Q&A: Dealing With a Kernel Panic

Q.

My Mac recently froze and put up an alert message on the whole screen saying to restart the computer. What caused this type of crash?

A.

That type of crash is called a “kernel panic” and it occurs when the computer’s operating system encounters a major error. (The kernel is the core of an operating system and manages the communication between the computer’s hardware and software.) This sort of fatal system error is sometimes compared to the situation informally known as the Blue Screen of Death on Windows systems.

Network and hardware issues have been known to cause kernel panics. If the Mac had a kernel panic just once and seems fine after a reboot, the crash may have resulted from a random glitch.

After a kernel panic, Apple advises starting the Mac up in Safe Mode by holding down the Shift key as the Mac restarts. In Safe Mode, the Mac runs a directory check on its start-up drive and temporarily disables unnecessary components so that just the basic operating system is running.

If the Mac starts up fine in Safe Mode, try restarting it again normally. If it boots up fine, go to the Apple menu and choose Software Update to make sure your Mac has the latest system patches and updates available from Apple.

If the Mac continues to crash, there may be a more serious problem with the system. Try to get as much information about what you were doing when the crash occurred, as sometimes kernel panics can be linked to certain tasks or external devices connected to the computer.

Apple has a list of detailed suggestions for troubleshooting a kernel panic on its site. If this sort of activity does not appeal to you, you may want to make an appointment at your nearest Apple Store Genius Bar or with an authorized service provider for professional help.