http://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=7636

I get a 'kernel panic' in Linux too, with the *latest* Apple Firmware...
With an older version I didn't... so we can conclude something here.

And I rebooted it twice... and now Linux doesn't kernel panic anymore... (linux doesn't crash the way osx does)

ok, i'm going to sum up what i've experienced these days, just to see if anyone had the same exact problem (i think even slightly different behaviours could be caused by independent issues).

MacOSX:
- when rebooting, every once in a while the ibook refuses to come up, i hear the startup sound but the screen remains blank. the only solution is to wait 5 minutes and retry (pram/nvram resetting doesn't solve this). this happens also when airport is deactivated, so it could be an independent problem.
- if i try to use airport, i get a KP. sometimes immediately, sometimes after a while (never more than 5 minutes); when i come back to macosx (either in safe mode or not) it says no airport is present in this machine. no KPs in this case, but if i reboot once more i get a minimum of 3 KPs before the login, then airport comes back (with KPs again).
just to compare with others, my airport firmware version is "405.1 (3.90.34.0.p18)".
i have no external peripherals attached, and i'm not using third party software.

Linux:
kernel 2.6.18-2 doesn't panic, but sometimes bcm43xx module causes errors on loading/unloading. airport works (not well, but it does), but if i use it when i reboot i get the same blank screen as with OSX.

I note that both 'forest' and 'Skinkie' apparently have dual-boot machines: Linux and OS X.
Is this a commonality among those having problems with Airport and kernel panics?
If so, maybe it is merely an incompatibility with whatever was done to make the machines dual-bootable.

As can be seen in the bugzilla. The new firmware makes Linux behave badly too. (As in Bus error etc.) I hope apple releases a software update for the iBooks too. The MacBooks got an update yesterday.

http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...te2006002.html

You seem to have misunderstood what I was asking.
I wasn't asking if the problem affects Linux.
I was asking if anyone who doesn't have Linux installed on their Mac is experiencing this problem. I.e. is it only a problem if you have installed Linux?

Look at the discussion forums at Apple. The iBook or the Airport fora's. Lots of same problems - no Linux involved.

Well, I don't use Linux too much on my personal machine (I have a school one I use for that) but that sounds exactly like my problem. Genius Bar's telling me it's part of the logic board error (which they -still- won't admit is a widespread problem). As for the blank screen, I found an article here that describes a possible fix to it. I haven't tried it myself, so I won't yay or nay it, but it does look promising.

IMHO, us Aug/Sept2005 G4 users (or all in general having the problem) need to push Apple harder to fix this problem. =/

Just joined to let you (and hopefully somebody at Apple) know: Here's one more with the exact same problem.
- Bought my iBook in September 2005
- Never had a problem until about 3 weeks ago
- Since then, activating Airport will crash the machine, sometimes immediatly, sometimes after a few minutes
- Since the first kernel panic happened, a successful reboot of the iBook is the exception. (I've had it all, from screen remaining black after the chime to the open firmware screen to kernel panics while booting (the grey screen with an apple and the spinning wheel on it)
- Tried reinstalling OS X, tried different user profiles, tried PRAM/NVRAM resets
- Tried going back to older OS X versions - nothing helped. So I'm not sure if the problem is related to 10.4.8 itself, but maybe something (firmware stuff? I don't know anything about this) that came with the update package...

Seeing so many people having this problem, and having it now, only for a few weeks after everything had worked fine for months, makes me hope it's not the hardware and there will be a solution.

How to deal with this issue (for now)

Okay guys, first of all - this is an extremely important thread, and needs to be carried on and contributed to until the problem is addressed by Apple. If you're reading but haven't registered, do so, and contribute your findings or Kernal Panic issues. The longer this goes, the better for us all.

What we do know:

It's not a linux or a dual boot issue: This problem is widespread and affects all G4 Ibooks purchased around a particular date. With me, I've had the ibook hardwired for months - no problems until I go wireless 4 days ago and bang, Kernal Panic heaven.

We've established:

- KP's are affected by the use of Airport
- KP's are intermittent
- KP's vary in regularity between users - some can't boot in, some can (my ibook can run for an hour on Airport no hitches, sometimes crashes after 3 minutes, sometimes on login!)
- KP's related to airport can happen with movement. I had a KP when I plugged in the power supply, when I adjusted the screen slightly, or raised the machine.
- The KP panic logs are all identical - you're not alone!
- Our defective models have Airport cards built in and are not under the keyboard.
- Apple servicing won't help - new logic boards don't help.
- OS X 10.4.8 and Airport firmware 405.1 seems to be the culprit - they don't work properly together (for whatever reason.)
- The firmware is a big question? I know I recently upgraded, and in the past there was a time when I used wi-fi in a bar and don't remember any KP's.
- AIRPORT WORKS: We can browse (briefly), therefore the actual system (and hardware I'm assuming) does indeed function. There are other reasons affecting it's performance and Kernal Panic issues...

