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M3 Pro MacBook repeatedly kernel-panics

Hello there, I don’t know whats going on with my mac! my 14-inch M3 Pro MacBook (2024) has become almost unusable because of random kernel panics.


They happen while using programs, while idle and sometimes seconds after logging back in following another panic. I used “Erase All Content and Settings” twice and set it up as new, but nothing changed. Apple Diagnostics says the memory and logic board passed.


Panic history:


• Sept. 15 — Physical-aperture fault; syslogd


• Sept. 16 — PAC failure; launchd


• Sept. 16 — PAC failure; WindowServer


• Sept. 17 — Corrupt kernel list; kernel_task


• Sept. 17 — initproc/launchd exited


• Sept. 18 — Corrupted compressed page-table entry; Opera Helper


• Sept. 18 — vm_map_lock assertion; kernel_task


• Sept. 18 — Invalid VM-entry lock; PerfPowerServices


• Sept. 18 — Kernel data abort; ControlCenter


• Sept. 18 — Kernel data abort; kernel_task


• After reset — Corrupt kernel list; ReportCrash


• After reset — Kernel data abort; APFS/Wallpaper extension


• After reset — Invalid mutex; Apple GPU/AGX drivers


• After reset — PAC failure; AppleAVD video driver


• After reset — Ticket-spinlock timeout; AppleSystemPolicy


The AppleAVD panic happened 59 minutes 14 seconds after startup. Some panics happened almost immediately after login.


AI analysis says the different corruption, pointer, memory-locking and page-table failures across unrelated Apple components could indicate intermittent logic-board, SoC, unified-memory, memory-controller or power instability. A macOS/firmware bug is still possible because I reset the settings but have not performed a full MacOs reinstall.


Has anyone seen this before? Does this look like hardware problem?


I have a Genius Bar appointment on September 26.

3 replies

Your pattern of panic reports shows a definite NON-Trend. The panics occur "all over the Map" for different panic reasons and in different BSD processes, with different extensions present.


A Non-Trend suggests you may have RAM memory problems. MacOS slightly randomizes the load point of key routines on each startup, as a hedge against fixed-address attacks. This causes a marginal memory cell to move into different routines each time your Mac starts up. This causes random and bizarre non-correlation in your panic reports from one run to the next.


Do yourself a favor and do the MacOS re-install in place -- right over the existing instance of MacOS -- to get that item OFF the list. By design, a re-install of the same version does not modify any user files.


Best Practice is to ensure that you have a Trusted Backup of your files at hand before doing any major changes to MacOS. You will be re-writing TENS of thousands of files, and if your boot drive is weak, you could lose it all.


it is unlikely to turn up anything but GROSS problems, but you should run the user Diagnostics as well. "no fault Found" does not mean"all is well" -- only that in the very small amount of time allowed, using a very limited set of tests, no gross faults were able to be detected.


In your list yes includes a plethora of hardware...


In or out of warranty you can get a free over the counter 'Apple Service Diagnostics' test /assessment

Make an appointment for a "hardware issue"

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple


Outside the USA

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support


Get your mac repaired and how much will it cost

Product Service and Repair Information - Official Apple Support


Get your Mac ready for service - Apple Support Get your Mac ready for service - Apple Support


If you have AppleCare+

AppleCare - Apple



Hi,

I suggest reinstall macOS and see if you get still kernel panics. If it doesn't help, try to run Apple Diagnostics if the kernel panics are caused by hardware related issue.

Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support