MacBook Pro 2009 A1278 kernel panics

I'm trying to fix a MBP for a friend, he said it was having kernel panics and was slow. I hadn't looked at the machine at this point but guessed it might need a new HDD given its age. He purchased a brand new Intel SSD and 2×4GB RAM. I'm getting a kernel panic and reboot shortly after booting the Mountain Lion install flash drive. Tech Tool won't fully boot...fully freezes when the screen turns blue or hangs with a spinning beach ball at the grey screen. I suspect a RAM problem, perhaps the old modules were bad and the new ones are DOA or incompatible. But I can't confirm this without booting Tech Tool or Memtest86+ via UBCD.

Tell us about the new memory. From Crucial or OWC Mac Specialists and not eBay or a PC dealer? That has to be the prime suspect.

PNY DDR3-1333 from Best Buy, the stickers only say the size. Managed to booted UBCD and ran memory tests -- oddly enough, Memtest86+ v5.01 found a single bad memory address but Memtest86 v4.3.6 passed without errors. I understand this model "officially" supports only 6GB of RAM, so I tried pulling the second stick but it made no difference.

I pulled one of the RAM sticks and managed to get the OS installed with it running on battery. Works fine with a known good charger as well. I got kernel panics again with both RAM sticks installed.

When testing memory problems, you have to test all combinations.
Unlikely to be the slot - but need to test.
Have you tried each of the new sticks, one at a time? all good, keep one there and try one of the original sticks in the 2nd slot.

Since you haven't told us what MBP this is, what do you mean by "officially" supports 6 GB?
What does everymac.com indicate as max for this model?
If max RAM for that model is 6 GB, it's possible it will not run properly with 8 GB sitting in it.

Model number is in the thread title, but to be more specific: MBP 2.26GHz A1278
I will definitely do more tests to rule out a bad slot. EveryMac says it will take 8GB but I have seen several other models on the site that state "Apple officially supports a maximum of X GB" but third-parties have determined more is possible.

Ooops, Sorry - I can't read. Not enough coffee yet...

Macs do have problems with some memory - 'tis why we recommend getting it from places selling RAM known to work in a Mac.

But, if there was an issue with the original RAM, would test those sticks also in both slots.

Chdck out OWC and be guided by their recommendation for memory. Often the maximum recommended memory changes from when the machine was brand new.


Apple MacBook Model Selector Guide for Memory (Ram) and Hard Drive Upgrade options