Sam Combs

Q: Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 won't work on OS X El Capitan

Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 won't work on OS X El Capitan--why?

 

The shortcuts don't work since upgrading to El Capitan on the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, but will work on an Apple keyboard.

 

I've used the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 for years and like the keyboard and I'm used to it.  Any suggestions on other ergonomic keyboards would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

Mac Pro (Late 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Oct 7, 2015 12:24 AM

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Q: Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 won't work on OS X El Capitan

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  • by Bill (audio guy),

    Bill (audio guy) Bill (audio guy) Oct 7, 2015 1:51 PM in response to Sam Combs
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 7, 2015 1:51 PM in response to Sam Combs

    I'm in exactly the same boat.  Curious as to what you might find.

  • by Bill (audio guy),

    Bill (audio guy) Bill (audio guy) Oct 7, 2015 5:59 PM in response to Sam Combs
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 7, 2015 5:59 PM in response to Sam Combs

    Okay, so I'm away from that computer, but I have found a partial workaround.

     

    The biggest problem for me is the windows/alt keys being reversed.  Those can be switched in the keyboard preference pane.  So, of course, it will ALSO switch the keys on any mac keyboard you have connected, but for me the command key being in the right place on the ergo keyboard solves 80% of the issue right off.

     

    modifiers.png

     

    Now, beyond that, I'm not at my work computer so I can't attest to the other solutions I found.  Both are keymap helpers.  Besides the command and option keys being fixed, the number keypad is the next biggest thing that needs to operate for me.  There is a preference pane called doublecommand.  It's at http://doublecommand.sourceforge.net/index.html  I installed it on my macbook here and it appears to install and work on EL Capitan... though I have no access to the MS keyboard here, so I can't verify completely it's functionality.

     

    The other key-remapper is now an app called Karabiner.  https://pqrs.org/osx/karabiner/

     

    Haven't installed it, but my try tomorrow AM in order to get other functions working if I can't get joy from the internal OS X preference pane and Doublecommand.  If anyone has success or failure to report, I'd love to hear about it.

     

    Regards,

    Bill

  • by llemilio,

    llemilio llemilio Oct 8, 2015 12:58 AM in response to Bill (audio guy)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2015 12:58 AM in response to Bill (audio guy)

    Thanks Bill, https://pqrs.org/osx/karabiner/ resolved this issue for me!

  • by Bill (audio guy),Helpful

    Bill (audio guy) Bill (audio guy) Oct 8, 2015 10:08 AM in response to Sam Combs
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 8, 2015 10:08 AM in response to Sam Combs

    An app called Karabiner fixed the issue for me.  https://pqrs.org/osx/karabiner/

     

    I used a MS specific section to fix the Windows/Alt Command/Option key problem, though just reversing the keys via the standard Option/Command modifiers area works fine too.

     

    ms 4k.png

     

    The Number keypad was fixed by a Logitech specific command:

     

    numlock.png

     

    And now everything that I need works for me.  Function keys and volume/mute keys, etc. all work.  I never used the programmable keys, but I think with Karabiner and event viewer, you could make any and all of it do whatever you'd like.

     

    Best of luck to all of you.  I'm back in.

     

    Regards,

    Bill

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Oct 8, 2015 10:12 AM in response to Sam Combs
    Level 8 (37,994 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 8, 2015 10:12 AM in response to Sam Combs

    Changes to security in El Capitan makes the current IntelliType software unusable. Microsoft hasn't updated the software since Lion. They're going to have to actually do something with it now.

  • by nimeck,

    nimeck nimeck Oct 10, 2015 11:43 AM in response to Sam Combs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 11:43 AM in response to Sam Combs

    I too am having the same problem. I reached out to MS Support on this via twitter. They responded to my request for more info, but haven't heard back from them since. Been 4 days. Sounds like MS has lots of issues with El Capitan.

     

    I will try Karabiner. Thanks for suggestion.

  • by Bill (audio guy),

    Bill (audio guy) Bill (audio guy) Oct 10, 2015 1:51 PM in response to nimeck
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 1:51 PM in response to nimeck

    Karabiner is working great for me.  Hope it works for you as well.

     

    -Bill

  • by guitarspace,

    guitarspace guitarspace Oct 11, 2015 8:39 PM in response to Sam Combs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 11, 2015 8:39 PM in response to Sam Combs

    USBOverDrive working for me. I can program back/forward, Scroll, Home, mail, search, cal now.

    http://www.usboverdrive.com/USBOverdrive/News.html

  • by Kurt Lang,Helpful

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Oct 12, 2015 6:57 AM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 8 (37,994 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 12, 2015 6:57 AM in response to Kurt Lang

    There is a way to get IntelliType 8.2 installed and working, and still have System Integrity Protection enabled.

     

    1) Boot to the Recovery partition, or a flash drive El Capitan installer you've created. Click Utilities on the top menu bar, choose Terminal and enter:

     

    csrutil disable

     

    Restart normally back to El Capitan.

     

    2) Install IntelliType. You'll be told it's an unsigned app if you double click the installer. So right click on it and choose Run. You'll notice part of the dialogue that goes by as it's installing is that components are being registered with the system. That's the important part. El Capitan now recognizes it as "okay". There of course is the restart the IntelliType installer does to finish.

     

    3) Now that IntelliType is installed, once again boot to the Recovery partition and this time in Terminal enter:

     

    csrutil enable

     

    4) SIP has now been re-enabled, so you have the extra protection El Capitan brings with it, and IntelliType is still installed and functioning.

  • by spydercapriani,

    spydercapriani spydercapriani Oct 13, 2015 8:05 AM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 13, 2015 8:05 AM in response to Kurt Lang

    Worked like a charm, thank you!

  • by soybeanyoung,

    soybeanyoung soybeanyoung Oct 13, 2015 12:14 PM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 13, 2015 12:14 PM in response to Kurt Lang

    Thank you! It worked for me, too.

  • by Martin Kaynan2,

    Martin Kaynan2 Martin Kaynan2 Oct 13, 2015 12:24 PM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Oct 13, 2015 12:24 PM in response to Kurt Lang

    Kurt:  There was no:RUN

    So right click on it and choose Run when I right clicked on my Mac Mini with El Capitan

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Oct 13, 2015 12:45 PM in response to Martin Kaynan2
    Level 8 (37,994 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 13, 2015 12:45 PM in response to Martin Kaynan2

    Sorry for the typo. Should have been "Open".

  • by Kirrilian,

    Kirrilian Kirrilian Oct 14, 2015 7:30 AM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 14, 2015 7:30 AM in response to Kurt Lang

    Thank you so much for this workaround! It's funny how we get used to everything being setup just the way we like it then something comes along and breaks it and someone will come up with an awesome workaround for it .

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