Mac OS X 10.4.1: Kernel panics when copying large files

Some users experience kernel panics when attempting to copy large files from volume to volume under Mac OS X 10.4.x. The same kernel panics do not occur for the same files when running Mac OS X 10.3.x.

One reader writes:

"I just encountered this yesterday with a clients new Dual 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5. I was transferring large Final Cut files from the old G4 we were replacing via target mode and I got Kernel Panics twice. I then copied the files from the G4 to an external FireWire drive while booted from the G4 in Panther and all went well. Plugged the drive into the G5 and copied the files back, Kernel Panic again."

MacFixIt reader Paul Tansley adds:

"I have had this problem before and now it has occurred again. I have no idea why. I'm trying to copy large folders of images from one disk to another. I've tried over Firewire 800, Firewire 400. I've unplugged everything else. I've had 6 kernel panics in a row. I've started in single user and repaired my main drive using fsck (it found no problems). I've repaired permissions etc. The problem was not specific to one folder. I tried various, even one from my main hard drive."

Finally, Mark Grubbs adds:

"I was having this same problem, copying to a LaCie Big Disk 320 connected to a new 2x2.0 G5. It would panic at around 100-200MB copied. I tried connecting FW800, FW400, to the internal port, and an external LaCie FW800 card. The same disk worked fine on G4s installed with 10.3.9 and 10.4.1, and LaCie 160s worked on the G5

"I called Apple support and they ran me through a bunch of standard stuff which didn't help. The last thing was to boot from the Hardware Test DVD and run the extended tests. There were no problems found but when I rebooted, the disk has not been a problem. I can't imagine that a hardware *test* would fix anything... But it's working now."

Index:

• AFP Issues: Not inheriting permissions, can't set file attributes
• Distorted prints from Preview.app caused by ColorSync changes
• System freezes occurring when in/entering full-screen mode; QuickTime-related
• Problems creating disk images from Mac OS X 10.3.x (Panther)- burned media
• iSync 2.0: Problems synchronizing; potential solution
• Kernel panics when copying large files
• Live spell-checking problem, solution
• Loss of AirPort connectivity/weaker signal, solutions
• Problems with Mac OS 9 system access to Mac OS X Server-stored files
• Mail.app 2.0: Bundles now disabled; Problems with POP accounts, more
• Problems mounting disk images
• Printer Problems: Launching Epson's Printer Utility
• Problems with some internal modems
• Release Notes, difference between Software Update/download versions
• Safari 2.0: Downloads window re-sizing bug
• Problems with sleep; Solutions
• Spotlight: Tips for faster searches, problems with .DAT files; more
• Third-party applications
• Widgets: Conflict with Helvetica Neue; Dashboard crashes

Resources