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abbaZaba · Dec 16, 2007, 10:07 PM

I've got my mac mini setup as a media center connected to my tv.

recently, I have been having kernel panics every single day for the past week or so and I have no idea how to fix it or even where to start. I looked in the console and I am pretty sure it didn't save anything to it so I dunno where the problem is stemming from.

can anyone give me any steps as to try to track down the problem? I don't have a usb keyboard so I can't reset the PRAM.

the only apps that are running are sofa control, vlc, and transmission.

abbaZaba · Dec 16, 2007, 10:07 PM

oh, and I'm running 10.5.1 on it and I have the problem report that OSX generated after I rebooted if that would be helpful.

this is really frustrating as I have no idea what causes it. it'll be zipping a long fine and then just kernel panic.

dowNNshift · Dec 16, 2007, 10:20 PM

Have you checked your disk permissions lately?

Applications >> Utilities >> Disk Utility ...select your Mac HD and run a Permissions check (and repair if necessary).

abbaZaba · Dec 16, 2007, 10:42 PM

alright, checked permissions. it said there were a few warnings so it's repairing now.

abbaZaba · Dec 17, 2007, 12:42 AM

well, I repaired the permissions and then I had just finished watching a movie and was controlling it with Screen Sharing and it kernel panicked again.

damn\

this was the crash report:
Mon Dec 17 01:43:02 2007
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x0039CD77): "m_free: freeing an already freed mbuf"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1228.0.2/bsd/kern/uipc_mbuf.c:2742
Backtrace, Format - Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x20e2b708 : 0x12b0e1 (0x455670 0x20e2b73c 0x133238 0x0)
0x20e2b758 : 0x39cd77 (0x48e03c 0x1 0x20ccb01c 0x128562c8)
0x20e2b798 : 0x39d073 (0x1d19be00 0x20e2b7a0 0x13 0x3da56e78)
0x20e2b7b8 : 0x984821 (0x1d19be00 0x0 0x20 0x9e0f00)
0x20e2b8e8 : 0x98d9e5 (0x1 0x0 0x3da2ba90 0x3da56ef4)
0x20e2bc08 : 0x99293a (0x128562c8 0x0 0x0 0x30e55ac)
0x20e2bde8 : 0x993fb1 (0x128562c8 0x5308a4 0xfcca0131 0x8e1)
0x20e2bf18 : 0x41d149 (0x12856000 0x2ee7500 0x1 0x19ccc1)
0x20e2bf68 : 0x41c2a6 (0x2ee7500 0x0 0x1 0x1368db)
0x20e2bf98 : 0x41bf88 (0x2faae40 0x20e2bfdc 0x20e2bfc8 0x1a6d85)
0x20e2bfc8 : 0x19e2ec (0x2faae40 0x0 0x1a10b5 0x3009440)
Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.AirPort.Atheros(300.22)@0x95f000->0x9e9fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family(200.7)@0x941000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.4)@0x63c000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.6.0)@0x64c000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:
9B18

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.1.0: Wed Oct 31 17:46:22 PDT 2007; root:xnu-1228.0.2~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: Macmini2,1 (Mac-F4208EAA)

seanc · Dec 17, 2007, 01:13 AM

I think I remember reading that people were having issues with screen sharing and wireless in the OS X forum. Try using VNC or remote desktop instead.

abbaZaba · Dec 17, 2007, 01:50 AM

well this is the first time it happened while I was controlling it. usually it happens when I'm not watching something; when it's idle.

Tomchu · Dec 17, 2007, 02:57 AM

If the Mac Mini used to sit somewhere else and the KPs just started happening after your media center operation, then I would say it could be EM interference from some of your equipment.

However, it's more likely that the Atheros wireless chipset driver is causing it, as seen here: Apple - Support - Discussions - panic: "m_free: freeing an already ...

abbaZaba · Dec 17, 2007, 03:29 AM

Originally Posted by Tomchu

If the Mac Mini used to sit somewhere else and the KPs just started happening after your media center operation, then I would say it could be EM interference from some of your equipment.

However, it's more likely that the Atheros wireless chipset driver is causing it, as seen here: Apple - Support - Discussions - panic: "m_free: freeing an already ...

an xbox sits right next to the mac mini. could those wireless controllers interfere with it?

dowNNshift · Dec 17, 2007, 09:45 AM

umm... ok... random Spam there..

Anyways -- I've seen this kind of Kernel Panic before, it has to do with the AirPort Wireless. How are you connecting to your LAN with your Mini? If its AirPort -- try turning it off and seeing if it works.

I think no more than 6 months ago another guy was having the same problem on here.

abbaZaba · Dec 17, 2007, 02:03 PM

it is in fact connected wirelessly with my airport express.

that is a pretty beat bug to have. I wonder when it will get fixed.

having it not connected to my AEx is not much of an option because I'm gonna need to control it at some point and having to turn airport on and off constantly would get really annoying with the Apple Remote.