CharPatton

Q: Filevault Issues: Keyboard Quits Working

Hi:

 

The keyboard on our new iMac quits working about once a week. Then I have to turn off FileVault and all is well, unless I reenable FileVault and then within a week or two the whole cycle starts again.

 

1) Can anyone explain why FileVault messes with the keyboard?

2) What may we do to obviate this?

3) If nothing works, will the next release of OS X fix this bug?

 

Thank you!!!

 

OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

 

OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Sep 12, 2015 1:08 PM

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Q: Filevault Issues: Keyboard Quits Working

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  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 13, 2015 12:53 PM in response to CharPatton
    Level 9 (72,561 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 13, 2015 12:53 PM in response to CharPatton

    You are entitled to 90 day telephone support from Apple. Try contacting them.

     

     

    Apple Support contact - Telephone

  • by CharPatton,

    CharPatton CharPatton Sep 13, 2015 2:59 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 13, 2015 2:59 PM in response to Eric Root

    Thanks much for the reply. Unfortunately, tho, we're about 4 months into our new iMac. And, from what little I know, this seems to be an issue with FileVault rather than the keyboard, since the Mac itself has a built in message saying at login that if your keyboard doesn't work to disable Filevault and that will fix the "keyboard" problem and it does. The keyboard starts working right away, although Filevault takes a few days to completely decrypt in the background. Then I encrypt the fusion drive and all works fine for a week or two, then the issue starts again. It makes no sense to me that Filevault has something to do with the keyboard working, but there you have it. Would love to learn more...

  • by Eric Root,Apple recommended

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 14, 2015 4:30 PM in response to CharPatton
    Level 9 (72,561 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 14, 2015 4:30 PM in response to CharPatton

    USB or wireless keyboard?

     

    Do you have access to another keyboard you can test with?

     

    Keyboard Doesn’t Work

     

     

    Keyboard Keys Do Not Respond

     

    Keyboard/Mouse – Troubleshooting Wireless

     

     

    Bluetooth devices become unresponsive

     

     

    Bluetooth Interference Sources

     

     

    Bluetooth Interference Sources (2)


    If your Wi-Fi is capable of generating a 5 GHz signal, try that.

     

     

     


    Restart the computer holding down the command - option/alt - P - R keys before the gray screen appears. Continue to hold until you hear the startup chime for the second time.

     

                                    

    Reset NVRAM/PRAM

  • by CharPatton,

    CharPatton CharPatton Sep 19, 2015 6:20 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 19, 2015 6:20 PM in response to Eric Root

    Hi Eric:

     

    Thanks so much for your help trouble shooting this issue!

     

    As you suggest, now it looks like the keyboard itself is to blame, rather than the iMac. Here's what I've learned regarding the issue:

     

    It's a USB keyboard, not wireless. It always works when the computer has not been restarted, but there is a weird issue where it will quit working occasionally and intermittently after a restart on the iMac. When this happens, the problem persists on multiple USB ports on the iMac, and another (different) keyboard works fine. When the problematic keyboard is plugged into a MPP 17" it will not work there for a while either. However, after 30-60 minutes, the problematic keyboard will work again on both the MBP and the iMac, and then it will function fine until the iMac undergoes a restart (but some restarts do not reproduce the problem, but others do).

     

    Does this behavior ring any bells? Or should I just return the keyboard for a new one?

     

    Again, thank you very much.

  • by Eric Root,Solvedanswer

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 20, 2015 1:39 PM in response to CharPatton
    Level 9 (72,561 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 20, 2015 1:39 PM in response to CharPatton

    You are welcome. I'd get a new keyboard since works properly using another keyboard.

  • by Jamie Clark,Helpful

    Jamie Clark Jamie Clark Oct 7, 2015 1:51 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Oct 7, 2015 1:51 PM in response to Eric Root

    Interestingly I have a very similar experience with the built-in keyboard on my new 2015 MacBook Pro. It randomly stops working at the boot/filevault password prompt. Disabling filevault fixes the problem - but that is obviously unacceptable.

     

    Keyboard and mouse inop at filevault screen

     

    Just pointing this out that it may be more complicated than a keyboard issue (surely the keyboard built in to the laptop should be compatible).

    There may be more than one issue at play here but this does sound suspiciously similar.