OSx86 installation suddenly loses LAN and freezes

[Maciek Leja]

So I got my iDeneb 10.5.5 installation going perfect.

 

Everything works - sound, LAN, everything.

 

But a week of using it, I started having a problem. My lan, after a few minutes of using it just stops working and I start getting a 169 address. It only works again once I restart.

 

All day today this stopped happening - but suddenly my mouse and keyboard freeze (music continues to play) and a minute later that freezes too and I have to restart.

 

Any ideas? Haven't changed anything except installed google desktop and isntalled XP on a third hard drive that isn't even connected when I'm running osx.

 

Please help!

At least lead me in the right direction to troubleshoot. Thanks!

[Lanceomni]

Your gonna have to toss us your specs before we can speculate as to what your problem is.

[Maciek Leja]

I'm sorry - thought I had a signature made for that.

 

Asus Striker Extreme Mobo

Intel Q6600 CPU

Nvidia 8800gts

3 western digital Sata hard drives (1 fat32 share, 1 osx, 1 xp)

Samsung Sata DVD Rw

The mobo has 2 onboard nforce lan ports but they dont work

so I put in a Dynex PCI lan card and that works (until the problem started recently)

 

I thought it might have been the card - but I installed XP and Ive been using it for a few days without turning it off and the LAN is working fine....

[Lanceomni]

NP they have been cracking down on long signatures. They erased mine a few days ago I had to shorten it up a bit.

 

LAN

That board has an nForce680 chipset right? You should be able to get the onboard LAN working. You can try the nForceLAN.kext in my signature but there are several versions out there. Just make sure that you remove any other kexts related to lan first.

 

FREEZING

From what I have experienced this could be caused by several different problems.

Questions:

1. How much RAM do you have installed

2. Do you have QE enabled on your graphics card.

3. What else were you doing when these freezes happen?

4. Is your kernel & system.kext the same version?

 

RAM

You may get freezes due to using more than 3GB of memory. It may not seem like your doing memory intensive tasks but I had this problem while watching certain videos and while using torrent software especially Transmittion. If you open up Activity Monitor in Applications/Utilities/ you can click the memory usage tab and try to get it to freeze. See if its using a lot of memory. If so or just to test, next time you boot use the boot-flag

maxmem=2024

to limit the memory OSX uses to 2GB then see if you get any freezes. If not msg back and well talk about options to fix this.

 

VERSIONS

Check your version numbers by:

Kernel version can be checked by opening Terminal and typing:

uname -a

System.Kext can be checked by going to System/Library/Extensions/ and right clicking on system.kext then selecting Get Info

 

LAN

There are problems that cause freezes like this which are related to LAN drivers. You would want to rule out the RAM issue first by trying the maxmem flag. If it ooks like LAN drivers are the issue id do a search for

nforce 680 lan freeze

or in google try osx86

nforce 680 lan freezes

[Maciek Leja]

Wow - that was really helpful. I'm going to try all this right now.

 

I have 4gb of ram - it works fine in my x64 XP installation and like I said the first few days of having OSx it was working like a champ. But I will try that out.

 

Regarding the nforce chipset - i have the 680i but I tried two different kexts and it didn't work. But I don't think i ever removed others ones that I installed so I will try that. (If i figure out how to find the other ones).

 

Thanks again.

[Lanceomni]

Cool. Dont rule out the memory issue as my system ran smooth for a few days prior to me seeing issues. Just try and rule everything you can out one by one.

[Maciek Leja]

Okay. So like you said - rule out one thing at a time.

 

The easiest thing to rule out is kernel and system.kext versions are the same.

 

Now, what I did is I don't have my network cable plugged in - i've been on my Mac for over an hour (usually it freezes at this point). I went to apps folder and utlities and turned on EVERYTHING - so I am using over 2.5 gb of ram out of my 4 - can't figure out how to use more - and it's all running right now and everything is fine. I'll let it run longer while I do some copy pasting that I needed to do and some mp3 tagging.

I attached a pic of all the stuff turned on.

