Mac OS X 10.6.8
Intel Core i5 M540
NViDIA GT 330M
4GiB RAM (yes that is not a lot)

BOINC 6.12.35. Latest version.

So everything was running fine, but then I came back one afternoon and noticed BOINC was flat-out frozen. CPU usage monitor (iStat) said process boinc was using ~80% CPU and didn't mention anything about primegrid-llrini686 or any other applications it was running (wanless2, QCN, and WUProp).

Quit the unresponsive boinc process.

Now whenever I try to start BOINC - even after reinstalling it- I get this:

Process:         BOINCManager [59377]
Path:            /Applications/BOINCManager.app/Contents/MacOS/BOINCManager
Identifier:      edu.berkeley.boinc
Version:         BOINC version 6.12.35 (6.12.35)
Code Type:       X86 (Native)
Parent Process:  launchd [203]

Date/Time:       2011-10-20 08:48:55.671 -0400
OS Version:      Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549)
Report Version:  6

Interval Since Last Report:          291860 sec
Crashes Since Last Report:           12
Per-App Interval Since Last Report:  2035336 sec
Per-App Crashes Since Last Report:   11
Anonymous UUID:                      DCCB06FE-D236-416A-9D2F-FC1F0116715B

Exception Type:  EXC_BREAKPOINT (SIGTRAP)
Exception Codes: 0x0000000000000002, 0x0000000000000000
Crashed Thread:  0  Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread

Application Specific Information:
*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSImageCacheException', reason: 'Cannot lock focus on image <NSImage 0x747520 Size={0, 0} Reps=(
)>, because it is size zero.'
*** Call stack at first throw:
(
	0   CoreFoundation                      0x90dc56ca __raiseError + 410
	1   libobjc.A.dylib                     0x924085a9 objc_exception_throw + 56
	2   CoreFoundation                      0x90dc53f8 +[NSException raise:format:arguments:] + 136
	3   CoreFoundation                      0x90dc536a +[NSException raise:format:] + 58
	4   AppKit                              0x92fc3596 -[NSImage _lockFocusOnRepresentation:rect:context:hints:flipped:] + 267
	5   AppKit                              0x92fc347f __-[NSImage lockFocusWithRect:context:hints:flipped:]_block_invoke_1 + 114
	6   AppKit                              0x92eb3820 -[NSImage _usingBestRepresentationForRect:context:hints:body:] + 189
	7   AppKit                              0x92fc3405 -[NSImage lockFocusWithRect:context:hints:flipped:] + 204
	8   AppKit                              0x9301a670 -[NSImage lockFocusFlipped:] + 138
	9   AppKit                              0x9301a5dd -[NSImage lockFocus] + 64
	10  AppKit                              0x93070af0 -[NSWindow _generateScaledBackground] + 318
	11  AppKit                              0x93070837 -[NSWindow(NSWindow_CarbonEventHandlers) _setWindowDepth] + 126
	12  AppKit                              0x9350575d -[NSWindow(NSWindow_CarbonEventHandlers) _installCarbonWindowEventHandlers] + 121
	13  AppKit                              0x93070368 -[NSWindow(NSCarbonExtensions) windowRef] + 561
	14  AppKit                              0x933cfe32 -[NSStatusBarWindow windowRef] + 80
	15  AppKit                              0x92e7261a -[NSWindow _reallyDoOrderWindow:relativeTo:findKey:forCounter:force:isModal:] + 1112
	16  AppKit                              0x934c6821 -[NSWindow orderFrontRegardless] + 82
	17  AppKit                              0x933cfaf3 -[NSStatusBar(NSStatusBarCGS) _CGSinsertWindow:withPriority:] + 355
	18  AppKit                              0x933cd71d -[NSStatusBar _insertStatusItem:withPriority:] + 80
	19  AppKit                              0x933d0e28 -[NSStatusItem _initInStatusBar:withLength:withPriority:hidden:] + 462
	20  AppKit                              0x933d0082 -[NSStatusItem _initInStatusBar:withLength:withPriority:] + 63
	21  AppKit                              0x933d00f1 +[NSStatusItem _itemInStatusBar:withLength:withPriority:] + 105
	22  AppKit                              0x933cd853 -[NSStatusBar _statusItemWithLength:withPriority:] + 58
	23  AppKit                              0x933cd8d3 -[NSStatusBar statusItemWithLength:] + 49
	24  SystemMenu                          0x017ad4f2 0x0 + 24827122
	25  SystemMenu                          0x017adce9 SetUpSystemMenu + 205
	26  BOINCManager                        0x00056966 0x0 + 354662
	27  BOINCManager                        0x00056b3c 0x0 + 355132
	28  BOINCManager                        0x000378d2 0x0 + 227538
	29  BOINCManager                        0x00037db1 0x0 + 228785
	30  BOINCManager                        0x002be437 0x0 + 2876471
	31  BOINCManager                        0x000354be 0x0 + 218302
	32  BOINCManager                        0x000278e2 0x0 + 162018
	33  BOINCManager                        0x00027809 0x0 + 161801
)
 

