Kernel Panic - Can't restore

[Maximos]

Hello there, my first post.

Talking about: Macbook Air 2,1 A1304 13" with SSD and nVidia 9400M. Installed El Capitan. Got my mac in German and changed to English. I got this mac from ebay from Netherlands.

I got my first mac, an old one, just to do my job. I needed something a bit faster than my netbook. Ended up with a good running notebook. So, I was playing around and installed a bunch of programs and some old games (I Don't play games, just wanted to test the GPU and overall graphics performance). After that I wanted to restore it. Not only to speed it up by removing every stuff I installed but also since part of my job includes fixing computers, I wanted to learn how things about macs too (I'm working on Windows for years and never had a mac on my hand).

My problem is that I'm getting a kernel panic. People might say press command + R or command + control (if I'm not wrong) + R for internet restore or whatever. The problem is that I'm getting a kernel error while pressing those keys. I don't have the logs right now (I'm on a PC) but basically a restore partition is the cause. Says recovery.boot or something. I also tried to boot a recovery partition. Pressing alt while booting. Choosing some stuff in german which means recovery-10.11 so, it's an El Capitan. After trying so many ways and times to restore I even tried to change the language back to german since the recovery partition is in german (german name). Of course nothing changed.

I tried to re install El Capitan but no luck (I do have the OS X cd. I think it's 10.5 version). I don't have an external drive. I tried to download it but found only one single version which after booting (successfully) from usb says it's corrupted or something. Took me 4 days to try all that stuff and nothing works. I gave up and asking for help.

Things that may help troubleshoot: The "D' key at start up does nothing and don't show the diagnostic utility. Just starts normally. I reset the SMC (I know it doesn't matter but I also had a problem with a battery. It was charging only at 4 watts but I don't mind. It's still okay. Takes 4 hours to fully charge while using it. SMC maybe helped and saved me 10 minutes until full charge at the point I reset it. Of course did it while not charging. So, actually might helped a little).
Laptop runs at 60C-80C while using. Sometimes streaming in HD (Youtube) runs at 90C for a few seconds, then drops to 70-80 again (I read these temps are okay for MBA. I changed the thermal paste a few days ago. Helped a little from the previous one. I saw that the laptop were opened previously). I'm using a program for that (I don't think it causes a problem. Let me know if this type of app can cause that problem. I also got one for temps (widget)). I tested the ssd and it's health is 94% and all points are in great condition. Tried booting in safe mode successfully and then shutting down normally (nothing changed).

I read that some applications may cause Kernel Panic. I removed anything I installed. My laptop is clean instead of a few programs (photoshop and coda and some others) which I installed after I tried to restore my mac.

Kernel Panic log after pressing COMMAND + R

*** Panic Report ***
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff801ad9654e): "Process 1 exec of /sbin/launchd failed, errno 5"@/Library/Caches/com.apple.xbs/Sources/xnu/xnu-3248.60.10/bsd/kern/kern_exec.c:4584
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff8078c3bde0 : 0xffffff801a8dab52
0xffffff8078c3be60 : 0xffffff801ad9654e
0xffffff8078c3bee0 : 0xffffff801ad6df9b
0xffffff8078c3bf00 : 0xffffff801adb3dd1
0xffffff8078c3bf40 : 0xffffff801a8d54cd
0xffffff8078c3bf80 : 0xffffff801a9cef3e
0xffffff8078c3bfa0 : 0xffffff801a9ec52f

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: init
Boot args: rp=file:///com.apple.recovery.boot/BaseSystem.dmg