 

I will run it like this for over 2 or 3 hours and then move on to the Lan issue.

 

I'm assuming (hoping) it works fine with 4gb so here's my question. When I move the lan stuff:

 

What are the steps I should take?

 

I have the dlink card in there now and my onboard lan. Should I leave the dlink in there - and try to get the 2 onboards working with your kext? Should I remove the dlink and then try getting the onboard working?

 

Also, - how will I find all the kexts related to ethernet in hte extensions folder? Should they al have some kind of LAN or Ethernet word in the filenaem and can I just delete it or use the kext program that came with the iDeneb installation?

 

Thanks again for all your help.

[newbe mac]

HI Guys, I am not sure if this is the same problem; but I have been searching for 10 days straight to figure this out, perhaps this post can give me some answers.

 

Got a DELL vostro 200 installed PERFECT. using it now.

 

Bought another one call 220, 99% identical. So I clone the whole HDD, installed the EFI and put that drive into the new computer.

 

after some adjustments on the graphic card (I even bought the exact same ATI HD3650 1GB for it). it works fine.,

 

PROBLEM:

 

after using for 15-20 minutes (either working with many programs or just let it sit), it just freeze up and I have to manually shut-off/reboot it.

 

the ONLY difference between new machine and old one, is that the new one does not have wireless card. I am not connecting the on-board lan to internet (too far away.....)

 

I kept on thinking it was the power management issue, but after reading many post, incl this one, it might be the internet issue.

 

any advice?

 

 

 

specs"

 

running on kalyway 10.5.2, up to 10.5.3, vanilla kernal

 

DELL vostro intel core duo E7200, 2.66

2GB ram

 

MOBO G45M03

ATI HD3650 1GB video card.

 

any help / advice is appreciated!

[newbe mac]

Add on a little information

 

I tried DISABLE onboard LAN, still freeze exactly on 16 mins of use.

 

everything would be running fine (either you run on 15 prgms or not do anything at all)

 

 

here are the plist from the new computer------

 

-----------------------------------------------------

network interface

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">'>http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">'>http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

<key>Interfaces</key>

<array>

<dict>

<key>BSD Name</key>

<string>en0</string>

<key>IOBuiltin</key>

<true/>

<key>IOInterfaceType</key>

<integer>6</integer>

<key>IOInterfaceUnit</key>

<integer>0</integer>

<key>IOMACAddress</key>

<data>

ACGbF+X2

</data>

<key>IOPathMatch</key>

<string>IOService:/AppleACPIPlatformExpert/PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/P0P6@1C,2/IOPCI2PCIBridge/LANE@0/rtl_r1000_nic_ext/IOEthernetInterface</string>

<key>SCNetworkInterfaceType</key>

<string>Ethernet</string>

</dict>

</array>

</dict>

</plist>

------------------------------------------

power management

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

<key>ActivePowerProfiles</key>

<dict>

<key>AC Power</key>

<integer>-1</integer>

</dict>

<key>Custom Profile</key>

<dict>

<key>AC Power</key>

<dict>

<key>Disk Sleep Timer</key>

<integer>0</integer>

<key>Display Sleep Timer</key>

<integer>0</integer>

<key>Hibernate File</key>

<string>/var/vm/sleepimage</string>

<key>Hibernate Mode</key>

<integer>0</integer>

<key>Sleep On Power Button</key>

<integer>1</integer>

<key>System Sleep Timer</key>

<integer>0</integer>

<key>TTYSPreventSleep</key>

<integer>1</integer>

</dict>

</dict>

</dict>

</plist>

----------------------------

 

boot plist

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

<key>Signatures</key>

<array/>

</dict>

</plist----------------------------

 

my question is: is this a power management issue or is this a internet issue?

 

so I can narrow it down......thanks!!

[Maciek Leja]

Sorry to hear about hte similar problem.

 

Here's what I did so far with my issue.

 

I ran the PC with all that {censored} in the back ground with nothing plugged into the Nics but after an hour I realized it had frozen on me. What I did was instead of starting with the limit on memory - I removed the PCI Nic I was using. For now it's 4 hours in running about 2.3 gb of ram usage and no freezing yet.