Thread 0 Crashed:  Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread
0   com.apple.CoreFoundation      	0x90e10a37 ___TERMINATING_DUE_TO_UNCAUGHT_EXCEPTION___ + 7
1   libobjc.A.dylib               	0x924085a9 objc_exception_throw + 56
2   com.apple.CoreFoundation      	0x90dc53f8 +[NSException raise:format:arguments:] + 136
3   com.apple.CoreFoundation      	0x90dc536a +[NSException raise:format:] + 58
4   com.apple.AppKit              	0x92fc3596 -[NSImage _lockFocusOnRepresentation:rect:context:hints:flipped:] + 267
5   com.apple.AppKit              	0x92fc347f __-[NSImage lockFocusWithRect:context:hints:flipped:]_block_invoke_1 + 114
6   com.apple.AppKit              	0x92eb3820 -[NSImage _usingBestRepresentationForRect:context:hints:body:] + 189
7   com.apple.AppKit              	0x92fc3405 -[NSImage lockFocusWithRect:context:hints:flipped:] + 204
8   com.apple.AppKit              	0x9301a670 -[NSImage lockFocusFlipped:] + 138
9   com.apple.AppKit              	0x9301a5dd -[NSImage lockFocus] + 64
10  com.apple.AppKit              	0x93070af0 -[NSWindow _generateScaledBackground] + 318
11  com.apple.AppKit              	0x93070837 -[NSWindow(NSWindow_CarbonEventHandlers) _setWindowDepth] + 126
12  com.apple.AppKit              	0x9350575d -[NSWindow(NSWindow_CarbonEventHandlers) _installCarbonWindowEventHandlers] + 121
13  com.apple.AppKit              	0x93070368 -[NSWindow(NSCarbonExtensions) windowRef] + 561
14  com.apple.AppKit              	0x933cfe32 -[NSStatusBarWindow windowRef] + 80
15  com.apple.AppKit              	0x92e7261a -[NSWindow _reallyDoOrderWindow:relativeTo:findKey:forCounter:force:isModal:] + 1112
16  com.apple.AppKit              	0x934c6821 -[NSWindow orderFrontRegardless] + 82
17  com.apple.AppKit              	0x933cfaf3 -[NSStatusBar(NSStatusBarCGS) _CGSinsertWindow:withPriority:] + 355
18  com.apple.AppKit              	0x933cd71d -[NSStatusBar _insertStatusItem:withPriority:] + 80
19  com.apple.AppKit              	0x933d0e28 -[NSStatusItem _initInStatusBar:withLength:withPriority:hidden:] + 462
20  com.apple.AppKit              	0x933d0082 -[NSStatusItem _initInStatusBar:withLength:withPriority:] + 63
21  com.apple.AppKit              	0x933d00f1 +[NSStatusItem _itemInStatusBar:withLength:withPriority:] + 105
22  com.apple.AppKit              	0x933cd853 -[NSStatusBar _statusItemWithLength:withPriority:] + 58
23  com.apple.AppKit              	0x933cd8d3 -[NSStatusBar statusItemWithLength:] + 49
24  edu.berkeley.boinc            	0x017ad4f2 0x17ac000 + 5362
25  edu.berkeley.boinc            	0x017adce9 SetUpSystemMenu + 205
26  edu.berkeley.boinc            	0x00056966 0x1000 + 350566
27  edu.berkeley.boinc            	0x00056b3c 0x1000 + 351036
28  edu.berkeley.boinc            	0x000378d2 0x1000 + 223442
29  edu.berkeley.boinc            	0x00037db1 0x1000 + 224689
30  edu.berkeley.boinc            	0x002be437 0x1000 + 2872375
31  edu.berkeley.boinc            	0x000354be 0x1000 + 214206
32  edu.berkeley.boinc            	0x000278e2 0x1000 + 157922
33  edu.berkeley.boinc            	0x00027809 0x1000 + 157705

