Macbook Pro Kernel IO errors - Freezes, Extremely slow Boot

freeze mac kernel kernel-panic osx-snow-leopard

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Doing a restore from an old time machine backup resulted in the OS not booting at all. I did an install of OS X 10.6 over the existing partition with the snow leopard disk. It must have preserved user files/settings, while overwriting the system files. This solved the issue.

Even though there were signs that there was a bad block on the disk, multiple tools from Apple and multiple third party tools all indicate the disk and memory were ok, and there are other possible causes to this problem.

5,670

xdumaine

Xander Dumaine I believe in inclusion, equality, and communication. I like solving technical problems to help further those principles. I'm currently enthusiastically working in React, GraphQL, DynamoDB, AWS Lambda, and Apollo. My CV is available at http://careers.stackoverflow.com/dumaine I'm also a rock climber, cyclist, and husband. I blog at http://blog.xdumaine.com and some other stuff is at http://www.xdumaine.com

Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

xdumaine almost 2 years
Having kernel IO errors in the console, extremely slow boots, and reproducible freezes.

Tech Specs:
- Macbook Pro Early 2008
  - 4 GB ram
  - 500 GB Seagate Momentus XT HDD/SSD hybrid drive (installed late 2010)
    - Up to date firmware (SD24) a couple weeks after installation (no problems since, until now)
  - OS X 10.6.6
  - BootCamp Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
I have a small portion of the console output here (drop box link to .rtf)

Windows 7 Partition works fine. Boots normal, operates normal.

I get the line kernel disk0s2: I/O error a lot. It is reproducible on:
- Right click on anything on the dock (~5-10s hang, no beachball)
- Wrench icon in Chrome (latest version) (~45-60s hang, no menu, beachball, then ~20-40s hang, menu open, no beachball)
- Resolution change or external monitor connected (dvi-vga, been using it for > a year) (~20-30s hang on blue screen, then ~10-40s hang on desktop, readjusting sizes)
- Choosing a space from Spaces (~1-6s hang)
It also happens other times, that I'm sure have a pattern, I just haven't seen yet, but I don't think it is random.

What I have tried:
- Using Disk Utility from within OS X to verify the partition, check/repair permissions
  - no major problems found
- Using Disk utility from the snow leopard disk to repair the partition
  - no problems found
- do a disk check from within windows 7
- Using OnyX to clear system/user cache
  - No effect
- Using OnyX to check S.M.A.R.T status
  - Verified
- Using OnyX to verify disk
  - No problems found
- Using original system disks to perform "Apple Hardware Diagnostics" (quick and extended)
  - No problems found
Any ideas? I haven't yet tried reinstalling OSX. I have fairly up to date backups (time machine in OS X and manual in Windows 7) - but I'd prefer to not have to format the hard drive.

Edit: Boot time is ~4-10 minutes for OS X. Still ~1 minute for Windows

Edit 2: Forgot to mention - spotlight is slow, or non functioning. This may be due to the disk scans and such. OnyX has an option to re index that I haven't had a chance to try yet.

Update did a restore from a time machine backup from before the issues, now it won't boot at all. Hangs at apple loading logo for 30+ minutes.

Update 2: Did a "fresh install" of system files over my existing partition. I assumed this would erase everything. Fortunately (though I don't know how) when it booted (in < 1m) after the install, my files were there from the restore point I tried in update 1. No more errors, and it's running fine. I think it had to be some system file(s) corrupted, causing it.
- HikeMike over 13 years
  
  Although you ran quite a few diagnoses, have you tried another disk, e.g. if you still have the previous HDD? Restore OS X from Time Machine on it and see if the problem persists.
- HikeMike over 13 years
  
  I mean restore from Time Machine during OS X setup. IIRC you can restore the whole system, without installing it first. But I wouldn't count on old data to still exist afterwards. You can restore without your Windows partition.
- xdumaine over 13 years
  
  I'll give that a try later. I'm at work, now.
- Terv over 13 years
  
  I believe this belongs to apple.stackexchange.com
- xdumaine over 13 years
  
  @Qosmo are there defined rules to this? I think it is still relevant on SuperUser. either way, a vote to move/migrate seems worthy, but I don't think it warrants a down vote - I still need the question answered, and I think I gave good details and formed it as a good question.
- xdumaine over 13 years
  
  @Qosmo you might want to check out this meta.superuser question
- HikeMike over 13 years
  
  @Qosmo You're wrong. We accept Mac and OS X questions anyway, and have quite a few users on this site (me included) that are happy to answer them.
- Terv over 13 years
  
  Hey, just trying to help. Seems idiotic to make a Apple website answering computer software and hardware questions when SU answers them. I believe I'm not far from the truth. I said I believe it belongs there, I didn't said it was forbidden here. In fact I'm against those stupid Apple/Linux/Ubuntu fanboy branches when it could be all answered here, that's why we have tags. ( Oh I wanted to favorite, sorry Rovi :( )
- xdumaine over 13 years
  
  @Daniel Beck update: did a restore from time machine, now it won't boot. Hangs at apple logo loading for 30+ minutes.
- HikeMike over 13 years
  
  @rovi I suggested to restore the backup to another disk. Although you seem to have your answer now -- sounds very much like the disk, no matter what your tools say.