After repair from Apple, having Kernel Panic

After having a repair on my MBA (it had a faulty lcd, they replaced it), I'm getting below mentioned kernel panic. The panic is easy to reproduce, when I increase on screen brightness it occurs while brightness is increased until it is on second-last notch. I'm wondering if there is any easy way to fix it myself rather having Apple to fix it (I'm a busy person and require this machine on daily basis).

Thanks.

Code:

Interval Since Last Panic Report:  90 sec
Panics Since Last Report:          1
Anonymous UUID:                    E18C6AEB-60D5-4B05-9D0F-23FD9777577C

Fri Nov 20 14:44:22 2009
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x005E020C): "IG: Invalid backlight duty cycle value"@/SourceCache/GraphicsDrivers/GraphicsDrivers-5.48.6/Common/GLKernel/Intel/IntelIntegratedFramebuffer/IntelGMAX3100FB.cpp:7065
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x4f617aa8 : 0x12b4c6 (0x45f91c 0x4f617adc 0x13355c 0x0) 
0x4f617af8 : 0x5e020c (0x5ee258 0x1ab80 0x4f617b18 0x0) 
0x4f617b18 : 0x5e2434 (0x4420c00 0x5f40 0xe 0x0) 
0x4f617b68 : 0xc78283 (0x4417000 0x0 0x626b6c74 0x5f40) 
0x4f617bd8 : 0x5b6769 (0x4181d00 0x41c5300 0x41615e0 0x80) 
0x4f617c08 : 0x5b424c (0x48e1a00 0x41c5300 0x41615e0 0x80) 
0x4f617c38 : 0x5b485d (0x48e1a00 0x80 0x4f617c68 0x3f158d) 
0x4f617c58 : 0x5b41db (0x48e1a00 0x80 0x4f617c88 0x3f0942) 
0x4f617c78 : 0x5b6475 (0x48e1a00 0x442e300 0x41615e0 0x80) 
0x4f617ca8 : 0x5b62b9 (0x48e1a00 0x442e300 0x41615e0 0x80) 
0x4f617d28 : 0x440edf (0x48e1a00 0x41b2380 0x44 0x11e7de) 
0x4f617d78 : 0x18b71a (0x48e1a00 0xadf4b80 0x44 0x484abc0) 
0x4f617db8 : 0x12d4d6 (0xae2e690 0x484ab9c 0x4f617df8 0x11f1c6) 
0x4f617df8 : 0x1264fa (0xae2e600 0x3c9a928 0x45550f8 0x0) 
0x4f617f08 : 0x198fa3 (0x4f617f44 0x0 0x0 0x0) 
0x4f617fc8 : 0x1a1cfa (0x3cfb1c0 0x0 0x1a40b5 0x4c93048) 
	Backtrace continues...
      Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
         com.apple.driver.AppleIntelGMAX3100FB(5.4.8)@0x5d9000->0x5f1fff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x59d000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.3)@0x5b2000
            dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleSMC(2.3.1d1)@0x5cf000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.2.0)@0x5ae000
         com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight(1.6.0)@0xc76000->0xc79fff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.7.3)@0x637000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x59d000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.3)@0x5b2000
         com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.3)@0x5b2000->0x5cefff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x59d000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: loginwindow

Mac OS version:
9L30

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.8.0: Wed Jul 15 16:55:01 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1228.15.4~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacBookAir1,1 (Mac-F42C8CC8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 1493436990374
unloaded kexts:
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily	1.5.0 - last unloaded 88450507588
loaded kexts:
com.apple.driver.InternalModemSupport	2.4.0 - last loaded 21835408074
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager	2.1.9f10
com.apple.filesystems.autofs	2.0.2
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily	2.1.1
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAPlatformDriver	1.7.1a2
com.apple.driver.ApplePlatformEnabler	1.0.2d1
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver	1.7.1a2
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA	1.7.1a2
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor	1.9d0
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient	2.7.5
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X	6.0.3
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl	2.8.15
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelGMAX3100	5.4.8
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelGMAX3100FB	5.4.8
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController	1.7.1a2
com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor	2.1.1d2
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController	113
com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver	1.0.6
com.apple.kext.AppleSMCLMU	1.4.5d1
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin	3.4.0a17
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC	1.3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight	1.6.0
com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver	1.0.0d28
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons	1.7.4f1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch	189.35
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver	1.7.4f1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard	1.7.4f1
com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController	2.1.9f10
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub	3.5.2
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter	2.7.91
com.apple.iokit.IOATABlockStorage	2.0.6
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver	1.1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA	2.0.1
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort	1.7.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub	3.4.9
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient	3.5.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI	3.4.6
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43xx	365.91.19
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM	1.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI	3.5.2
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager	158.10.5
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC	1.2.3
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET	1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPCI	1.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons	1.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS	1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC	1.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC	1.4
com.apple.security.seatbelt	107.12
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall	1.6.77
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet	3
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement	76.2.0
com.apple.driver.DiskImages	199
com.apple.BootCache	30.4
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily	9.4
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib	1.7.1a2
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily	1.7.1a2
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily	1.6.9fc5
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib	1.1
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily	3.4.0a17
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC	2.3.1d1
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport	1.7.3
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily	1.7.3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController	2.1.9f10
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily	2.1.9f10
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver	3.4.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite	3.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily	2.0.1
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily	1.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family	216.1
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily	1.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily	3.5.2
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime	1.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily	1.1
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily	1.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily	1.5.6
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform	1.2.5
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily	1.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily	2.6

