How to Fix Guru Meditation Error: Core 1 Panic’ed (LoadProhibited). Exception was Unhandled

Are you tired of encountering the dreaded Guru Meditation Error: Core 1 panic’ed (LoadProhibited). Exception was unhandled message on your ESP32 or ESP8266 board? Well, you’re in luck because we’ve got you covered! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you through the possible causes and solutions to fix this frustrating error once and for all.

What is the Guru Meditation Error?

The Guru Meditation Error is a critical error that occurs when the ESP32 or ESP8266 microcontroller experiences a fault or exception that it cannot handle. This error is often accompanied by a cryptic message that doesn’t provide much insight into the root cause of the problem.

Causes of the Guru Meditation Error

The Guru Meditation Error can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Memory Leaks: When a program allocates memory but fails to release it, it can lead to memory leaks. Over time, this can cause the system to run out of memory, resulting in a Guru Meditation Error.
• Null Pointer Exceptions: When a program tries to access memory that is not allocated or is null, it can cause a Guru Meditation Error.
• Division by Zero: Attempting to divide a number by zero can cause a Guru Meditation Error.
• Stack Overflows: When a program’s stack becomes too large, it can cause a Guru Meditation Error.
• Corrupt or Invalid Data: If the data being processed is corrupt or invalid, it can cause a Guru Meditation Error.
• Firmware or Hardware Issues: Firmware or hardware problems can also cause a Guru Meditation Error.

Solutions to Fix the Guru Meditation Error

Now that we’ve covered the possible causes of the Guru Meditation Error, let’s dive into the solutions to fix it.

Solution 1: Restart the Board

The simplest solution is often the most effective. Try restarting the board to see if it resolves the issue. This is especially true if you’re using a development board with a reset button.

  Press the reset button on your board

Solution 2: Check for Memory Leaks

Use the ESP.getFreeHeap() function to check for memory leaks. This function returns the number of bytes available in the heap.

  
  Serial.println(ESP.getFreeHeap());
  

If the heap size is consistently decreasing, it may indicate a memory leak. Review your code and ensure that you’re releasing memory properly.

Solution 3: Check for Null Pointer Exceptions

Review your code and ensure that you’re checking for null pointers before accessing memory. Use the following code snippet as an example:

  
  if (ptr != NULL) {
    // Access memory using ptr
  } else {
    Serial.println("Null pointer exception!");
  }
  

Solution 4: Check for Division by Zero

Ensure that you’re not attempting to divide a number by zero. Use the following code snippet as an example:

  
  if (denominator != 0) {
    result = numerator / denominator;
  } else {
    Serial.println("Division by zero!");
  }
  

Solution 5: Check for Stack Overflows

Review your code and ensure that you’re not overflowing the stack. Use the following code snippet as an example:

  
  int myFunction() {
    int localVar;
    localVar = 10;
    return localVar;
  }
  

In this example, the myFunction() function has a local variable localVar that takes up stack space. Ensure that you’re not overflowing the stack by using excessive local variables or recursive functions.

Solution 6: Check for Corrupt or Invalid Data

Ensure that the data being processed is valid and not corrupt. Use data validation techniques such as input validation and error handling to prevent corrupt data from causing a Guru Meditation Error.

Solution 7: Update the Firmware or Hardware

If none of the above solutions work, it may be a firmware or hardware issue. Try updating the firmware or replacing the hardware to see if it resolves the issue.

Firmware/Hardware Issue	Solution
Outdated Firmware	Update to the latest firmware version
Hardware Fault	Replace the faulty hardware component

Conclusion

In this comprehensive guide, we’ve covered the possible causes and solutions to fix the Guru Meditation Error: Core 1 panic’ed (LoadProhibited). Exception was unhandled message on your ESP32 or ESP8266 board. By following these solutions, you should be able to identify and resolve the root cause of the error.

Remember, the Guru Meditation Error is a critical error that requires immediate attention. Don’t be discouraged if it takes some trial and error to fix the issue. With patience and persistence, you’ll be able to get your board up and running smoothly.

Happy coding!

Frequently Asked Question

Facing the dreaded Guru Meditation Error? Don’t panic! We’ve got you covered with these top 5 questions and answers to help you troubleshoot and fix the “Core 1 panic’ed (LoadProhibited). Exception was unhandled” error.