Thread 1:  Dispatch queue: com.apple.libdispatch-manager
0   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921f5382 kevent + 10
1   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921f5a9c _dispatch_mgr_invoke + 215
2   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921f4f59 _dispatch_queue_invoke + 163
3   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921f4cfe _dispatch_worker_thread2 + 240
4   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921f4781 _pthread_wqthread + 390
5   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921f45c6 start_wqthread + 30

Thread 2:
0   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921f4412 __workq_kernreturn + 10
1   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921f49a8 _pthread_wqthread + 941
2   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921f45c6 start_wqthread + 30

Thread 3:
0   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921ceb42 semaphore_wait_signal_trap + 10
1   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921fc6f8 _pthread_cond_wait + 1089
2   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x9224505f pthread_cond_wait + 48
3   edu.berkeley.boinc            	0x000e2b08 0x1000 + 924424
4   edu.berkeley.boinc            	0x002c4ded 0x1000 + 2899437
5   ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore	0x90e9b54a PrivateMPEntryPoint + 68
6   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921fc259 _pthread_start + 345
7   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921fc0de thread_start + 34

Thread 4:
0   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921f4412 __workq_kernreturn + 10
1   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921f49a8 _pthread_wqthread + 941
2   libSystem.B.dylib             	0x921f45c6 start_wqthread + 30

Thread 0 crashed with X86 Thread State (32-bit):
  eax: 0x00000000  ebx: 0x92408585  ecx: 0xa0205540  edx: 0x0000003b
  edi: 0xa021cab0  esi: 0x00747640  ebp: 0xbfffefb8  esp: 0xbfffefa0
   ss: 0x00000023  efl: 0x00000286  eip: 0x90e10a37   cs: 0x0000001b
   ds: 0x00000023   es: 0x00000023   fs: 0x00000000   gs: 0x0000000f
  cr2: 0xa0812e70

I cannot interpret that jumbled code. It just happens.

Also why's BOINC trying to run as x86? I have 64-bit enabled everywhere...

Is my system unstable? I am typing this on a G4 just in case there's something internally wrong with the Mac listed above. If that's the case, please let me know you think it's not BOINC so I can take it to work and run advanced diagnostics. I'm a computer tech with a baffling problem - sorry!

You could try to run with BOINC 6.12.41; in the mean time I have forwarded your problem to the developer for the Mac.

boinc_6.12.41_universal-apple-darwin.zip
boinc_6.12.41_macOSX_universal.zip
boinc_6.12.41_macOSX_SymbolTables.zip

---

Ok, thanks. That's a version meant for testing, no? I will give it a shot and post results in a few moments.

What about my system could bring up an error so unusual the developer's attention is required? (or is that SOC and I'm just over-thinking?)

Well I moved things into place properly and installed the newer BOINC to which you linked. Same error.

Process:         BOINCManager [60061]
Path:            /Applications/BOINCManager.app/Contents/MacOS/BOINCManager
Identifier:      edu.berkeley.boinc
Version:         BOINC version 6.12.41 (6.12.41)
Code Type:       X86 (Native)
Parent Process:  launchd [203]

Date/Time:       2011-10-20 09:49:10.048 -0400
OS Version:      Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549)
Report Version:  6

Interval Since Last Report:          295472 sec
Crashes Since Last Report:           13
Per-App Interval Since Last Report:  1 sec
Per-App Crashes Since Last Report:   1
Anonymous UUID:                      DCCB06FE-D236-416A-9D2F-FC1F0116715B

Exception Type:  EXC_BREAKPOINT (SIGTRAP)
Exception Codes: 0x0000000000000002, 0x0000000000000000
Crashed Thread:  0  Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread

