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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Kernel Panic after security update

andvari - May 29, 2008 - 6:59 pm

Hello Everyone, I'm having a terrible problem with os X and the timing couldn't be worst cause I have to use of data in there, print etc...bare with me if I describe all the error symptoms throughly but I think it's better than having you guessing.

anyway yesterday at night I did a software update, I chose to install a security update...suddenly the screen turned gray with the typical message in 4 languages and told me to turn off the computer, been there done that, except...after rebooting I got a kernel panic saying "Unable to find driver for this platform". Now, this happened some time ago and I was able to fix it by login in safe mode...unfortunately, Now it's impossible...I keep pressing shift but kernel panic appears again..maybe I'm doing it wrong?

b) As this didn't work, I tried starting from the installation CD by pressing C and it worked, so I went to the disk utility
first aid and chose both repair disk permissions and repair disk..

Permission repair apparently fixed some messed up permissions
but to my bad luck, repair disk could fix anything: "the underlying task reported failure on exit (-9972)" volume could not be repaired

I don't know what else to do

Fortunately (maybe) I have 2 additional partitions in my Mac and I installed tiger in one of them..in other words I can start OSx in this partition...however I'm afraid I'll mess something up so I haven't done anything at this point...also, the data In my main partition (the one with the messed up OSX) seems intact, but I'm not sure..

c) I tried the usual recommendations for kernel panic, (disk utility, checking if system folder is in place...but no luck )

I have considered maybe re-installing the whole OS but I'm afraid it will erase or corrupt my data...and believe me, it is crucial that nothing happens to it since I have no backup and I need it by tommorrow

Finally...other things that happened -though maybe unrelated to this issue- before I did the security update I had this weird problem where any application I opened crashed..still, I restarted and no problems...and also some windows started popping, I don't know..several bugs happened but it could be because I tend to use several ram-consuming apps at the same time and as I said, after restarting everything went back to normal

Again..sorry for being so boringly long but I want to cover as much as possible
thanks for your help!!!

Powermac G5, Dual Processor 1.8 GHz Powerpc, 4GB mem, 250 GB HD Mac OS X (10.4)

DeltaMac - May 29, 2008 - 7:34 pm

"the underlying task reported failure on exit (-9972)" volume could not be repaired"

This is a typical error that I see when attempting to check the hard drive. It's also a serious error. I suggest that you back up any data that you need to save, then try reformatting (erasing) the hard drive. You would then restore your original system, and reinstall all your other apps, then copy your files from your backup.

If you want to try something else, purchase Disk Warrior, and boot to that DW disk, which is a very good tool that can get your hard drive working again.
In my experience, when you get that 'underlying task..." error, it's only a matter on time until your hard drive dies completely.
Your PowerMac G5 is very easy to replace the hard drive, or add to the second drive slot. You can install your OS X on the new hard drive, and then you can browse to your old drive to find your files.
Good luck - let me know how it goes....
- Dale

andvari - May 29, 2008 - 7:55 pm

Hey thanks for the quick reply!!

Yeah I considered diskwarrior, but it is so expensive that I don't know if I can get the money...I'm really worried about what you said about the hard drive dying completely!! I have no way of making backups unless I'd burn a lot of DVDs...by the way do you mean that the hardware must be replaced? see, the thing is that
I have another drive/partition with osx installed on it and it works fine, I'm able to even read and acess files on the damaged partition..so my guess is that it has to be some error in the OS.. I already copied my data from the damaged drive to the good drive/partition, and now I don't know if it would be wise to re-install...format or what..never done it before.. but if the hardware is the problem then I really am in lots of trouble!!

I really have no experience with a Mac I've never had to open the machine and right now I'm short of cash (actually I need my mac to make some )..It really worries me Is there anything else I could do??

Thanks a lot

andvari - May 29, 2008 - 8:15 pm

andvari - May 29, 2008 - 8:51 pm

Sorry for the over-posting I was giving "reload" on my browser it must have posted several times the response...sorry!!!

DeltaMac - May 29, 2008 - 9:28 pm

You must have 2 hard drives. That's good! Use and boot to the good drive. You will still have a problem with that other drive, and it won't fix itself. If you copy all the files and documents that you need from that bad drive, you can then erase that drive, and it may function OK.

andvari - May 30, 2008 - 5:35 pm

Yes I can boot and acess files from that good drive, problem is that
I can't acess some applications..maybe it has to do with permissions stored in the other drive?

