Please help diagnose kernel panics

Question

I'm having intermittent kernel panics on an Intel iMac (10.4.8). When they happen, it is always after a hotsync to a Palm Treo 680. I have never installed the Palm software, only MissingSync from MarkSpace. The sync looks like it's succeeded. MissingSync says it was fine, and the Treo has gone back to its normal hotsync screen. But just as that happens the panic occurs (sometimes). My guess is that it's when the Treo disconnects from the USB port. It's connected directly to a port on the back of the iMac. MarkSpace support had nothing obvious to suggest, other than uninstall, reset PRAM, repair disk, reinstall blah, blah. Can't see how this would help.
Anyone know if the Treo needs a USB driver as such, that would presumably be supplied by Macos or MissingSync? The panic report follows. Any pointers gratefully accepted!
panic(cpu 1 caller 0x001A3135): Unresolved kernel trap (CPU 1, Type 14=page fault), registers:
CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0x00000001, CR3: 0x00dd6000, CR4: 0x000006e0
EAX: 0x00000001, EBX: 0x05249b00, ECX: 0x351e2000, EDX: 0x037ef260
CR2: 0x00000001, EBP: 0x25643d18, ESI: 0x00000000, EDI: 0x0051b840
EFL: 0x00010206, EIP: 0x0039929c, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0x038a0010
Backtrace, Format - Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x25643ae8 : 0x128d1f (0x3c9540 0x25643b0c 0x131df4 0x0)
0x25643b28 : 0x1a3135 (0x3cf1f4 0x1 0xe 0x3cea24)
0x25643c38 : 0x19a8d4 (0x25643c50 0x764fe976 0x20 0x135920)
0x25643d18 : 0x51bab0 (0x5249b00 0x51b840 0x545d000 0x0)
0x25643d48 : 0x532a74 (0x545db00 0x545d000 0x0 0x1a1ec0)
0x25643d68 : 0x3afe9c (0x545d000 0x4ac694 0x25643db8 0x197b11)
0x25643d88 : 0x188174 (0x545d000 0x373a810 0x25643da8 0x19d23a)
0x25643db8 : 0x12b4da (0x48badb4 0x48a08a8 0x0 0x0)
0x25643df8 : 0x124b2b (0x48bad00 0x0 0x18 0x25643edc)
0x25643f08 : 0x1955a1 (0x25643f44 0x0 0x0 0x0)
0x25643fc8 : 0x19ad4e (0x3d26ae0 0x0 0x19d0b5 0x3748880) No mapping exists for frame pointer
Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0xb0080288
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient(2.6.0)@0x52f000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily(2.6.1)@0x515000
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily(2.6.1)@0x515000
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.8.1: Mon Sep 25 19:42:00 PDT 2006; root:xnu-792.13.8.obj~1/RELEASE_I386
Model: iMac5,1, BootROM IM51.0090.B03, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.16 GHz, 2 GB
Graphics: ATI Radeon X1600, ATY,RadeonX1600, PCIe, 128 MB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM1, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz
AirPort: spairportwireless_card_type_airportextreme (0x14E4, 0x87), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (4.80.79.1)
Bluetooth: Version 1.7.9f12, 2 service, 1 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Built-in Ethernet, Ethernet, en0
Serial ATA Device: WDC WD1600JS-40TGB0, 149.05 GB
Parallel ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R UJ-846
USB Device: Built-in iSight, Micron, Up to 480 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: USB2.0 Hub Controller, NEC Corporation, Up to 480 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: Mass Storage Device, Generic, Up to 480 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: Bluetooth HCI, Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: IR Receiver, Apple Computer, Inc., Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA

Answer 1

All modern USB devices rely upon standard device drivers included with the operating system. OS X has built-in USB device drivers. However, not all USB devices are necessarily compliant.
As for the Treo I have no specific information on any incompatibilities with OS X when used with the proper software. If you use Missing Sync from MarkSpace just be sure you are using the most current version and that you don't also have Palm Desktop software installed as well. There is nothing specific in the panic.log file that points to The Missing Sync software directly, only that the panic was generated in one or more of the USB extensions.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on diagnosing kernel panics for more information.
I use Missing Sync with a Palm Tungsten E and it works fine on all my machines.
Do you use any other USB devices and/or USB hubs?
There are many possible causes of kernel panics. Corrupted device drivers and hardware defects are common causes. As I suggested before you would be wise to follow the suggestions given you by MarkSpace support.