How Serious is a Mac Kernel Panic?

Aug 20th, 2010 Written By Cheryl Smith

My MacBook just locked up after a black box appeared on my screen, accompanied by a rapid clicking noise. Oh, and the following message in multiple languages, “you need to restart your computer. Hold down the Power button for several seconds or press the Restart button.”

After I finished FREAKING out thinking it could possibly be a virus (never mind that it’s a MAC – at times like these, rational thinking goes out the window), and making a hasty silent vow to always keep my backups up to date, I did the only thing I could do.

I restarted my computer.

It seems fine now. But what does it really mean, and what should I do? Should I expect this to happen again? Is there a fix?

What should I now do with this adrenaline rush?

And what about you?
What do you do when you have technology issues? Are your backups current?

http://twitter.com/RickWolff Rick Wolff

This is the kind of crash that happened in the bad old days, with OS 9, every time an app went down. Now you can have apps crash, and the computer itself stays on, with all the other apps happily churning in the background, or waiting for your revisiting them. It's so rare it's not worth worrying about.
Having said that:
[1] Your Mac would like you to do a complete shut-down and startup once a week. So much data gets written and re-written when it's sitting in RAM, that it's good to give it a fresh transcription from the source. There is more refreshing that gets done from a full shutdown (get “Shut Down” from the menu, wait about 10 seconds, then press the power button) than just a “Restart”. (I'm oversimplifying a little on the reason, but not the good habit.) Failure to do this makes your computer slower, makes apps act oddly, and inevitably gives you this startling message.
[2] If this incident makes you start to back up your data, good! If an actual apple falling on your head, Newton-style, makes you want to back up your data, good! But this is more of an incentive for you to Save your data as you're working, and make sure the version your hard drive is the very latest. Some apps write directly to your drive, like Address Book or iCal, where there isn't a Save button / keyboard shortcut / menu command. But if there is, save often! Or use the auto-save feature, common in Microsoft apps.
A Mac is a computer, and every computer goes south once in a while. Not to worry.

http://www.culturesmithconsulting.com/news cherylsmith

Great feedback Rick – and thanks! I don't typically shut down my computer very often. I'll see if that makes a difference.

http://twitter.com/nicktripp Nick Tripp

A kernel panic is the equivalent of a Blue Screen of Death in a Unix or Linux-based operating system.

It rarely happens without there being a good reason for it. That reason can probably be located in the System log in the Console application. The events preceding the kernel panic will be found in the system log just before the most recent startup events.

Good luck. Hope it's software and not a hardware issue.
http://twitter.com/nicktripp Nick Tripp

Oh, and also…

Was the clicking noise from the computer speakers or was it mechanical sounding? If it was mechanical, you're probably looking at a dying hard drive or a broken fan.

http://www.culturesmithconsulting.com/news cherylsmith

Passing this along to my IT guy. :)

Peter Smith

So, have you started backing up again?
http://seedlingsinstone.blogspot.com Llbarkat

Goodness, I have no idea. But you made me laugh. (Sorry, dear :) )
http://TRImagination.com/ Lee Graham

Hi Cheryl, I'm a bit behind and catching up. Just saw this article. I highly recommend a service like Backblaze. $5 per month, does real-time, incremental backups which really can prevent a total nightmare. Hope all is well with you!

http://www.culturesmithconsulting.com/news cherylsmith

Well, you have been a little busy lately. I'll check it out – thanks for the tip.

Now, get back to honeymooning!

lol

lol never mind that it’s a MAC – at times like these, rational thinking goes out the window

How Serious is a Mac Kernel Panic?

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