You have
the computer's bootable install disc with its own Disk Utility & tools in it.
I like my LaCie 250GB FireWire externally enclosed (self contained including
a separate power supply; it can boot and run my Macs from clones I made)
and there is room enough for more than two complete computer content clones.
Bootable exact images of the entire contents of the machines.
Had I paid for a tech to do the troubleshooting (48 hours at a time, for three
months) on the one Mac, there is no way I could have afforded the computer
or the tech bill. And I found out things through doing for myself that my friends
who use Windows machines (and they take them apart, and curse them) don't
yet understand. The cure for the few Mac issues outside of some large part
failure, is to be self-sufficient in the things a user CAN do. Then the shop visit
is a rarer event, and money spent on hardware is better than on gasoline.
Gasoline here varies, on the road system from over $4 a gallon (near $5 diesel)
up to nearly $7-$9 a gallon where fuels are barged or air flown in. Think about that
when or if you eat any salmon caught in Alaskan waters... Most of the fleet is
sitting in the docks, so driving in a modern city is a matter of greater efficiency
and foresight. You could take a chance on that $1200. hydrogen cell kit's claims!
Good luck & happy computing!
PS: are you sure that you didn't spring for that AppleCare extended protection plan
back in the first year of ownership where it could have cost you maybe $160. and
added up to three years of extra coverage and tech support? If you did an enrolled it
then it would be a matter of getting the computer to an authorized shop for service.
edited.