 

I'd yell at them for not properly testing a repaired product.. but don't know of any way to tell you to reset anything like that.

 

Get used to it, and send it back - and buy a spare or two like me (and I don't have to do this with any other actually quality vendor's products on a regular basis) if you actually need usable uptime from your shiny and pretty joke of a notebook.

 

Your machine was perfect prior to you using it. All Apple products are perfect until we touch them, then it's your fault it broke, not Apples.

Seriously, you're stuck bringing it back to them... sorry.

 

In my experience working with multiple vendors for repair.. I've had many more problem with IBM (before Lenovo), HP, and Dell doing poor or bad repairs than ever with Apple. All of them were too much, but Apple was usually the least case of problems after the fact. Unless a lot has changed in the last year, I think you may need a better rep.

 

I think you may need to stop buying entry-level consumer machines

 

I've been dealing with all of the companies you have mentioned since the 1980's. By far the worst service I have gotten is Apple, second is HP's consumer support followed very closely by Dell's consumer support.

The best support I have ever gotten was from Compaq or the now HP business division. They have yet to fail me. Dell's business support has been pretty good as well, unfortunately their sales group stinks.

The last conversation I had with Apple was in July for a freezing up issue and the guy literally claimed Apple products don't fail and is it possible the user screwed something up. The arrogance of Apple isn't just apparent in it's TV ads, their support people ooze it and I hate calling them.

As for telling the person to get a better rep, how about Apple hire people and train them to be helpful instead of being twits so you don't have to seek out a better rep.

 

Hmmm - yes. Apple's support is certainly more pleasant to talk to than Dell's consumer support (set phasers to hair loss) but the end result as far as the actual repair is concerned has been just as - if not more - crap, since problems were dragged out more often than not to involve replacement machines in the end.

I can understand the typical Apple consumer being pathetically grateful that their machines have been replaced with a current one 'free' with a fairly unambiguous limit of four major repairs, but to me the lost productivity - or indeed, as I said above in the case of Apple the financial implications of having to purchase at the very least one (and in fact, in the case of the Air and the 17UBMBP, two) spare for a machine I consider important to daily work - of dragging out the servicing of an all-too-frequently lemony machine to eventual replacement state is just too bloody long of a waste of time.

I might have spares to work around that, but it's still me who has to arrange for these to be picked up, examine the returned machine for the seemingly inevitable further faults, etc. I've only ever had one model of price-comparable Dell as bad as an Apple, and that was the XPS M1330. What a complete pile of steaming wotsits that was...

 

Man Vogel, the more I read the Apple section. The more I realize you are the least happy Mac user I know

 

It may possible they replaced a screen that is not identical with your GMA X3100 equipped model (older Models out of stock??) therefore kernel panic occurs as the backlight doesn't correspond to the max value of brightness.
If I were you I will attempt a firmware update IF it is not updated.
Replacing the backlight driver loadable kernel module can also be attempted.

 

Get windows 7, it will be alot better than vista or snow leopard.

trust me

p.s. have them replace your laptop

 

Hokay looks like this thread is turning into a bash the heck out of Apple flamefest.

Vogel, you have already been warned many times about posting negative material about Apple that does nothing to help the user. Seriously, I will give you a 2 day ban if you do it again, and eventually a permanent ban if you do not change your attitude.