Mac OS version:
Not yet set

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 15.6.0: Thu Jun 23 18:25:34 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3248.60.10~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: B5AA8E3E-65B6-3D0E-867B-8DCCF81E536C
Kernel slide: 0x000000001a600000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff801a800000
__HIB text base: 0xffffff801a700000
System model name: MacBookAir2,1 (Mac-F42D88C8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 5481841251
last loaded kext at 4799023188: com.apple.driver.DiskImages.SparseDiskImage 417.4 (addr 0xffffff7f9f679000, size 20480)
loaded kexts:
com.apple.driver.DiskImages.SparseDiskImage 417.4
com.apple.driver.DiskImages.ReadWriteDiskImage 417.4
com.apple.driver.DiskImages.UDIFDiskImage 417.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 245.4
com.apple.driver.DiskImages.HTTPBackingStore 417.4
com.apple.driver.DiskImages.FileBackingStore 417.4
com.apple.driver.DiskImages.RAMBackingStore 417.4
com.apple.BootCache 38
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 3.0.1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver 245.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 245.4
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 327.6
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.8.5
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43224 700.36.24
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 3.1.8
com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBOHCIPCI 1.0.1
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 161.0.0
com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBEHCIPCI 1.0.1
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 2.1
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 218.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementDriver 218.0.0
com.apple.security.quarantine 3
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 8
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 163
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 218.0.0
com.apple.kext.MojoKDP 2.0.2
com.apple.driver.DiskImages.KernelBacked 417.4
com.apple.driver.usb.IOUSBHostHIDDevice 1.0.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 250.5
com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBHub 1.0.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 900.4.1
com.apple.driver.usb.cdc 5.0.0
com.apple.driver.usb.networking 5.0.0
com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBHostCompositeDevice 1.0.1
com.apple.driver.AppleXsanScheme 3
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 1110.26
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 3.2
com.apple.driver.corecapture 1.0.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 900.4.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 900.4.1
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.8.1
com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBOHCI 1.0.1
com.apple.driver.NVSMU 2.2.9
com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBEHCI 1.0.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHostFamily 1.0.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHostMergeProperties 1.0.1
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 2.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.security.sandbox 300.0
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 2
com.apple.driver.AppleMobileFileIntegrity 1.0.5
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 417.4
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 2.1
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.4.6f1
com.apple.driver.AppleFDEKeyStore 28.30
com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily 31
com.apple.driver.AppleCredentialManager 1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 4.0
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.9
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4
com.apple.kec.pthread 1
com.apple.kec.corecrypto 1.0


Any ideas?

 

[harryb2448]

Sure.

Nrext time go to Console in utilities and post the entire log here.

 

[Maximos]

Added logs. Is there a way to put a snippet so my post will not look that big? Thanks. I got this log not from console but from a report form after booting into El Capitan again.

 

[chscag]

From the kernel panic report it appears you're trying to load a SparseDiskImage from a Time Capsule backup? And that's what is causing the kernel panics.

So, what's going on? We need much more info.

 

[harryb2448]

See operation system is marked 'Not Yet Set'.

What operating system is on the MBA and remember it is a 2008 model so some of the games and software may not be compatible.

 

[pm-r]

Talking about: Macbook Air 2,1 A1304 13" with SSD and nVidia 9400M. Installed El Capitan.

… … …

I tried to re install El Capitan but no luck

I'm confused — is/was El Capitan installed or not?? If so, was it ever working properly?

If you're trying to boot and access the "Recovery HD" volume, hold down the option key when booting. Not the command+x key combos.





- Patrick
======

 

[Maximos]

First of all thank you for trying to help me.

Lets start:
-There is nothing like time capsule. Just an MBA. Not external driver or whatever, Just it's own ssd.
-Yes, it's an 2008 model. Many games are not compatible etc but that's not an issue. I downloaded minecraft and a few others. As for the minecraft it does work on high settings but not smoothly enough. Lowering the settings a bit will make it flawless. Anyway I don't plan to play it.
-Yes, there is an El Capital on it right now. Running smoothly. I'm typing this message in my mba right now. No issues at all. Internet, photshop, some code in coda, youtube, set settings (date, time) and visuals for my own needs. Hotkeys for brightness, webcamera, sound, etc. All work.
-If I was not clear: I tried entering in recovery mode (cmd + R) and got a kernel panic. After that I tried to restore via restore volume by pressing command button (or option still forgetting) at startup. After booting it showed me a Mac HDD (the default booting volume with el capitan) and a Restore-10.11 partition (the word restore is in German). After pressing the restore partition I'm getting a kernel panic. So, both restore and recovery mode end up at kernel panic.

