What are the causes of Kernel Panic in MAC OS X

[Enriqueta]

Hi,
I had faced laste week Kernel Panic in my MAC computer. The system crashed and freezes. I restarted the computer and things were fine. But what can be the exact cause of Kernel Panic. Recently I had only installed a new video editing software. That was also a license copy. Does hardware can also cause this type of crash in MAC. What should I do here to resolve this problem and I also need the precautions that can help me to avoid this.

[jesse]

There can be both hardware and software cause for Kernel Panic. First of all the most basic cause which I found is implementing cheap quality of RAM in it. A RAM defective or poor quality of the same can cause kernel panic. Always buy RAM certified Apple compatible. I you are using a Barrettes RAM then you must note down that it does not meets Apple's specifications or defective which is causing the issue.

[SalVatore]

It is possible to check the ram status before replacing. To check the status of your strips of RAM, you can use Drive Genius, Check-Up, TechTool Pro or TechTool Deluxe offering testing RAM. You can find out the that what is your RAM status. Otherwise there can be other fault issue. Like any third party buggy software. Try to remove the application and check back again.

[Dr. V]

Kernel panic can again cause due to some USB connections are not always very stable and can cause kernel panic. Try this if you disconnect your device, then connect them one by one to find the culprit. Always try to connect your devices in the first place in both USB ports on your computer and if you have more than two devices (often the case), use a USB hub of good quality it is very important. Preferably, choose also a hub equipped with its own power supply unit. Certainly you should plug it in and then have yet a wire dangling behind your desk, but your Mac OS X that will do it better.

[Devasis]

A poorly written application, not always compatible with OS X, or even corrupt can also cause Kernel Panic. Be always careful what you install on your computer and, if possible, note somewhere that you install / uninstall and dates of these transactions. Thus, if an application turns out to be uselessness and if you see many Kernel Panic, then you can easily identify the culprit and uninstall the new software's from your Mac. If you know of have moved or renamed a file or file system in Mac OS X, you must reinstall Mac OS X. Simply replace the element is not sufficient in this case then that can also cause the crash.

[Solomon]

In fact, in software, cases of Kernel Panic can be many and it is therefore impossible for you to catalog here. The important is to determine the origins of the Kernel Panic. If you've managed to discover what application is faulty, first try to uninstall then reinstall (it may be one element of this application is corrupt). If this is not beneficial, then it is better to uninstall the application. Some reasons can be if you recently changed a file system, reinstall Mac OS X. ,

[gipfelstuermer]

yes, a hardware defect can cause kernel panics.

last fall a one year old 17" macbook pro nearly turned me insane during two weeks, where it encountered a lot of of kernel panics which finally broke down OSX, and found me reinstalling OSX in between. it even did KP's during the install process. so then I finally went to a Apple authorized distributor around the block (where they host some quite competent folks in the tech dept.), and after a while testing they found out that the mainboard was defective. first they also had thought that it would have something to do with the RAM slowly failing, but it was a part of the mainboard. changed it and since then the beast is running as it should.