 

Also - I removed the two kexts that were in the extensions folder that had anything to do with ethernet or Lan. I copied your kext that was in the signature and installed that - restarted and both ports say there is no cable plugged in. I check at the physical ports and there are no link lights at all.

 

I then deleted that kext and installed the nForceEthernetController kext originally made for 680i chipsets but the same exact thing happened. No link lights - 2 ports that say no cable plugged in.

 

Any ideas? I see most people getting the MCP55 ports working fine which is why I'm getting pissed off.

 

I'm going to continue to run the pc all night hoping to rule out the 4gb of memory issue. And if it runs all night I can safely say it had to be hte PCI ethernet card doing it.

 

After that my two options - keep figuring out how to get my two onboard lan ports working or buy an external USB or w/e NIC that I know works fine with OSx.

 

What's better - obviously the cheaper solution is to keep fudging with the onboard ports.

 

Here is a vendor list that I got while screwing around with the PC. Maybe you'll see something i don't.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

PCI/Device Vendor List

 

00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: nVidia Corporation C55 Host Bridge [10de:03a1] (rev a2)

00:00.1 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03ac] (rev a1)

00:00.2 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03aa] (rev a1)

00:00.3 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03a9] (rev a1)

00:00.4 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03ab] (rev a1)

00:00.5 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03a8] (rev a2)

00:00.6 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03b5] (rev a1)

00:00.7 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03b4] (rev a1)

00:01.0 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03ad] (rev a1)

00:01.1 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03ae] (rev a1)

00:01.2 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03af] (rev a1)

00:01.3 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03b0] (rev a1)

00:01.4 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03b1] (rev a1)

00:01.5 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03b2] (rev a1)

00:01.6 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03b3] (rev a1)

00:02.0 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03b6] (rev a1)

00:02.1 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03bc] (rev a1)

00:02.2 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation C55 Memory Controller [10de:03ba] (rev a1)

00:03.0 PCI bridge [0604]: nVidia Corporation C55 PCI Express bridge [10de:03b7] (rev a1)

00:09.0 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation MCP55 Memory Controller [10de:0369] (rev a1)

00:0a.0 ISA bridge [0601]: nVidia Corporation MCP55 LPC Bridge [10de:0360] (rev a2)

00:0a.1 SMBus [0c05]: nVidia Corporation MCP55 SMBus [10de:0368] (rev a2)

00:0b.0 USB Controller [0c03]: nVidia Corporation MCP55 USB Controller [10de:036c] (rev a1)

00:0b.1 USB Controller [0c03]: nVidia Corporation MCP55 USB Controller [10de:036d] (rev a2)

00:0d.0 IDE interface [0101]: nVidia Corporation MCP55 IDE [10de:036e] (rev a1)

00:0e.0 IDE interface [0101]: nVidia Corporation MCP55 SATA Controller [10de:037f] (rev a2)

00:0e.1 IDE interface [0101]: nVidia Corporation MCP55 SATA Controller [10de:037f] (rev a2)

00:0e.2 IDE interface [0101]: nVidia Corporation MCP55 SATA Controller [10de:037f] (rev a2)

00:0f.0 PCI bridge [0604]: nVidia Corporation MCP55 PCI bridge [10de:0370] (rev a2)

00:11.0 Bridge [0680]: nVidia Corporation MCP55 Ethernet [10de:0373] (rev a2)

00:12.0 Bridge [0680]: nVidia Corporation MCP55 Ethernet [10de:0373] (rev a2)

00:13.0 PCI bridge [0604]: nVidia Corporation MCP55 PCI Express bridge [10de:0376] (rev a2)

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: nVidia Corporation G80 [GeForce 8800 GTS] [10de:0193] (rev a2)

02:06.0 Multimedia audio controller [0401]: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10k1 [1102:0002] (rev 07)

02:06.1 Input device controller [0980]: Creative Labs SB Live! Game Port [1102:7002] (rev 07)

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Also, regarding the QE for my graphics card - definitely don't know what that is.... i googled it but still don't understand what that has to do with the computer freezing but I'm assuming it's off.....

