Macbook Pro (2010) 16gb memory

Interesting...

Since, according to the article at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564, one of several things starting up into Safe Mode does is that it loads only required kernel extensions (some of the items in /System/Library/Extensions), MYABE you would like to check out the extensions list in System Information under both Safe Mode and Normal Mode to see which extension(s) MIGHT lead to kernel panic when 16GB of ram is installed.

And, well, I'm not sure if the following kind of suggestions is allowed here...

If you do find any suspicious extension(s) about kernel panic, try to replace it(them) with the one(ones) of different version(if any) from, say, 13-inch MBP(2010) and see if it works. (Don't forget to do backup before doing so and do it at your own risk.)

Hello everyone,

I can CONFIRM (as bfer reported) 16GB (2x8GB - OWC 1066Mhz) work in SAFE MODE on MACBOOK PRO 6,2, 2,66Ghz i7 flawlessy in 15' (mid-2010) model as well. That has to be a SW limitation!

Kernel panic occours when booting normal. I'll try some verbose boot to figure out what extension is causing the Panic, I'll keep you informed.

Suggestions are appreciated!

Keep up the good work guys. I already sent my 16 GIGS back to OWC having failed to get my 15" i7 6,2 to boot. I never thought about a safeboot darn it!

The OWC tech that did know the 6,2 didn't work referred to the EFI update being only modified for the 13" MBP in a way to allow 16 GIGS and none of the other updatesd were. If true I wonder if Apple may alter the EFI updates for the rest too. If not I wonder if that may help point to a work around. It maybe a hardware limitation if the 13" MBP is missing something all the others have ... graphics card difference or something?

I really hope someone cracks this! I'll gladly order again ... 🙂

Have you tried the 12GB of RAM that was working for hackintosh1800?

It might not be the full 16 yet, but it's a good start.

Maybe in the next EFI update 16GB will be unlocked, if you guys haven't figured it out already 🙂

thought i was the only stubborn!

think it is the EFI plus some of the extensions "blocking" the normal boot with the 16GB.

eblohm:

Yes, i have tried 12GB and only boots using safe mode. once it boots the system fully sees both 12 and 16GB.

hackintosh1800 owns a macbook pro 13" C2D if I remember, on those upgrading to 16gb is easy if you using PC3-8500 DDR3 modules at 1066MHz and the latest EFI and OSX.

ideas?

booting with verbose....

Yeah I saw that it was a different MBP, but I wasn't sure if anyone had tried it.

I don't have any ideas, but I'm talking with a friend, about it trying to help you guys.

We have the i5 2.53Ghz 15.4" MC372LL/A MBP though, how much of a difference is there between yours and ours?

And just to make sure that I'm telling him the right information, you guys have figured out that 16GB in model of the Pro IS possible, but Apple has it blocked?

If so, could it just be we have to wait for another EFI update and hope it unlocks the ability for 16GB?

News:

In fact, there is one way to boot in normal mode, even if it is not a solution to our problem.

If you set boot flags to i.e. (sudo nvram boot-args="-v maxmem=2048") the system boots fine with 2x8GB OWC chips.

Of course you can't benefit from you memory BUT both chips are recongnized and listed correctly as 2x8GB chips in system information. I'll try rising the maxmem value and see when it starts giving kernel panic.

Interesting...let me know how it goes!

Trying to figure out if it's is possible to boot in safe mode and then enable the features one by one and see which one causes the kernel panic..

I removed all the kexts in the extensions folder except those there are loaded in safe mode:

as a result, when trying to normal boot(with no arguments), system starts loading this time but kernel panic still occours after a while. (it happens not at the exact same moment as before, but still cannot load the OS).

Last loaded kext seems to be AppleFileSystemDriver.kext, but don't know if it's the one causing the KP(and it won't boot without that extension, not even in Safe Mode).

Im wondering, do MacBook Pro 13'' (mid-2010) Extensions differ from 15'' kexts anyhow???

I suppose this sort of "memory check" is probably EFI related but i don't get why this is somehow "bypassed" in safe mode but not during normal boot even when keeping just safe's mode kexts.

Hi kitinje,

It looks like we both stuck at the same point! And have the same questions, why can we boot in safe mode and see the 16gb?!?

I did try to install snow leopard with the 16GB and it does starts installation of the OS but as it starts loading the extensions and I'm guessing doing the hardware verification after a while freezes.

I did put a request for the 2010 13" extensions in other forum but no one reply...

keep trying and share our experince!

Tonight i will try to boot Ubuntu and see if it can handle 16 GB of ram (+some testing to check the maximum amount of allocable memory), that way we will determine if its just an efi/chipset limitation or if there are some specific kexts in OSX that come into play.

Hello everyone, I think I've got big news.

My macbook pro 15' (mid 2010) is now doing great with 16 GB OWC 1066Mhz memory on LINUX Ubuntu 12.10.

All memory seems to be addressable, 2x8 GB are recognized for a total amount of 16 GB RAM.

At this point, i believe that KPanics when booting OSX are somehow caused by kexts and not directly related to chipset limitation. This is really odd, since OSX allowed me to boot into safe mode and recognize 16 GB as well.

I really hope that Apple is going to fix this 😉.

Please let me know if there is something else you want me to try out.

Screenshots attached,

Good work kitinji.

What exactly is left out in safe mode that is enabling 16 GIGS in OS X I wonder? Something that loads normally that isn't in safe Mode has to be the clue. I wonder if comparing the boot files a 13" 2010 MBP that does work with a virgin installation on a 15" that doesn't might give yet another clue.

Hi kitinje,

good work!

now, we just need someone to help us getting the 13" EFI and extensions. Anyone?

Will Apple be kind enough to deliver a new EFI addressing this?

follow the link and put your request:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html