Application Specific Information:
*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSImageCacheException', reason: 'Cannot lock focus on image <NSImage 0x1205cc0 Size={0, 0} Reps=(
)>, because it is size zero.'
*** Call stack at first throw:
(
	0   CoreFoundation                      0x90dc56ca __raiseError + 410
	1   libobjc.A.dylib                     0x924085a9 objc_exception_throw + 56
	2   CoreFoundation                      0x90dc53f8 +[NSException raise:format:arguments:] + 136
	3   CoreFoundation                      0x90dc536a +[NSException raise:format:] + 58
	4   AppKit                              0x92fc3596 -[NSImage _lockFocusOnRepresentation:rect:context:hints:flipped:] + 267
	5   AppKit                              0x92fc347f __-[NSImage lockFocusWithRect:context:hints:flipped:]_block_invoke_1 + 114
	6   AppKit                              0x92eb3820 -[NSImage _usingBestRepresentationForRect:context:hints:body:] + 189
	7   AppKit                              0x92fc3405 -[NSImage lockFocusWithRect:context:hints:flipped:] + 204
	8   AppKit                              0x9301a670 -[NSImage lockFocusFlipped:] + 138
	9   AppKit                              0x9301a5dd -[NSImage lockFocus] + 64
	10  AppKit                              0x93070af0 -[NSWindow _generateScaledBackground] + 318
	11  AppKit                              0x93070837 -[NSWindow(NSWindow_CarbonEventHandlers) _setWindowDepth] + 126
	12  AppKit                              0x9350575d -[NSWindow(NSWindow_CarbonEventHandlers) _installCarbonWindowEventHandlers] + 121
	13  AppKit                              0x93070368 -[NSWindow(NSCarbonExtensions) windowRef] + 561
	14  AppKit                              0x933cfe32 -[NSStatusBarWindow windowRef] + 80
	15  AppKit                              0x92e7261a -[NSWindow _reallyDoOrderWindow:relativeTo:findKey:forCounter:force:isModal:] + 1112
	16  AppKit                              0x934c6821 -[NSWindow orderFrontRegardless] + 82
	17  AppKit                              0x933cfaf3 -[NSStatusBar(NSStatusBarCGS) _CGSinsertWindow:withPriority:] + 355
	18  AppKit                              0x933cd71d -[NSStatusBar _insertStatusItem:withPriority:] + 80
	19  AppKit                              0x933d0e28 -[NSStatusItem _initInStatusBar:withLength:withPriority:hidden:] + 462
	20  AppKit                              0x933d0082 -[NSStatusItem _initInStatusBar:withLength:withPriority:] + 63
	21  AppKit                              0x933d00f1 +[NSStatusItem _itemInStatusBar:withLength:withPriority:] + 105
	22  AppKit                              0x933cd853 -[NSStatusBar _statusItemWithLength:withPriority:] + 58
	23  AppKit                              0x933cd8d3 -[NSStatusBar statusItemWithLength:] + 49
	24  SystemMenu                          0x017ad4f2 0x0 + 24827122
	25  SystemMenu                          0x017adce9 SetUpSystemMenu + 205
	26  BOINCManager                        0x0005630e 0x0 + 353038
	27  BOINCManager                        0x000564e4 0x0 + 353508
	28  BOINCManager                        0x00037166 0x0 + 225638
	29  BOINCManager                        0x00037645 0x0 + 226885
	30  BOINCManager                        0x002be14f 0x0 + 2875727
	31  BOINCManager                        0x00034d66 0x0 + 216422
	32  BOINCManager                        0x0002718a 0x0 + 160138
	33  BOINCManager                        0x000270b1 0x0 + 159921
	34  ???                                 0x00000002 0x0 + 2
)

Then it gives the whole "thread 0 crashed" and lists all the libraries, dependencies etc.

Mystifying. I'll run PRPNet for now.

I honestly changed nothing between the time 6.12.35 was running smoothly and the time it decided to crash and burn. Utterly bizzare.

I filled in "Cannot lock focus on image, because it is size zero" into Google and see that it's a quite common problem for Macs, with all kinds of programs. But they don't come with one solution only.

---

Ughh yes you're right...most descriptive thread on the topic I found was about Thunderbird and had little to do with OSX; mainly the discussion was focused on the app. Even I know thread 0 exceptions are the OS, not the app...

