Kernel

Core i7 MacBook Pros kernel panicking with NVRM read error

A number of people with 2010 MacBook Pro systems configured with Core i7 GPUs and Nvidia graphics cards are reporting an issue where the systems periodically crash with a kernel panic. The screen shows the classic kernel panic message instructing users to hold down the power button to restart the system, and when the panic log is shown it mentions an error stating something similar to the following:

panic(cpu 2 caller 0xffffff7f809a52bf): NVRM[0/1:0:0]: Read Error 0x00000100

In addition, the kernel extensions that were loaded and being accessed when this error occurs are aspects of the … Read more

Security tool 'Hands Off' causing panics with OS X 10.6.8

There have been a few prominent issues following the update to OS X 10.6.8, though a couple of them have to do with third-party application support. One that has caused a number of users to have kernel panics is the tool Hands Off, which is a personal security program. Apparently the kernel extension for version 1.3 of the program is the culprit, and should be removed.

To do this, boot the system to Safe Mode and then locate the file "handsOff.kext" in the /Suystem/Library/Extensions/ folder. Move it out or delete it, and … Read more

Report: Windows 7 almost five times more secure than XP

Windows 7 is four to five times less vulnerable to malware infections than is Windows XP.

Those are the findings of Microsoft's latest Security Intelligence Report (PDF), which detailed in depth the state of software vulnerabilities, exploits, security breaches, and malware in 2010.

Overall, the study found that infection rates for newer Microsoft operating systems with the latest service packs are consistently lower than those for older OSes, giving Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 the highest marks for security.

Looking at the number of reported infections per 1,000 computers, Microsoft found that Windows 7 64-bit had … Read more

Time Machine causes kernel panic

Users may find that kernel panics can occur when running system utilities like Time Machine when other programs are installed and causing issues. The problem can be narrowed to a third-party installation by booting in Safe Mode. If Time Machine runs properly in Safe Mode, an extension or program is causing your crashes.

Apple Support Discussions forum user BasementJack writes:

Time machine Crashes (Kernel panic) when Run normally. When I boot in Safe mode, it runs fine. Is there a list of programs known to cause issues with Time Machine? If not where should I look? I assume my ID'… Read more

Paid developers power the Linux kernel

The Linux Foundation is releasing its "Who Writes Linux" analysis, illustrating who crafts the code, the pace of its evolution, and which companies are behind the kernel's development.

Kernel development follows a time-based release model with a new release occurring every two to three months. This is designed to help speed the development for all Linux distributions so that each one doesn't need to make kernel-specific updates or changes. More than 6,100 individual developers from more 600 different companies have contributed to the kernel since 2005, according the report.

Jim Zemlin, executive director of the … Read more

MacFixIt Answers

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer questions e-mailed from our readers. This week we have questions on missing "new message" chimes in Mail, installing iPhoto from another computer, Time Machine drives not being recognized despite being formatted properly, and how to set a system to boot to the 64-bit kernel by default.

Question: New message chimes in Mail

MacFixIt reader "Robert" asks:

I have an iMac that is 2 years old. When I purchased it I was running Leopard 10.5.8 I have since upgraded to Snow Leopard 10.6.4 I … Read more

64-bit kernel now default on Apple's Mac Pro

While the phrase "640KB RAM ought to be enough for anybody" was falsely attributed to Bill Gates, it definitely outlines a way many of us think about the computing limits we're faced with. At the time this was purportedly said, computers were just transitioning to 16-bit architectures with the Intel 8088 processor (the one used in some of the first PCs), which broke through the 64-byte memory limit of the older architecture.

In the past few years Macs and other PCs have been in a similar transition with 64-bit capable processors (starting with Apple's G5), but … Read more

Faulty bug finder

Debugging Tools for Windows offers to help rid a computer of pesky bugs, but an overly simple interface and a too complicated Help file could leave people (especially the novice) more frustrated with the cure than with the original bugs.

The program's interface was the first clue that this would be a bumpy ride. While we anticipated a few simple command icons to handle the process, the program's stark design gave us no direction for getting started. The program did offer a comprehensive Help file, but the dense jargon wasn't easy to understand. We attempted to counteract … Read more

Report: Linux developer base up 10 percent since 2008

Linux may not represent the future of all computing, but it sure provides a compelling example of what a dedicated community can accomplish.

With over 1,000 developers actively working on the Linux kernel, representing some 200 different corporations, Linux is an exceptional example of the power of open-source communities, and also speaks to the value of groups like the Linux Foundation that help to shepherd it.

Jonathan Corbet, in conjunction with the Linux Foundation, has co-authored a report focused on who writes Linux code (PDF). I reported last month on a piece of the report's data.

As a … Read more