 

Thanks!

[Lanceomni]

How are you installing the kexts?

 

1. Remove all related kexts

2. Copy yourkext.kext to /System/Library/Extensions

3. Enter your admin password when prompted

4. In Terminal write:

sudo chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/yourkext.kext
sudo rm -R /System/Library/Extensions.kextcache
sudo rm -R /System/Library/Extensions.mkext

5. Restart and used the boot flags:

-v -f -F

 

Replace yourkext.kext with the kext to be installed.

 

Boot-Flags:

-v Verbose

-f loads extensions from the extensions folder and not the mkext cache file.

-F Ignores com.apple.boot.plist

[Maciek Leja]

I have a utility that I got with iDeneb that installs kexts but I will definitely try it your way after a few more hours of stress testing. Thanks I'm still learning these basics.

[verdant]

I have a utility that I got with iDeneb that installs kexts but I will definitely try it your way after a few more hours of stress testing. Thanks I'm still learning these basics.

 

Hi there, check out my Pre-Series 7 nForce chipset + Intel CPU MOBO thread here......

[newbe mac]

tried to add on the wireless card, but it will not read the card AT ALL. so I assume it is a PCI issue or network issue.

 

here is what I did but did not work:

 

1, run powermanagment pkg. NOPE

2, try flag "platform=x86pc". NADA

3, in BIOS turn lan off. NO

4, test with a PCI wireless card. NAH

5, change to speed step kernel. no effect at all.

 

so the next thing I will do is to kill all the kext regarding the network and see if it works.....

 

 

also,. did -v on start; something about AppleUSBEHCI keeps on error msg.....would that be a problem?

 

also#2, the motherboard is G45. the working one (that I am using now) is G33. that is the only difference.,....

[Maciek Leja]

Hey all,

 

Thanks for the link to the thread - getting started on it now - A LOT of reading to do

 

I used the commands I was given earlier to install kexts.

 

I tried both of 'em. For my nForceEthernetController.kext - i booted with the arguments -v -f -F but it just said both links are down and the physical ports didn't have lights.

 

I tried the nForceLan.kext - i booted with the arguments mentioned above and there was a whole lot activity coming from forceDeth in the list and it started with "forceDeth warning: this device might not work" or something like that and then the rest was forceDeth attempting a connection, no connection found, ect... and both links eventually said the port was down - but the computer just stayed on the blue screen before booting. When I booted without any arguments - it booted fine but no link lights or anything.

 

Finally - the weird thing is from the 3 commands I was putting in, the middle on never worked (no such file or directory) for the command:

 

sudo rm -R /System/Library/Extenstions.kextcache so I'm not sure is that bad or not.

 

 

I'm going to read through the forum I was given and find some other insight.

 

Thanks all so far for the help. Much appreciated.

[Lanceomni]

That file is not always there and the command is just a precaution.

 

You want to remove all related kexts including forcedeth. Also I found that initially It didn't work even after renewing DHCP. I reset both my modem and router.

[Maciek Leja]

So heres the update.

 

It was the forcedeth that was on there that I kept not finding - so I removed all that.

 

BUT the weird thing is I'm sure I removed anything to do with ethernet - and I restarted and while I didn't see anything in the loading part, in settings, there are still two ethernet ports (like I have onboard) only they don't work at all. Just says cable unplugged.

 

Nonetheless, I got the nforcelan latest kext from Neo I believe - everyone with my motherboard has been reporting this working so I got it, and installed it using osx86 tools and restarted (did the 30 second trick) and it found both ports, and even gets the comcast information and the right Ip for the one that's plugged in. As soon as I log in, I try to ping yahoo but no go. after a few minutes the ip changes from my interlan 192.168 to the 169.x.x.x - and a few minutes later the mac freezes. I tried this on both ports... same out come.

 

Any ideas? My mom is on the computer all day today so I don't want to reset the router but I'm assuming that wouldn't help this issue specifically.