What is this "You need to restart your computer" message?

J

jasfa131

The Lone Deranger
Well, I was just posting on some forums and this black shade rolls down (from the top of my screen) and I can't move the mouse cursor, and it says "You need to restart your computer" in like 4 different languages. Then when I restarted it, a little dialogue pops up and says "Mac OS X quit unexpectedly" and I sent the report. What does this mean? Why did it happen?
Thanks

P.S. I didn't install any updates prior to this event, I was just using Safari and Messenger.
 
Mario8672,

Super quick summary for you: A kernel panic is a hard crash, meaning the whole computer has crashed. If it happens more than once, you may have a hardware problem. It's been years since I've been able to get one of my Macs to crash.

It seems like faulty RAM memory is the most common problem. Have you added RAM lately? Is it a new computer? Have you seen any more kernel panics?

Doug
 
A random thing ... A Kernel panic might be know as: Bluescreen of Death (In the PC World).

Also I have also found it had to get a KP!
 
In its eight-odd years, my Original BondiMac never had a kernel panic until updating to 10.4.8. Now, I can easily get a panic when using Whamb to open various web-streams (so I have gone back to iTunes.) Of course, I am running Tiger on an unsupported machine...
 
dktrickey said:
Mario8672,

Super quick summary for you: A kernel panic is a hard crash, meaning the whole computer has crashed. If it happens more than once, you may have a hardware problem. It's been years since I've been able to get one of my Macs to crash.

It seems like faulty RAM memory is the most common problem. Have you added RAM lately? Is it a new computer? Have you seen any more kernel panics?

Doug
Click to expand...
It's a new computer, no new RAM was added.
 
My new iMac just did the same thing. Ahhhhh! This is so frustrating! I am about to begin a large Final Cut project and I can't have this happening!

Is there any info I could offer to help better diagnose my problem?! I am desperate!!
 
I should mention that Safari has crashed numerous times recently.

I am downloading a new Apple Software update called Java for MacOSX10.4, a Security Update 2007-002, and a Daylights Savings Time updater. Do you think any of this could be the solution to the problem??

Can I send someone that Kernal panic code to decifer and figure out my problem?
 
Have you tried reseating the RAM? Sometimes kernel panics happen because of hardware problems. Sometimes even reseating the RAM will resolve the problem (maybe it came just a tad loose from its seat from being moved or whatnot). Also, try repairing permissions on your hard drive.
 
A kernel panic is one of two things basically: Failed/Failing Hardware or the drivers for the hardware. Something on the kernel level would cause a Kernel Panic.

My Mac Mini got a kernel panic only once - it came while trying to load USB webcam drivers to replace the Apple ones. I reverted back quickly :)

So in short, if you haven't installed any kind of drivers, and have everything unplugged, and it is STILL kernel panicing - then you are probably looking at giving Apple a call. You COULD do a reinstall, but 99% of the time on a new machine, that'll be what we call a DOA - "Defective on Arrival"
 
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