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New Macbook - Keyboard freezes

Hi,

I bought a new 'Santa Rosa' Macbook on 11-2-07 and have been enjoying the process of setting it up and getting familiar with Leopard.

One thing disturbs me though: Periodically as I have used it for the last two days, the keyboard will freeze, allowing no text input. I can still move the mouse, click on windows and start/stop programs, but the keyboard acts as if it's dead. The caps-lock light won't even come on.

This condition lasts for a minute or two and then normal operation resumes. It happens every few hours (three times in six hours of use yesterday, two or three times today). I haven't been able to correlate this with any particular thing I'm doing, either when it begins or ends.

What's going on?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Eric

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Nov 4, 2007 12:08 AM

Reply
480 replies

Nov 4, 2007 2:01 AM in response to emeb

Good Morning Eric

I would recommend getting the macbook replaced as it is only 2 days old and the keyboard should not freeze. its better to replace it now while you can then waiting until you get the past the 14 day return window.

I bought a Macbook a few months ago (My First Mac) and I am very happy with the Notebook and I have had no lockup problems.

Good luck and enjoy your Macbook

Rob

Nov 4, 2007 6:06 AM in response to emeb

I have had the exact same problem! I bought mine on 11-1-07 and I noticed the next day that the keyboard will just stop responding but my mouse moves fine. I'm not sure what is going on, either, but I'm glad to know that someone else is having the same problem. I think I'm going to take mine back and exchange it, an hope the new one doesn't have the same problem.

Nov 4, 2007 7:43 AM in response to lauraford

Hi & thanks for responding! It's good to see that I'm not alone in this.

I had considered taking the machine in, but won't it be hard to do? Since this problem happens unpredictably for only a few minutes every few hours it seems as though it would be difficult to demonstrate to the Genius to get an exchange.

What if it's a widespread hardware or OS/Driver issue - then taking it back wouldn't solve the problem. I'll have to re-do all the installation & setup I've done over the last few days and won't have actually eliminated the problem. It might be better to wait towards the end of the 90-day warranty period to see if there is a solution that doesn't require an exchange, then take it in if not.

I may call Apple support and see what they say.

Eric

Nov 5, 2007 9:21 PM in response to emeb

I have the same problem but mine happens quite frequently and I have rebooted. New MacBook Pro came installed with tiger but used the dvd to upgrade to leapord. used the firewire to transfer tons of old sw. Mine will be out for aprox 10 sec I'll hold down one key until it returns. Only power supply connected. turned off the backlit. An odd thing (could be perception) looks like the screen dims and gets bright again every so often.

Nov 6, 2007 6:11 AM in response to emeb

I'm suffering from the exact same issue. And it seems to only have started since upgrading to Leopard. I received my laptop just over 2 weeks ago with Tiger on it, and ran the update last week. The problems only manifested themselves in the last day or so. However, just in trying to create a forum account here, and start typing this message the keyboard froze twice. It seems to recover after 10-20 seconds.

I've not been able to correlate this to any particular activity, other than when there are input fields available in open web pages.

Gah - my keyboard froze THREE times when typing this message...

Nov 6, 2007 9:18 AM in response to emeb

I have the same issue. and its my first mac 😟

I posted this problem on several other apple-support discussion boards but non were able to help or relate. so its a bitter sweet feeling to see somebody else having the same problem.

did anybody find a solution to this? did u get urz replaced?

please let us know. am calling apple today.

Nov 6, 2007 2:21 PM in response to OAP Pepper

If it is the software, an exchange will at least rid me of another issue I have with mine. When I open it, the top edge catches the bottom edge, near the power button, and it creeks.

I think we'll find more an more users with this issue because I ignored it for 4 days and just decided to look into it this morning after it froze for the 2nd time in a couple hours.

New Macbook - Keyboard freezes

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