OS X quit Unexpectedly (kernel Panic)

Question

Okay, I got this iBook G4 for my wife for Christmas. She has loved working on it immensely. But now we're getting these kernel panics, and I wanted to see if someone can possibly give me a clue as to where the problem may be.
Below is the entire content of the kernel panic. My wife was in Firefox the first time it occurred (today). The 2 subsequent times it occurred later today, she was working in Photoshop (one time saving a new file that she created, and the other time she was simply working with some type).
---[ from PANIC.LOG ]--------------
Mon Jan 16 19:54:32 2006
Unresolved kernel trap(cpu 0): 0x700 - Program DAR=0x00000000901D3D50 PC=0x0000000000000000
Latest crash info for cpu 0:
Exception state (sv=0x2DA49780)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x00080000; DAR=0x901D3D50; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x0000001C (0x700 - Program)
Backtrace:
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2DA49780)
previously dumped as "Latest" state. skipping...
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.3.0: Mon Oct 3 20:04:04 PDT 2005; root:xnu-792.6.22.obj~2/RELEASE_PPC
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xFFFF0007): 0x700 - Program
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x00095698 0x00095BB0 0x0002683C 0x000A8304 0x000ABC80
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2DA49780)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x00080000; DAR=0x901D3D50; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x0000001C (0x700 - Program)
Backtrace:
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.3.0: Mon Oct 3 20:04:04 PDT 2005; root:xnu-792.6.22.obj~2/RELEASE_PPC
Tue Jan 17 19:43:27 2006
Unresolved kernel trap(cpu 0): 0x700 - Program DAR=0x00000000901D3D50 PC=0x0000000000000000
Latest crash info for cpu 0:
Exception state (sv=0x2DA49780)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x00080000; DAR=0x901D3D50; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x0000001C (0x700 - Program)
Backtrace:
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2DA49780)
previously dumped as "Latest" state. skipping...
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.3.0: Mon Oct 3 20:04:04 PDT 2005; root:xnu-792.6.22.obj~2/RELEASE_PPC
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xFFFF0007): 0x700 - Program
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x00095698 0x00095BB0 0x0002683C 0x000A8304 0x000ABC80
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2DA49780)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x00080000; DAR=0x901D3D50; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x0000001C (0x700 - Program)
Backtrace:
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.3.0: Mon Oct 3 20:04:04 PDT 2005; root:xnu-792.6.22.obj~2/RELEASE_PPC
Tue Jan 17 20:13:00 2006
Unresolved kernel trap(cpu 0): 0x700 - Program DAR=0x00000000901D3D50 PC=0x0000000000000000
Latest crash info for cpu 0:
Exception state (sv=0x2DA49780)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x00080000; DAR=0x901D3D50; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x0000001C (0x700 - Program)
Backtrace:
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2DA49780)
previously dumped as "Latest" state. skipping...
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.3.0: Mon Oct 3 20:04:04 PDT 2005; root:xnu-792.6.22.obj~2/RELEASE_PPC
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xFFFF0007): 0x700 - Program
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x00095698 0x00095BB0 0x0002683C 0x000A8304 0x000ABC80
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2DA49780)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x00080000; DAR=0x901D3D50; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x0000001C (0x700 - Program)
Backtrace:
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.3.0: Mon Oct 3 20:04:04 PDT 2005; root:xnu-792.6.22.obj~2/RELEASE_PPC
----[ end PANIC.LOG ]-------
I have run the extended hardware test once, and everything passed. I've even reset the NVRAM, as I found that in another discussion. My wife is going to continue to use the machine to see if the issue arises again, but I was hoping that someone may be able to point me to a specifica area were the problem may be.
Thanks in advance!
spstyk
iBook G4   Mac OS X (10.4.4)   60GB HDD, 1GB RAM

Answer 1

Hi spstyk & Welcome to Apple Discussions --
I can't tell a whole lot from the log you posted, and kernal panics can be caused by a variety of things, which make them difficult to troubleshoot. See, e.g., Mac OS X Kernal Panic FAQ.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as a general rule, some of the main reasons kernel panics occur are RAM related.
I see from your stats that your wife's iBook had 1GB of RAM.
Where did you get the RAM and what brand is it?
Regardless, there's always a chance that one of the chips have come unseated (loosened from their slots) and/or gone bad. Here are the instructions for adding/removing RAM in an iBook.
First check to make sure that both chips are firmly seated (placed) in their respective slots. If the panics continue, try operating the iBook with only one of the two chips in it at a time. First one then the other, each by itself.
If the panics only happen with one chip in the machine and not the other, then that chip has gone bad and needs to be replaced. Most RAM dealers offer lifetime guarantees on the RAM they sell, as this kind of thing sometimes does happen (for reasons that are still unclear to me). Hopefully, you got it from somewhere reputable and kept your receipt.
Good luck and post back the results of your troubleshooting.
-- JDee