Wireless keyboard stopped working, flashing green light (not batt. related)

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Level 1

12 points

Wireless keyboard stopped working, flashing green light (not batt. related)

My wireless keyboard has not given me a single problem until today. When I turned my computer (intel iMac) on this morning I also turned on the keyboard as I usually do. Rather than the steady green light I usually get, I now have a flashing green light that eventually turns off after a minute or so. I've changed the batteries to brand new batteries. I've even tried using new packs of different brands of batteries. Nothing works.

The computer no longer sees the keyboard.

Any ideas as to what the problem is?

Message was edited by: the new beat

intel iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Aug 5, 2007 8:37 PM

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Answer 1

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Top-ranking reply

timash1000

Level 1

10 points

Aug 14, 2007 2:28 AM in response to the new beat

I too had a similar problem with my apple wireless keyboard. I turned the keyboard on and got a steady light for about 6 seconds and then a rapid blinking for around 2 minutes and finally the green light went off. There was no connection between my laptop and the keyboard.

My solution was to click on Set up Bluetooth Device, while it was searching/scanning for new devices, I switched the wireless keyboard off then back on. The set up assistant flashed up a passcode to type into the wireless keyboard and once I pressed return, my computer recognised the wireless keyboard again.

I'm sure it won't work for everyone but it might be worth a try if you've tried everything else.

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Answer 2

kwhanley

Level 1

0 points

Aug 12, 2007 9:48 AM in response to FLKat

I was having the same problem with my Mighty Mouse -- the green light would blink twice for about a minute, then go dark, and the mouse didn't work at all and the Bluetooth set up tool wouldn't even find it. Frustrating.

I went and downloaded Steer Mouse 3.7 ( http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/drivers/steermouse.html), installed it, restarted, and now my mouse is working again. I have no idea if it was the software or simply the re-start. I'm just enjoying being able to mouse again. Not sure if this helps with the keyboard problem (this hasn't happened to me yet...knock wood), as I don't know if there's a new keyboard driver, but thought I'd share.

Good luck,
Kate

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Answer 3

AlvinJ

Level 1

4 points

Sep 8, 2007 3:26 PM in response to tbabb

I don't have a wireless keyboard, but I do have a Bluetooth mouse with similar problems (erratic, won't sync, then it quit tracking), and just fixed that problem by cleaning the battery contacts on the mouse. After that cleaning, I put the same batteries back in and now the mouse syncs up, clicks, and tracks just like new.

I posted my solution here on the boards ( http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5298395#5298395) as well as the longer drawn-out story on my own site ( http://www.devdaily.com/blog/Content/2/21/712/).

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Answer 4

the new beat Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 10, 2007 7:16 PM in response to caheth

I asked around for suggestions on a few other mac forums as well and didn't get any solutions that worked. I went ahead and purchased a new wireless keyboard as a last ditch effort and all is well with the new one. My best guess is that the problem is software based and was brought about by one of the updates, but as apple hasn't addressed or even awknowledged the issue yet, I unfortunately do not have anything to suggest you try.

Interestingly enough, a friend of mine is having the same problem right now, only with his wireless mighty mouse. Hopefully apple figures out the problem soon.

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Answer 5

Aug 11, 2007 12:38 AM in response to the new beat

Not much to add but the fact that I have EXACTLY the same issue. I was changing batteries, and all of a sudden it started "double flashes", and stopped connecting to the iMac.

I now CANNOT even log on, and the Command Option+PR "solution" Apple gives is absolute nonsense when the computer won't even recognize those keystrokes.

TERRIBLE. It's stupid things like this that made me wish I bought a PC, or at least a wired keyboard.

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Answer 6

Aug 11, 2007 2:05 PM in response to the new beat

I have the same problem. My new Apple bluetooth keyboard is discovered but will not pair. This just started today 8-11. Thinking my old Apple wireless keyboard was broken, I just bought a new Apple wireless keyboard and same problem occured. Any suggestions would be appreciated. At least I have a wired keyboard as a back up. My bluetooth wireless mouse works perfectly.

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Answer 7

FLKat

Level 1

0 points

Aug 12, 2007 8:36 AM in response to the new beat

I am having the same problem as well. Everything was fine until this morning. Flashing green light forever, and then it would turn off. Put in new batteries, etc, etc, just like you all. Still nothing. I was afraid to reboot for fear that I would not be able to log back in.

