Is there an issue in the raspberry pi 32bit kernal? Everytime I run `sudo apt upgrade` from a freshly flashed sd on my pi zero w rev 1.1 the whole system nukes itself with a `unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference`. Just insta restarts.
Its either kernel or corrupt sd right?
On fresh flash & boot:
```
Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address ...
Internal error: Oops
CPU: 0 PID: 0 (swapper/0)
Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill the idle task!
```
The kernel crashed while running CPU idle thread (PID 0)
6.12.75+rpt-rpi-v8
vc4
bcm2835_v4l2
bcm2835_codec
Previous error, during update:
```
Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference
Internal error: Oops
CPU: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper/0
Tainted: G C O
PC is at default_idle_call+...
Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill the idle task
```
update-initramfs ...
boot/firmware/initramfs...
bcm2835_codec
bcm2835_v4l2
vc4
@flipsideza ... not sure, but isn't 32bit support being dropped left right front and center?
does and older version work?
@flipsideza also, if booting from SDCard...well, it could be the SDCard is kaput.
Maybe try a new freshly flashed sdcard.
@kaasbaas so yes that was my 1st thought but the 32bit release is from 2026-04 so pretty recent... and clearly still supported coz the update was updating the kernel
I did check the sdcard in another machine, no errors reported and I ran a bunch of tests 🤔
@flipsideza SDCards can be tricky bastards, with a plethora of "interesting" failure modes - I would get a new SDCard as a next step.
(I have,over the years, developed a DEEP suspicion, and more than a little hate for SDCards, so I am a bit biased. still, I have had WEIRD issues just...go away when moved to new sdcard).
@flipsideza good luck!
and if that does not work...do try older distro version,without auto update during initial boot (if that is possible, been a while).
if that still fails,you can maybe try dietpi, just to see if it boots.
if THAT fails...I would start to suspect hardware.
Again...good luck!
Chris
DeManiak 🇿🇦