Leopard - Keyboard Freeze?

I don't know if this helps anyone with trying to pinpoint the problem, but with me on my MBP when the keyboard freezes and typing doesn't work, I restart after a while. I've noticed that when I have the computer restart, while Leopard is closing everything down, then I can start typing again.

The one time Mail stopped the shut down, so I decided to just keep typing and not continue the shut down. This most recent time everything closed down normally, but I was able to type a couple quick things into the finder's search field just before the computer was ready to restart.

I'm running 10.5.1 (not an option yet in the profile thingie here), but this was occurring before 10.5.1 for me.

I almost always have Word and/or Excel open, so I can't say whether or not that's playing a role in this like someone suggested. I do use Time Machine also, and it's only happened when the external drive has been disconnected, but I don't know that was the cause. I haven't used Bluetooth since Leopard, so that wouldn't seem to be the issue in my case.

I hope this helps someone figure it out.

Message was edited by: autrefois

Message was edited by: autrefois

I found one sure-fire way to get the keyboard working again. The problem seems to be related to the energy saving system.

If I cover the light sensors on either side of the keyboard until the screen gets fully dark and then uncover the sensors the keyboard returns to normal operation.

Can anyone else verify that this works for them?

UPDATE: After installing Apple's 10.5.1 Update... I still have the problem of my keyboard "freezing". Again, the problem only occurs within a Microsoft product (Word, Excel, Entourage etc...) Very intermittent. The problem went away for about 3-4 days. I thought all was good. Today I was sending some e-mails with Entourage and the keyboard froze up at least 8-10 times. Very frustrating!!

Same problem and clicking off the screen does help. It is just in MS Products as I see it.

Hope it is fixed soon!

Anthony

I don't know about you guys but I only seem to have the problem when using applications within VM's Fusion. Is everyone here only having issues with the keyboard freezing while using a Windows application or our some seeing it in native OS X as well?

Still happening to me too. Almost always seems to start while I'm in Entourage, but that could just be a matter of probability. The keyboard does not work in other apps either once it freezes. Or I should say that most of the keyboard doesn't work, since some keys still do produce a response. Weird and frustrating. Responsiveness always returns after a minute or so.

Me, too. New MBP 15" 2.4 GHz, Leopard 10.5.1. Happens whether or not I'm using Office. Don't have anything funny like QuickSilver or SideTrack installed. Really anxious about this - it's going to be debilitating if it continues.

I got a new mac book pro the day Leopard was released. It had come with Tiger preloaded. After I logged in, there was a software update notification with 11 upgrades. I ignore them and inserted the leopard cd to upgrade to leopard. The upgrade went smooth but after the upgrade, the software updates still said it had 11 new updates. I was suspicious but trusted it to know what it was doing. After applying the updates and the reboot, it was stuck at the setup assistant! Kept asking me to register at apple. I had to erase and reinstall the whole thing. The upgrade then worked but I started having the keyboard problems! Every time I started typing after a while, I had to hit the first key some 15 times so that the keyboard wakes up. The copy/paste/delete buttons were also intermittently not working. It was driving me nuts!

I installed the new leopard update and it seems to have fixed it. Atleast I haven't seen it acting weirdly the last 2 days.

Let's see if we can diagnose this for Apple:

Is there anyone having this problem on something other than a MacBook Pro?
Does anyone recall having this problem with Tiger 10.4.x?
Does anyone having this problem NOT have office 2004 installed?
Does anyone have this problem after a shutdown-start up sequence with all Office 2004 products shut down?

I thank all of you that have expressed your fixes, for me it is simply tapping the Caps Lock key and waiting for the light to turn on (usually between 20-40 times). Even reinstalling QuickTime is only a temporary fix for some. Apple needs to address this now and we are an excellent source of intel (no pun intended) for them.

My wife's MacBook Pro is afflicted, my MacBook is not, but I rarely use my Office 2004 software, and she lives in it. Frankly, now I am scared!!!

I have the Keyboard freeze problem on a MacBook (black)
I didn't have this problem with Tiger 10.4.x
I do have Office installed.

+Is there anyone having this problem on something other than a MacBook Pro?+
+Does anyone recall having this problem with Tiger 10.4.x?+
+Does anyone having this problem NOT have office 2004 installed?+
+Does anyone have this problem after a shutdown-start up sequence with all Office 2004 products shut down?+

Yes, I have the problem on a 2006 white intel iMac with an Apple wired USB keyboard.

Did not have the problem with Tiger. Did not have the problem in 10.5. It only began after installing 10.5.1 and rebooting.

I have the problem all the time, it is not program specific. The keyboard does not function at all, and the caps lock key will not light. After booting no keyboard is sensed, so the bluetooth assistant comes up and looks endlessly for a keyboard. Problem persists whether plugged into a hub or directly in the back of the Mac.

I purchased an inexpensive Dynex USB wired keyboard, and it works...sort of. Once the comp is fully booted, the keyboard is usable, but I have been unable to use it to zap pram, start in safe mode, or any of the usual boot variations. It's as if the keyboard is not sensed until the Mac is fully up.

I was hoping zapping the PRAM would bring my standard keyboard back, but unable to try it with this Dynex input.

I have tried the toggling shift key repeatedly. Plugging in the Apple keyboard after a complete boot. Swapping inputs around. Nothing seems to help.

I guess I need to stop crowing to my Vista suffering friends now. =/

Message was edited by: Macishman2

Yes, keyboard locked on my Mini G4, running Leopard 10.5.1, never happened in Tiger, I do have MS Office 2004 installed, but have not used it much since Leopard.
I upgraded from Tiger to Leopard, had no issues, very clean process. Have been using Leopard without incident until yesterday, when keyboard stopped, reboot does not help, move keyboard USB does not help, nothing gets my keyboard back (it is USB PC 101 keyboard, has always worked fine with Mac Mini till now). When boot from HD, no keyboard, when boot from Leopard DVD, keyboard works fine!.... I installed 10.5.1 update the day it was available, and Time Machine is running, nothing else.....

mjnz wrote:
Does anyone having this problem NOT have office 2004 installed?

No Office installed here, unless you count the demos that come pre-installed on the machines. Haven't used them yet.

Never noticed the problem before in Tiger; only started happening since I installed Leopard. I didn't do a clean install... maybe that's it??

It's hard to pinpoint what exactly is causing the problem... the keys seem to cycle from operable to inoperable every few minutes (Caps Lock method is my fix.) Perhaps there's another common 3rd party program at play here other than Office? Quicksilver, Adium, Firefox, etc?