I tried for about 45 minutes to pair the thing and it wouldn't work. I replaced the batteries a 3rd time and open system prefs again to see if it would pair. Instead of my keyboard's name (I had custom named it Kat's keyboard), it tried to pair with the default name "Apple wireless keyboard." I entered the numbers it asked for and FINALLY it paired. It's still strange though because once it finished it said my keyboard name was once again "Kat's keyboard." My mouse, still works fine.

Don't know what's going on with it and now I'm afaid it might happen again. Could it be related to the recent software update as others have suggested?

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Answer 8

Aug 12, 2007 9:56 PM in response to the new beat

Hi
I started to have the same trouble with my wireless keyboard less than an hour ago. Same symptoms, no connection, no pairing betweenthe MBP and the keyboard and a flashing green light.
Changed batteries and try to re-pair the keyboard several times, the Bluetooth assistant just does not receive the passcode keyed in the keyboard.
Before total disconecction, the keyboard was unresponsive and also mistyping for some minutes (which i thought it was due to low batteries). Now it does not respond at all! Any help would be appreciated.

JP

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Answer 9

Aug 17, 2007 5:00 PM in response to the new beat

I've had the same problem with the keyboard and I've tried to fix it for months! I'm kind of relieved others are having issues as well....that means I didn't do something wrong. I've tried to pair it again and again and it is refused. I've tried everything and looked things up. I had the wireless keyboard and mouse paired the same day and my mouse is working fine. Its just the keyboard. I wish someone could help!!!!

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Answer 10

Aug 20, 2007 7:55 AM in response to the new beat

Im having the same 'frustrating' problem. I have borrowed a USB keyboard in the meantime, but I will have to give this back soon!!

Does anyone know if Apple are dealing with this?

When I switch my iMac on, I cannot use my BT keyboard. It does not appear in the Bluetooth menu. However, if I set up a new device, I am able to use my keyboard again by going into the Bluetooth Setup Assistant, selecting keyboard and then entering the number. The keyboard is then discoverable again, until next time I turn on my iMac.
Very frustrating!!
As the keyboard works fine after using the Setup Assistant, I guess this is a software issue?
This only appeared to be a problem after installing the last update. (security update & daylight saving update).
Anyone got any more ideas?

Phil

PS. I am using an old USB keyboard in the meantime, just to keep me going. I have 5 user accounts on my iMac, so I need a keyboard to log in.

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Answer 11

Aug 20, 2007 7:51 PM in response to timash1000

Me too. Pretty much describes my keyboard malfunction.
Got a new keyboard from the apple store, set it up with the same result.
Mine types an arbitrary number of repeats of the last letter, number, space, deletions, etc. Eventually it gets so bad that it disconnects.
Cycling the power switch brings it back - sometimes.
Most of the time cycling the switch while the setup assistant is searching for a keyboard works.
The keyboard also takes longer than I remember to start operating when the computer wakes up.
I am under the impression that the flashing green light indicates that the keyboard is trying to establish a link.

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Answer 12

alcyst

Level 1

0 points

Aug 21, 2007 4:20 PM in response to the new beat

same problem. New batteries. The green light comes on for 5 secs, then the flashing green pattern, and the whole bluetooth assistant to and fro.

I tried pairing the keyboard with another (windows) machine, and the keyboard is visible, identifies itself (with MAC address and name), and then i get a "detection of service failed" message.

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Answer 13

Aug 25, 2007 11:05 AM in response to alcyst

I do not often use my iMac. When I booted up last night I downloaded the latest Patch to the Microsoft Windows Suite. My keyboard was working find until the download. After that, I have had the same flashing green light on my wireless keyboard. The keyboard was obviously working before the download because I had to login as the administrator.

There is a very high probability the patch caused the problem. Even if there is a new patch released, I will not be able to login as the administrator without a keyboard.

Now sure what the next step is.

Harold

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Answer 14

Hugo07

Level 1

0 points

Aug 27, 2007 10:40 AM in response to AuroraProject

I have the same problem, ran out of batteries, changed them and the flshi thing started to happend. the wireless mouese works fine, rebooth my mac mini but I have´nt been able to log in to try to do what people say, since the keyboard is not working.

Thanks

Hugo

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Answer 15

Aug 27, 2007 10:53 AM in response to AuroraProject

Update: I tried my keyboard with 2 other Macs today, it worked fine with a Powerbook running 10.4.9, and wont work with another Powerbook or my MacBook Pro running 10.4.10. It's definitely the 10.4.10 update thats doing this.

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Wireless keyboard stopped working, flashing green light (not batt. related)