Let me know about the other info you want me to supply you with. If you think reinstalling mac os x (which came with the laptop) and then upgrading it to el capitan (anyway how easy is that? through app store? Will it be free?) will resolve all my issues, I will just get an external drive and do it.
One more question: After installing a new MAC OS X will it automatically create a recovery partition? Thank you.

 

[pm-r]

One more question: After installing a new MAC OS X will it automatically create a recovery partition? Thank you.

Normally, if and when upgrading to or installing another OS X version or possibly creating a new version if a compatible Mac OS X COMBO Update was run with OS X 10.7.x and above, but don't forget that OS X 10.11.x El Capitan is the latest OS X version that Mac can use.

If you still have the OS X installer, you could always just use it to install onto a spare external drive and get a new Recovery HD installed on it.

Then boot from that volume to set it up so you can use it.




- Patrick
======

 

[Maximos]

To external drive? Then I need an external dvd drive and hdd. Plus it's an A1304 MBA and has only one USB. That mean I need a usb hub too. Too complicated when I can just install it on my ssd using an external drive which I don't have. Is there a way to install mac os x using usb? I mean, to create a bootable usb on my PC using the old dvd that came with the notebook. Will it be easy and free to upgrade to El Capitan again from 10.5 (I think this version came with that mac)?

 

[pm-r]

To external drive? Then I need an external dvd drive and hdd. Plus it's an A1304 MBA and has only one USB.

I'm sorry but I'm too confused and not really understanding what your current Mac situation is or what exactly you're wanting to do.

Do you have a knowledgable Mac person or tech close by you could get some help from??




- Patrick
======

 

[Maximos]

I thought I described my situation. Got a macbook air. In fully working condition. Used it and now I want to restore it without a particular reason (it is still working perfectly). I'm pressing COMMAND + R to restore it and getting a kernel error I posted above. Notebook restart and still works great as I was before the kernel panic. My problem is that I can't restore it because I'm getting a kernel error. Simple as that.
Even more simple:
Working mba which I want to sell and trying to fresh install the El Capitan (I don't plan to sell it. just making things even simpler for you) > trying to restore by pressing command + r on boot > getting kernel error

 

[Maximos]

The same kernel panic shows up when I'm holding option on boot and then selecting on recovery volume. I don't know what it says that no os has been set. The notebook works great

 

[pm-r]

The same kernel panic shows up when I'm holding option on boot and then selecting on recovery volume.

Thanks for adding that info.

Did it happen to say what OS X version it was in the window to choose what volume???




- Patrick
======

 

[Maximos]

10.11.7 (might be 6 but I think it's 7). The volume called recovery-10.11.7 (the word recovery is in german). Same kernel panic.

 

[pm-r]

Even more simple:
Working mba which I want to sell and trying to fresh install the El Capitan (I don't plan to sell it. just making things even simpler for you) > trying to restore by pressing command + r on boot > getting kernel error

Fine.

So maybe this could help and get you around the non-helpful interference:

If you can't start up from macOS Recovery

Newer Mac computers and some older Mac computers automatically try to start up from macOS Recovery over the Internet when unable to start up from the built-in recovery system. When that happens, you see a spinning globe instead of an Apple logo during startup.

To manually start up from macOS Recovery over the Internet, hold down Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R at startup.

If you still can't start up from macOS Recovery, and you have a Mac that is able to start up completely, you might be able to create an external Mac startup disk to start up from instead.

macOS Recovery over the Internet, the Reinstall macOS utility, and the Get Help Online utility all require an Internet connection. If you need to connect to a Wi-Fi network, move your pointer to the top of the screen, then choose a network from the Wi-Fi status menu .

Published Date: Jun 19, 2017

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

I don't know if you will have any control over which OS X version you might end up with when using that method.

I hope that helps, but you do seem to be rather limited with the resources you have at hand like another working Mac and extra or any external hard drives. So you may eventually need to get some outside help.

Not sure where you live, but good luck and this is about the last I can suggest and offer.