- MOST IMPORTANTLY: None of this is coincidence! Don't let anyone tell you it's an isolated incident, not on this thread, or with Apple services. There are probably hundreds who view this thread each day and don't contibute - so again if you're reading, let us know.

HOW TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM?

Well unfortunately I don't have a definitive answer to solve Airport KP's on our particular G4 models - we'll need to leave that to apple. But what we can do is kick up a damn fuss.
Pay for servicing and repairs cos you're out of warranty? What a load of BS! :mad: There's no way on earth any single person with this issue should have to worry about that. This isn't our fault, it's Apple's. We already shelled out for the machines, and under consumer rights, Apple will have to fix them free of charge. You don't need a damn receipt if they're hardware or software is faulty, you need a replacement!

My advice: save this thread, send it to apple. Log a complaint and give them the link - we don't need to explain, the problem is right here in plain view.
This week I'm going to London and I'm going to print and take this thread with me and head to the Apple store and have it out with some unsuspecting employee.

The only way things get done is if people push - and this sounds like Apple need to do a recall!

WHAT DO WE CALL THIS?

It always helps if you can give a 'name' to a specific problem. It helps people (and corporations) identify an issue as real, and increases the familiarity over the internet with searches etc.
My suggestion: Airport Panic Attack! feel free to come up with something easy to remember which'll stick.


Thanks for reading guys, time to get started!

Thanks Hyperknight for taking the time and summing the thread up!

It's also a great idea to give this bundle of problems a name. Airport Panic Attack is cool, though I'll stick with Airport Panic because it's shorter and says it all.

Thanks again, I'll link here from other forums.

My article on 'Slashdot' is still pending. I called it there: 'The software update of death?' On Mac disussions there are a serveral topics describing the same ploblem.

My OpenFirmware goes mad now too... so I really wonder what broke this hard/software combination so badly... (and about Linux: can everyone with extended memory check this for me... count the amount of memory VISIBLE in Linux. I should have 1.5GB I only see 768MB, without the extra memory I do have 512MB, bug is reported at the bugzilla.)

i have 1GB, and linux sees 1010MB.. but in my case i do not think it is a linux bug, rather some weird memory size (something like 1000KB = 1MB)..

I faced exactly the same problem, so i took my ibook to a certified apple service center and after 3 weeks of repair I got it back with my logic board being replaced.

So far it's working fine..

IMPORTANT NOTE: I haven't updated anything before the problem occured (I was still using 10.4.2. and haven't upedated for ages), so this shouldn't be the problem..

Thanks Markus for that bit of info - it's nice to be able to rule out updates, and it's also interesting you were suffering with 10.4.2 rather than 10.4.8.
Would you mind specifying if you're on 405.1 Airport firmware, and what were the symptoms of crashing - did it seem to happen with movement etc. Also, when did you purchase the machine?

Next subject: does anyone find that if you leave the ibook still while using airport, making sure the vents at the rear aren't covered in any way, that it seems to function longer. Over the last few days since my last post, I've found that keeping the machine still (i.e not resting it on my lap or moving it from point A to point B) I have a much better chance of using the net wirelessly.

The whole thing is starting to stink of a manufacturing defect either way!

Keep posting guys, the more the better!

So the idea is... get your iBook very cold and try to use your airport?

Lol!
That's not likely to solve the problem (don't refrigerate it) - as someone mentioned earlier overheating might be a problem, so I thought it'd be a good idea to keep the fan section clear.
So far so good with using airport (using it now) - No idea why it's so intermittent. Two days ago it was crashing like mad, regularly.
Anyone else find the problem comes and goes?

Another with the same problem
 

I just wanted to adress that I am having the same problem too.

My panic.log:
This is for sure not an isolated problem as Apple tries to say!

Hope there will be a solution out for this soon.

What's so strange is that these things are happening roughly around the same time. I know this might be a long shot...but could this problem be the replacement batteries they did a couple of months back?
Yes, AirPort does work longer (mine goes about 30 minutes or so and no video/audio streaming, downloading big files, etc) once the iBook is not too warm. However, in my case, it also doesn't work when it's left alone after a long time. In the latter situation, for me, it instantly crashes.

Either way, AirPort's still a mess for me. It's annoying having to restart the computer (sometimes it would take several tries to make the screen turn up)so I've decided to just connect through ethernet.

However, just awhile ago, even that (ethernet) caused a kernel panic. Hopefully it's a one-time thing as I won't be able to use my computer for internet at all.
OT...I thought I subscribed to these threads earlier. Gotta check again.

Guys... there is a security update! :D I'm going to give it a try!