Is there a way to re-install the OS, without losing the data...oh and also -just to make sure- my hardware is not in trouble right??

Thanx a lot!!

DeltaMac - May 30, 2008 - 5:45 pm

Yes, you can reinstall without losing data. Just boot to the installer disk, and at the screen where you choose the destination drive, click the Options button, and choose the Archive & Install option, then continue with the install.
I would suggest that is not a good idea with the original drive, as the error normally may be fixed by erasing the drive. That will mean that you lose anything that is not backed up. You can copy those items to your second hard drive, eh?
- Dale

andvari - May 30, 2008 - 5:56 pm

Oh yeah I know what you mean, but I meant if I can re-install
the Os in the damaged drive/partition in order to "reset" it, after all, the problem seems to be a damaged system file or something so my guess is that re-installing the whole OS (but without erasing the data I already have on that "bad" drive/partition)

I had Osx installed in the good partition/drive some time ago because some similar problem happened, so after this whole mess
ocurred I booted from the good drive and now I copied all the data from the bad drive, I'm just curious if re-installing the whole
OS in the bad drive is possible without losing any data (which now has been backuped anyway)

thanx for your help Dale

DeltaMac - May 30, 2008 - 6:38 pm

No, if your data is already backed up, then you don't lose that data. If that has been done, then you can forget about the data on the bad drive. Erase it, and be done.
Keep in mind that erasing that bad drive does not always help. If the drive is failing, it will continue to fail. There really is no way to predict how long it will continue to work, even if it seems to work OK after erasing the drive. With the low cost of drives - you can find 500 GB hard drives for less the $100 - it's not really worth the effort to limp along with a drive that you are already suspect is failing.
Good luck!
- Dale

andvari - May 30, 2008 - 8:47 pm

Oh ok gotcha. just ONE more question, I hope it not too much trouble...I just have one doubt..you seem to be referring as these drives as hardware...but to me they look more like partitons...maybe I got the concepts messed up..but aren't partitions just sections of one same HD? how can I tell if this bad drive is simply a partition or a real hard drive? thanks again!!

andvari - May 30, 2008 - 9:19 pm

Oh!! now I realize...Yeah..see, I went into the system profiler..turns out I have 2 Hard drives, 1 maxtor and 1 st3800...
where

Maxtor has 2 "volumes" (what I have been calling "partitions"):
g5-100 (what I have been refering to as the "good" drive and g5-200 (where I keep some apps)

the st3800 drive has also 2 partitions:
the "andvari g'5" - the "bad" volume
and edrive (which isn't really a volume but some recovery app)

So, what you say is the most probable thing is that this damaged drive will soon be unusable so I should think about buying a new one..right?

Sorry about the mix-up..but I bought this machine on Ebay so I didn't know how the whole thing was organized or perhaps "organized", plus I'm a new-born mac user (I was a pc user) so you can see why I didn't get the idea.... anyway...seems like one way or the other I have to get some money huh? either I give diskwarrior a chance or buy a new drive...so one last last last question I promise!! actually more like an opinion....should I buy a external hardrive? thanks alot and sorry for my ignorance but as I said I'm a completely new mac user

DeltaMac - May 30, 2008 - 9:44 pm

You have two hard drives.
One is giving your problems.
If it wasn't so easy to replace, then an external would be OK.
It's the easiest Mac to replace a hard drive.
Open the side door, and look in to top section. You will see both hard drives. Disconnect the connectors on the lower hard drive, and move the little locking lever out of the way, and pull the hard drive out. If it is the Seagate, then that's your bad drive. If it has Maxtor on the label, then pull the other hard drive out. You have to remove the lower one first, in any case. You'll find that the upper drive moves down as it comes out, which is why the lower one comes out first.
Transfer the small locator pins from the old drive to the new drive, and reinsert the drive(s). Reconnect the drive cables, and close the side door. The only time you need tools is for the little locator pins...
Erase the new hard drive using Disk Utility, and it's ready for use.

Check out newegg.com for good, cheap hard drives. You need an SATA model.
Is it reasonable to get an external instead of a replacement internal. Sure! But, the internal will be cheaper, and it's too easy to simply replace that drive.
Do you presently need that extra space on the bad drive?