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Level 2

276 points

keyboard problem MacBook Pro

For the past few weeks, my macbook pro has been having problems with it's keyboard. For some time while I was using a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse, the keyboard on the computer itself was not working. Now I have stopped using the wireless keyboard and mouse, and sometimes my keyboard won't work at all either. Tonight it stopped working for 5 minutes, and then finally started to work again. This seems to be an intermittent problem, so when I go to the genius bar at the apple store, the problem does not occur so that they can see what is happening.

Any ideas out there on why I might be having this intermittent problem? The trackpad seemed to function, just none of the keys work for a period of time.

Thanks for any advice.

(and by the way, i posted this question initially on the wrong discussion for the macbook and didn't know how to delete it from that discussion)

PowerMac Pro 17" and Powerbook 12", Mac OS X (10.4.8), ipod 5th generation, mini ipod

Posted on Sep 12, 2007 10:49 PM

250 replies

louismg

Level 1

0 points

Oct 1, 2007 10:49 AM in response to belovedjs

I can confirm the identical issue on my less than a day old MacBook Pro. It worked great last night, and the keyboard/trackpad are locked as of this morning. It's been "down" for about 2 hours so far, despite reboots, and all manner of key pressing. I actually attached an external USB keyboard/mouse, and that "works", but that's not acceptable.

belovedjs Author

Level 2

276 points

Oct 1, 2007 6:32 PM in response to louismg

louismg

i would encourage you to connect with an apple tech to get your problem resolved. maybe since it has only been one day since your purchase, i would then speak to the store manager and see if they could replace it with a new one? I actually don't know what the policy is on that issue.

today i spoke to someone in consumer relations because i was having difficulty with finding more information on the status of my repair order. apparently it been on hold since 9/21, waiting for a keyboard. the person from customer relations said he would get back to me by Wednesday afternoon.

as for me, i am still waiting . . .

Message was edited by: belovedjs

Oct 1, 2007 7:07 PM in response to belovedjs

Similar problem here...macbook pro 15" had three unresponsive keys, the "p" "zero" and the hyphen key. I finally sent it in to 3rd party repair and had the keyboard replaced at a cost of approx. $200. Have not had a problem since.

louismg

Level 1

0 points

Oct 1, 2007 9:30 PM in response to belovedjs

I took the MacBook Pro to the Apple Store today. Sure enough - still dead. So, they'll hold on to it for the rest of the week, and we'll likely give it another shot this Friday. Good luck to your issue as well!

Oct 2, 2007 11:48 AM in response to belovedjs

I just encountered the same problem this morning. Keyboard and TrackPad suddenly stopped working and are still not working. External keyboard and mouse work fine. I don't remember having this issue before. MacBook Pro is about six weeks old. I am planning to visit a store this evening.

JARP

Level 1

0 points

Oct 5, 2007 2:44 AM in response to belovedjs

After I experienced erratic behaviour when typing Shift P (Cap P) which would work after bashing the key several times, I also found that audio playback via the internet had also stopped working although all other sound functions seemed OK. On following the advice below to cure the lack of internet sound I have found that it has also cured the keyboard input problem. Weird or what!

Re: No Sound When Borwsing The Internet new [re: kingkash420]
08/21/06 06:11 PM
Reply to this post Reply

This worked for me:

1. Open Audio MIDI Setup (/Applications/Utilities/), then check the Audio Output setting.
2. Change the Audio Output setting to 44100.0 Hz.
3. Quit Audio MIDI Setup.

This can be found on the mac os x website :
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300832

belovedjs Author

Level 2

276 points

Oct 5, 2007 6:28 PM in response to belovedjs

Today I decided to check on status of my macbook pro, which i haven't seen since Sept. 20th - they said that the part (Keyboard) wasn't coming in until October 15th - which is a long ways away! I wondered why the other customer relations person told me the part would get there yesterday??? then they said it is supposed to come on Monday the 8th -

this is the longest i have ever waited on a repair for a mac!

so i am still waiting!

belovedjs Author

Level 2

276 points

Oct 30, 2007 8:54 PM in response to belovedjs

Just wanted to update on how my intermittent keyboard problems were resolved. Customer relations decided to send me a new macbook pro because the part was taking so long to arrive. the new macbook pro works great - no more keyboard issues!

Oct 31, 2007 4:00 AM in response to Alcmene

Hello, this is my first ever forum post so hopefully I'll do ok! I have had same problem, freezing kb and trackpad from sleep and found the following website on another forum. Should I mention that forum? What's the polite thing to do?
I have had no problems till installing leopard then it began...........
I used computer sharing to run mine when it fails. BTW, no probs on old G4 which also has had Leopard installed.

I'd appreciate it if someone lets me know if my post is ok.
Hope this helps.
http://www.ragingmenace.com/index.html

I dunno what Side Track is and spotlight didn't reveal anything of that name so this hasn't helped me. Hope it helps some of you.

sbira

Level 1

0 points

Nov 2, 2007 4:42 PM in response to belovedjs

I'm so happy! I'm not the only one!!
Unfortunately I have this problem too. Keyboard and trackpad just stop to work, then I shut down and everything is ok.
The problem usually occures every two weeks. Two days ago I installed Leopard and now it occures twice in two days.

Nov 2, 2007 5:48 PM in response to belovedjs

HD/library/preferences/sidetrack file(s)

HD/library/preferencepanes and preferences/sidetrack file(s) (not actual name)

System/library/preferencepanes/sidetrack file(s) or folder

After you can see that there are no more sidetrack files on your computer you can restart and see your keyboard working again. Just like me.

Aloha,
SoM

Nov 2, 2007 5:56 PM in response to Stateofmind1017

Sorry I deleted this by accident right at posting...

I was having some problems myself after installing leopard and found out that the 3rd party app Sidetrack is causing it. To remove it just start up your computer with the Shift button pressed on an external USB keyboard and start it on Safe Boot. This will allow you to delete the Side track files and bring back life to your keys. Go to these folders and delete:

HD/library/preferences/sidetrack file(s)

HD/library/preferencepanes and preferences/sidetrack file(s) (not actual name)

System/library/preferencepanes/sidetrack file(s) or folder

After you can see that there are no more sidetrack files on your computer you can restart and see your keyboard working again. Just like me.

Aloha,
SoM

Nov 3, 2007 8:16 PM in response to Stateofmind1017

Why would those files affect the keys even when working off the install disk?

Nov 3, 2007 9:28 PM in response to belovedjs

its happening to me too on my SantaRosa MBP 15 inch. Its been bugging me for the last week, and i thought my upgrade to Leopard was the casuse, but its pretty clear its a system problem. I installed XP Pro and the same issue happens 😟 *****, cuz this is my first apple, and granted, i love it, but im forced back onto my 12 pound XPS till apple can fix this.

On a directly related note, I upgraded my hard drive to a 200gb 7200rpm drive (thanks ifixit.com lol) and i'm wonding if apple is gonna say my warrenty is void?

Kirk D

Level 1

15 points

Nov 3, 2007 11:26 PM in response to belovedjs

I have a MBP that is only about 30 hours old and I have noticed keyboard not working at times. When it happens the cap lock key won't light or unlight.

What is sidetrack and how can it affect the keyboard?

I am a brand new Mac user. This is my first one.

Kirk

keyboard problem MacBook Pro