Mac: The Grey Curtain of doom!

Millennium3 · 30-07-2008, 08:19 PM

Have any Mac users come across the Grey Curtain of Doom? Which I gather is the 'Kernel Panic Screen' which can occur with Tiger. I am not technically knowledgeable of these things - just picked up an explanation on the net, but don't know what I have to do to fix it.

bugzilla.processing: Bug 712 - Gray Curtain of Death / Kernel Panics in OS X while using the editor

Apple - Support - Discussions - The gray curtain drops and the message ...

Apple - Support - Discussions - Grey curtain and message "You must ...

John Connor · 01-08-2008, 03:40 PM

Yes. Had about three KPs. In five years on six Macs.

Reboot to fix. If it still keeps KPing, it's probably a hardware issue (usually RAM). Certain badly written (usually Java) apps may cause it too.

Millennium3 · 01-08-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Connor

Yes. Had about three KPs. In five years on six Macs.

Reboot to fix. If it still keeps KPing, it's probably a hardware issue (usually RAM). Certain badly written (usually Java) apps may cause it too.

Thanks John - yes it does keep happening - I have been talking to a few Mac repairers - not been that impressed by responses - I think I live in an area particularly sparse of Mac expertise.

John Connor · 01-08-2008, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millennium3

Thanks John - yes it does keep happening - I have been talking to a few Mac repairers - not been that impressed by responses

I'd be looking at any peripherals first - try running without them to isolate any potential problems.

Then go for the software - try removing any haxies or anything you've got going. Then see if it happens while you're running a particular app.

Finally, if all else fails, go buy a memory stick and swap it in (hey, it's a good excuse to upgrade anyways!).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millennium3

I think I live in an area particularly sparse of Mac expertise.

So, you live in the UK then?

g hall · 01-08-2008, 08:52 PM

Blue screen is so much more fashionable - Best buy a wintel PC - OK I'm only joking

Westcountryman · 01-08-2008, 08:56 PM

Use Linux, much better

.

Millennium3 · 01-08-2008, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g hall

Blue screen is so much more fashionable - Best buy a wintel PC - OK I'm only joking

I understand Tesco's 'Gateway' computer deals are excellent. The ex bought a laptop from there for one of my daughters when she stated university last year - I think it functioned for the whole of her first day, but slowly.

Akria · 01-08-2008, 09:24 PM

A properly configured Linux system can't be beaten. That's why one such system had an uptime of over 11 years, and why 75% of the Top 500 list of of supercomputers run Linux.

The solution to your kernel panic problems, really, is Linux. You can recover your data from the Mac partition.

Linux - freedom, stability, flexibility. You know you want it.

John Connor · 01-08-2008, 09:28 PM

^ I'll bet that was Akira banging on about how good Linux is and not really knowing what a KP entails.

Akria · 01-08-2008, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Connor

^ I'll bet that was Akira banging on about how good Linux is and not really knowing what a KP entails.

I've suffered three today in a virtual machine, and two the day before yesterday.
In all but one of the cases the problem was alpha quality software; only one was hardware.

Your precious Mac, like it or not, is not invulnerable to dodgy coding.

30-07-2008, 08:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Millennium3 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Berkshire Posts: 4,617	Mac: The Grey Curtain of doom! Have any Mac users come across the Grey Curtain of Doom? Which I gather is the 'Kernel Panic Screen' which can occur with Tiger. I am not technically knowledgeable of these things - just picked up an explanation on the net, but don't know what I have to do to fix it. bugzilla.processing: Bug 712 - Gray Curtain of Death / Kernel Panics in OS X while using the editor Apple - Support - Discussions - The gray curtain drops and the message ... Apple - Support - Discussions - Grey curtain and message "You must ...

01-08-2008, 03:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
John Connor Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hard Working Families' Socialist Republic of Untied Kingdomistan Posts: 1,054 Party: None	Yes. Had about three KPs. In five years on six Macs. Reboot to fix. If it still keeps KPing, it's probably a hardware issue (usually RAM). Certain badly written (usually Java) apps may cause it too. __________________ There are three types of people in this world: Libertarians, fascists and those who haven't been paying attention. Users on ignore list: Akria, Besoeker, Clippo, david H, Ian C.

01-08-2008, 08:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
g hall Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: erewhon Posts: 5,638	Blue screen is so much more fashionable - Best buy a wintel PC - OK I'm only joking __________________ "That government is best which governs least." "This is a sharp Medicine, but it is a Physician for all diseases and miseries". "To be "matter of fact" about the world is to blunder into fantasy --and dull fantasy at that, as the real world is strange and wonderful." TANSTAAFL TANJ

01-08-2008, 08:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
Westcountryman Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Westcountry. Posts: 5,922 Party: None	Use Linux, much better . __________________ Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietam - "This hand of mine, which is hostile to tyrants, seeks by the sword quiet peace under liberty."

01-08-2008, 09:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
Akria Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Grimsby, NELincs Posts: 2,477 Party: None	A properly configured Linux system can't be beaten. That's why one such system had an uptime of over 11 years, and why 75% of the Top 500 list of of supercomputers run Linux. The solution to your kernel panic problems, really, is Linux. You can recover your data from the Mac partition. Linux - freedom, stability, flexibility. You know you want it. __________________ I am getting very tired of people not reading my posts properly. Please do not reply to me unless you are sure you have not missed out the key points I am making and key words I am using. http://real-democracy.co.uk \| Admin and proud The commonality of mankind: If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?

01-08-2008, 09:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
John Connor Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hard Working Families' Socialist Republic of Untied Kingdomistan Posts: 1,054 Party: None	^ I'll bet that was Akira banging on about how good Linux is and not really knowing what a KP entails. __________________ There are three types of people in this world: Libertarians, fascists and those who haven't been paying attention. Users on ignore list: Akria, Besoeker, Clippo, david H, Ian C.

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