Today is not my day. Would have replied sooner but was fussing with WinServer 2008 active directory controls to no avail...poor kids locked out for no good reason, and I can't help 'em after 45 minutes or so...now it appears that the best solution for me here is to either do a complete repair install of my OS (which I would really rather not do, as I just did a fresh install) or downgrade to 10.6.7 (which makes no sense)

Well I'll eagerly await the developer's reply, since the complete BOINC reinstall did nothing.

Sorry, I don't have encouraging news. :-(

Charlie Fenton wrote:

Sorry, I have no idea what could be causing his crash. All I know is it seems to be a problem putting the BOINC icon menu in the menu bar.

I assume he tried the standard things:
* Running the Uninstall BOINC application before reinstalling BOINC
* Restarting his system.

That's all I can think of right now.

---

That makes no sense.

Since I have not made any modifications to my OS there is no logical reason why this should suddenly be happening. It is a fresh install (~3 weeks ago) and BOINC ran fine until now minus a few freeze-ups when the client stopped communicating properly with the Manager, which happens on all my Mac systems.

I've had that problem before but never to the point where an app crashes upon opening.

In that case, I will no longer run BOINC on this machine until there is a more stable version available for OSX.

Have you considered it isn't the fault of BOINC? It may be hardware that's broken.

---

Funny you should mention, as this is a year-old machine with warranty and modern-ish technology (pre-Sandy Bridge, sad face). The 8 GB RAM upgrade I've wanted for so long (Parallels and Adobe CS5, as the latter is my other job!) came in the mail literally yesterday afternoon.

If my laptop is broken somehow, I'll not be a happy camper. It's just that BOINC is the only thing not working. I don't think my laptop is angry at BOINC, or that there's a special BOINC chip on the mobo that's gone on the fritz.

Hell it might not be BOINC's fault. Could be OSX corrupted again. If that's the case, again, not a happy camper will I be. Unfortunately won't get a chance to run diagnostics til Monday.

All I know is my programs work, my internet works, my ports work, PRPNet works. BOINC doesn't.

All I know is my programs work, my internet works, my ports work, PRPNet works. BOINC doesn't.

Yes, but here's the thing: BOINC, or more like one of the science programs running under it, puts your system under high load. Any little flaw in hardware (RAM, CPU, motherboard, dust-buildup causing overheating) will come to light that way.

What you can test with is a similar program, called Prime95, this will as well put your hardware under extreme load. If this manages to run unhampered for 24 hours, we can talk again.
If on the other hand you get a similar error...

Since it's a notebook, do you use a notebook cooler or any other extra method of cooling this thing? Laptops/notebooks get notoriously hot if they just do anything.

---

Yes it is a MacBook Pro mid-2010. Been running BOINC on it for a year and a month now.

The CPU hovers between 76-85ºC. That's normal for this model at high load. Completely stable.

Currently it is running a PrimeGrid sub-project called PRPNet. This runs 4 instances of a VERY CPU-intensive program called LLR, a primality testing program. CPU usage at 400% (100% x2 cores x4 threads). It's fine.

If there was a problem with my memory then TechTool 6 would have picked it up. I ran a test, came up fine. That doesn't matter though, as I'll be popping in these shiny new 4GB modules (to make 8 total) within a few hours.

I'll start to blame my hardware when and if any other problems arise. A thorough computer check a month ago revealed nothing. Sure I'll check again when I've time. Right now though, not too worried.

Ok, as of now I have completely removed BOINC and all its components from my laptop, and am instead running two VMs. They are both Windows variants and running perfectly fine, BOINCing it up. Later today when I've some time and am at home, I may try reinstalling again, but first I want to run some quick diagnostics on the machine.

A friend of mine is a more expirenced Mac tech than I, and when I informed him of this problem he said it's likely caused by either directory corruption, invalid permissions, or some kind of corrupt (most likely user-inflicted) OS file/s. Again, I'm at a loss as to what that could be.

BOINC is running fine on my older C2D MacBook, though it does get quite hot. No such problems with freezing up since I updated it to 6.12.35. Blah why do the most complex problems always happen to me. This doesn't even seem to be a problem reproducible on other machines...

Blah why do the most complex problems always happen to me.

Fate. :P

---