EDIT:
I just had a thought and I'm not sure that your 2008-2009 era Macbook Air 2,1 can even use Apple's Internet Recovery feature. I have a feeling that a 2010 model is required.

So you rally might need some outside help to do what you're wanting to do. Sorry to say, but I could be wrong.





- Patrick
======

 

[Maximos]

Already read that. Thank you for the info. I'm finally managed to download El Capitan from App Store and now installing it on new volume. If it works I will just erase the previous one and keep this one. And I will ask again. Will it automatically create a new recovery partition? And I hope a working one. If no, how can I make a new recovery partition?

Generally the issue with the kernel panic I found when I tried to install windows (dual boot) on that air. I saw a tutorial where I had to edit a plist file and saw that my account was limited (protected. even though I as an admin). To remove the restriction, people were editing some args in terminal (before booting an os. I don't remember what key activates it) and I got there my first kernel panic. After that, I tried to fix that stuff following another tutorial where people were telling me to restore the machine by pressing command + r and I saw that kernel panic again. That's how I found it. note, my actions didn't cause that problem. I wasn't been able to mess with the system because of the kernel panic. So, in this state I got this macbook.

 

[pm-r]

Here's one more possible suggestion you could possibly use:
How to Create & Restore a Recovery Partition in Mac OS X
http://osxdaily.com/2016/07/03/recreate-recovery-partition-mac/

PS: Glad to read you were able to get the El Cat/n installer to use.
Make a backup duplicate copy and keep in somewhere safe so the install doesn't remove it.

I was going to make the suggestion if you could get the installer to partition the boot drive and install the new OS there and then boot from it and remove the old OS and its volume partition but that's sure not the best way.

Hmm… re-reading your last post, maybe that's just what you're doing.

Good luck.





- Patrick
======

 

[pm-r]

And I forgot to add, optionally you can enable the debug menu in Disk Utility, followed by selecting "Show every partition" in this menu to see if the Recovery HD partition gets listed.

You can actually delete any "Recovery HD" that is corrupt. Fiddly figuring out which is which by renaming temporally etc. but doable.

See:
https://www.cnet.com/news/manage-all-partitions-with-disk-utility-in-os-x/




- Patrick
======

 

[Maximos]

Got it work! The kernel panic reason is unknown. Reinstalling system was the solution. Fast tutorial for people struggling like I did. How to install El Capitan (and other versions too I think) without extrenal storage or dvd drive:
-Got to apple website (search in google for HT206886) and press "get El Capitan from the App Store." Do it on MAC only. Doing it on PC will not work. On mac the app store will be started. Note, searching in app store for download will not work. Use the link from apple.
-After downloading go to disk utility and create a new partition from your main hdd/ssd. Create a 12 GB (you will not need more 7 but just in case).
-Create a volume of about 20GB an called it whatever you want. It will your main. Don't worry about the size you will remove the previous version later.
-Go to HT201372 (in google again) and read it. Follow the instructions. Just make sure you didn't move the installer outside applications folder. Choose the 12GB volume you created not the 20GB one.
-After finishing (you should see a successful message or at least no errors) restart your mac, hold alt/option key. Boot the El Capitan Installer (the 12GB partition. It will be called [Version] Installer)
-Follow the instructions and choose the 20GB as where you want to install the mac os x.
-Wait for install and follow the instructions. After finishing the installer delete the previous drive & the installer (12GB). This way you will lose all your data from previous version but will have all the storage.
Actually this is it. Helped me a lot. Took me a few days to realize I can install it that way. This method helps in case of "file system" error if you tried to install it on external drive.
If wrote something wrong or something people should avoid please correct me. I'm just writing how I did it and it works.

 

[Slydude]

I believe every OS version since Apple shifted to the recovery partition setup makes that partition automatically. El Capitan and beyond certainly do that. Following Patrick's idea for showing the recovery partition in Disk Utility is OK. My preferred method though would be to attempt to boot from the recovery partition.

The presence of a recovery partition would be great news unless something doesn't finish properly and you can't boot from it. Trust me, the time to find out whether your recovery partition works properly is before you need it.