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Miguel1
Level 1 (11 points)

Q: Left/Right Arrow Keys Not Working

The left and right arrow keys are not working except when used with a modifier key like shift or command. The up and down arrow keys are fine. I don't know if I pressed some key combination that made them unusable but if anyone knows how I can fix this please let me know.

Thanks

PowerBook 15" Aluminum, Mac OS X (10.5.7), none

Posted on Jun 2, 2009 7:30 PM

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Miguel1

Q: Left/Right Arrow Keys Not Working

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  • by KevNBarnes,

    KevNBarnes KevNBarnes Jun 3, 2009 8:39 AM in response to Miguel1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2009 8:39 AM in response to Miguel1
    I too am suffering this on 2 machines, an iMac 3Ghz and MacBook Pro. The problem has only come to light since the installation of the iTunes 8.2.0 and QuickTime 7.6.2 updates. I haven't a clue what is happening and cannot find a resolution.

    This is highly annoying and I am surprised it hasn't gained more prominence.

    If anyone has a resolution please do share!

  • by Miguel1,

    Miguel1 Miguel1 Jun 3, 2009 9:21 AM in response to Miguel1
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Jun 3, 2009 9:21 AM in response to Miguel1
    Unlike Kev, I haven't updated my powerbook with the quicktime or itunes updates. The keys were working fine thru Monday night. It was yesterday that I noticed them not working after starting up.

  • by eww,Helpful

    eww eww Jun 3, 2009 9:26 AM in response to KevNBarnes
    Level 9 (52,994 points)
    Jun 3, 2009 9:26 AM in response to KevNBarnes
    The problem's lack of prominence is undoubtedly an indication that most people don't have it and haven't seen it. If it were widespread, we would certainly have heard more about it here.

    Creat a new user account, log into it, and see whether the problem exists in it or is limited to your ususal account. Post back with results.

  • by Miguel1,

    Miguel1 Miguel1 Jun 3, 2009 10:42 AM in response to eww
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Jun 3, 2009 10:42 AM in response to eww
    I tried your suggestion and the arrow keys do work for the other login. But I don't know what I should do from here. Is there a system preference that needs to be changed or a file that's corrupted?

    Thanks for your help.

  • by acedeuce12,

    acedeuce12 acedeuce12 Jun 3, 2009 11:04 PM in response to Miguel1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2009 11:04 PM in response to Miguel1
    os-x 10.5.7 on an intel imac and it just started happening to me today. it's kinda' annoying

  • by M1rage,

    M1rage M1rage Jun 4, 2009 7:30 AM in response to acedeuce12
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 4, 2009 7:30 AM in response to acedeuce12
    Same issue here, Left and right don't work unless used with modifier keys (Shift, Alt etc)

  • by Miguel1,

    Miguel1 Miguel1 Jun 4, 2009 8:16 AM in response to M1rage
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Jun 4, 2009 8:16 AM in response to M1rage
    I was able to get the arrow keys to work again but I had to go to the extreme of deleting my home library, logging out then back in to recreate it then copy back most of the settings I had before this happened. This is a time consuming process but I use these keys very often and need them so I can work as before.
    There has to be some file in the library that got corrupted but I don't know which one it was.

  • by KevNBarnes,

    KevNBarnes KevNBarnes Jun 4, 2009 11:22 AM in response to Miguel1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 4, 2009 11:22 AM in response to Miguel1
    I've got them working at last! Hurrah!

    I thought about recent updates aside from iTunes/QT and among those was HyperSpaces, a MacRabbit app. I initially quit the app' and the left/right key functions resumed. Running HyperSpaces again I discovered the developers had added functionality to move to corresponding Spaces screens using, what should have, modifiers plus cursor keys. However the modifiers do not appear to work consequentially overriding the left/right keys but with the net effect of disabling their functionality. Clearing the hotkey functionality restored normal functionality.

    I will be contacting the developers.

    I hope this assist others that may be suffering this problem

  • by KevNBarnes,

    KevNBarnes KevNBarnes Jun 4, 2009 11:43 AM in response to KevNBarnes
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 4, 2009 11:43 AM in response to KevNBarnes
    A quick correction, the application is Hyperspaces from http://hyperspacesapp.com/ not MacRabbit as I initially wrote.

    Apologies.

  • by M1rage,

    M1rage M1rage Jun 4, 2009 2:15 PM in response to KevNBarnes
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 4, 2009 2:15 PM in response to KevNBarnes
    KevNBarnes wrote:
    I've got them working at last! Hurrah!

    I thought about recent updates aside from iTunes/QT and among those was HyperSpaces, a MacRabbit app. I initially quit the app' and the left/right key functions resumed. Running HyperSpaces again I discovered the developers had added functionality to move to corresponding Spaces screens using, what should have, modifiers plus cursor keys. However the modifiers do not appear to work consequentially overriding the left/right keys but with the net effect of disabling their functionality. Clearing the hotkey functionality restored normal functionality.

    I will be contacting the developers.

    I hope this assist others that may be suffering this problem

    Thanks that's sorted my issue too.

  • by Cadwaladyr,

    Cadwaladyr Cadwaladyr Jun 5, 2009 2:49 AM in response to KevNBarnes
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 5, 2009 2:49 AM in response to KevNBarnes
    Thank you so much!
    I've had such a frustrating day (try coding without being able to move the cursor!), but it was hyperspaces with me too - despite the shortcuts being registered to some combination of cmdaltcursor, it's intercepting all cursor presses.

  • by Miguel1,

    Miguel1 Miguel1 Jun 5, 2009 6:32 PM in response to Cadwaladyr
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Jun 5, 2009 6:32 PM in response to Cadwaladyr
    Thanks KevN, I too have Hyperspaces and did run the update as you did. Maybe I'll put back the old library folder and call it a day.

    Cheers

  • by MalcolmIan,

    MalcolmIan MalcolmIan Jun 9, 2009 12:57 PM in response to Miguel1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 9, 2009 12:57 PM in response to Miguel1
    I'm having an identical problem. It cropped up only a couple of days ago after updating several of my apps. I don't have HyperSpaces installed. I don't know what else it could be.

  • by VivianLang,

    VivianLang VivianLang Sep 2, 2009 6:24 AM in response to KevNBarnes
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 2, 2009 6:24 AM in response to KevNBarnes
    I thought it was ignorant that someone on the posts said it wasn't happening to enough people to be an issue worth addressing. Of course a lot of people are having this problem.. do a search. I am one of them. I updated those itunes and quicktime.. and lost the use of the arrows. all of them.. did you find the fix? I don't seem to be able to . Thanks. let me know (shesearches@aol.com) I appreciate your comments.

    vivian
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