Unresponsive Keyboard and Trackpad problem FIXED/RESOLVED

I've been dealing with this issue since early December myself.
I purchased the MBP in November and had nearly a month with out any issues.

I spent nearly two hours on the phone with Apple Care via a specialist trying to diagnose the problem yesterday.
He did mention that they believe neither the 10.5.1 update or the MBP 1.1 update were to blame for occurrence of this issue. (I remain slightly skeptical)

Let me give you a short rundown of my problems and what I've done to help resolve the issue. Hopefully it'll help some of you.. or help me (with some of everyone else insight) if it happens again.

The symptoms:
keyboard and trackpad become unresponsive.
The problem is intermittent but often is completely unresponsive at start up.
USB mouse and keyboards have full functionality.

Kernel panics often occur as well. Usually this occurs just after the keyboard and track pad experience extreme intermittent "on and off" periods.
The only option is to do a hard-restart which my or may not resolve the unresponsiveness.

Things I've addressed in my particular case:

1. The battery recall issue - my battery (6N745288YFTA) is OK.
2. Resetting the PMU - no change.
3. Re-installing both the 10.5.1 and MBP 1.1 updates - no effect.
4. pressing the Function + S key at start up and running /sbin/fsck -fy The HD is said to be OK
5. I just finished an Archive and reinstall of Leopard = this seems to have fixed the issue for the moment. I have not run the Updater to bring the OS back to it's fully updated form yet.

The Archive and Re-install DID NOT WORK.
Even upon downloading and installing the 10.5.1 and 1.1 update, I'm still back at square one.

I've also been experiencing these phantom keystrokes to the eject key and backlight myself lately.

I've resolved to wait for the 10.5.2 official release to see of that helps... If not then I'll break down and send my machine in for service.

_____________________________________
Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro3,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP31.0070.B05
SMC Version: 1.16f10
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled

THE SOLUTION:

This is a HARDWARE problem!

After playing around with removing the battery and noticing that this often returned functionality to the keyboard I surmised that this had some sort of physical aspect.
Sure enough, there is a section of copper colored tape/wiring exposed in the batter slot that is slightly bowed where it's smallest.
When I depressed this with my finger tip on this portion to basically flatten it out flush against the housing; I found that all functionality was restored!

You can see the portion in the picture below.

I haven’t had any problems AT ALL since I took a piece of napkin and taped it down to sustain pressure on this portion of bowed tape/wiring.

I have yet to call AppleCare to see what they suggest I do.
I will post a reply here when I hear their suggestion.

Mac Book Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.1), 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB 667 MHz SDRAM

Posted on Jan 27, 2008 3:18 PM

382 replies

odhez

Level 1

4 points

Jun 13, 2010 1:09 PM in response to Carlos*usmx

I have exactly the same problem, on my MacBook Pro (A1226). The keyboard and trackpad stop working. By pushing on the top of the trackpad the stuff work again then again stop to work. I used the paper trick under the battery, but again that was working for some time only. Now I have an external keyboard and a mouse.
I am convinced that is a design problem, I don't understand why Apple don't offer to fix the problem.

Olivier

Jun 16, 2010 5:28 AM in response to Steve Eugene

Dear All,
This is the second time i have faced this problem!! My keyboard and trackpad stopped working in Oct 2009. and service centres told me it was a problem with my logic board whcih would cost approx 1200$!!

i tried the PRAM settings and my laptop worked then!
its my bad luck is that i dont have the apple protection plan!
Now the same thing has come up again!!! and NOW they are telling me the cost is about 790$!!!
I tried the PRAM settings once again but it is not working.. and i dont know if i should spend so much again!! Pls provide me some help! The keyboard and trackpad are totally not working. the sleep function also doesnt seem to work.

😟 Distressed

Jun 16, 2010 6:30 AM in response to Steve Eugene

FYI, I just got my MBP back from having work done on it. Apple replaced the topcase and we haven't had a problem for the last five days, before that the track pad and keyboard were freezing every hour or two. Looks like my issue was hardware related after all. For those of you with a Caps Lock button that randomly flashes on and off, this is probably your issue.

aldo007

Level 1

0 points

Jun 16, 2010 8:43 AM in response to Mac-Problem

Mac-Problem, your symptoms reflect mine. Apple replaced the top case and RAM, and the problem has been solved for at least 1.5 weeks now. Note, we did not have apple care, and with some effort and persistence, they replaced these 2 items at their costs.

Also, have you tried the 10.6.4. OS upgrade? There is a note saying it fixes "trackpad and keyboard unresponsiveness" etc.

Jun 16, 2010 5:03 PM in response to ghettoholder

"a Caps Lock button that randomly flashes on and off"

Interesting. This occasionally happens to me. The paper wedge is still holding up and I keep a fan blowing on it to keep it cool, and it hasn't happened in some time.

Ugh. Do not have the money to replace the top case.

Jun 17, 2010 11:10 AM in response to Sandra Guzdek

Have had an occasional freeze before upgrading. It usually happened when the computer was on for a long time, I forgot to turn on smcFanControl, and the computer's temperature got close to 150 degrees. Updated to OS 10.6.4 yesterday. So far so good.

Between the tape, bumpers under the laptop, smcFanControl, and OS 10.6.4, I think that the problem is fixed for now.

Jun 18, 2010 1:46 AM in response to Steve Eugene

Hi...

One if my cousin is facing the similar problems with his MacBook (Silver Unibody) itz late 2008 model...

Updated it 2 OSX 10.6.4 but no help... the keyboard & trackpad are still not responding...

But, Keyboard seems 2 b working while trying 2 boot from DVD or USB whn pressing "Option" key on keyboard...

Kindly help me knw... is it a software Problem or a Hardware...

Thanx...

Jun 18, 2010 6:21 PM in response to Mac-Medic

This has to be a hardware issue. At least on my end. I've been using my early 08 MacBook Pro solely on a bed for a couple of weeks now, not a single issue. I've been on a desk only for the second time in the past few weeks and not even ten minutes into it and I get a keyboard and trackpad freezing issue.

I've been on 10.6.4 since it was available a couple days ago.

Jun 21, 2010 3:00 PM in response to Carlos*usmx

I've sure it's hardware, too! I'm not sure what or why. But for me is seems to have issues when it sits in a certain position. Mainly when direct pressure is put on the center, middle (battery area).

I've tried ALL the fixes. Tape. Paper. Etc. I'm going to pick up some of those rubber, sticky backed things you can put on backs of remotes, phones, etc to give it a little grip. I'm wonder if keeping the bottom from getting this direct pressure will resolve my issue.

I'll try to report back after a few weeks.

Jun 21, 2010 5:06 PM in response to Jennifer B.

Well, a few days after the 10.6.4 update, Saturday to be precise, the trackpad went wacky again, and the gestures no longer worked. The capslock light went on all on its own. I shoved an additional piece of paper in there, set the computer up on wooden chopsticks (they're lying down, and in a position that the computer doesn't roll away on them, obviously) until I can buy little rubber feet, and have a fan blowing on the whole thing from the side. It's kind of ridiculous that a computer made for PORTABILITY has to be handled in such a delicate way. I haven't even had this computer for 2 years. I'm still paying on it, fer cryin' out loud.

Mind you, in all my years of owning a Mac, this is the first real issue I've had, and it's not going to keep me from staying with Mac. It's just a real disappointment that this hasn't been acknowledged as a defect and a some sort of recall issued. I do not have the money to replace the top case, when the flawed design might mean this could happen all over again.

(It's funny, Jennifer B., that's pressure that causes yours not to work. It seems to be the thing that makes mine work.)

sandra

Jun 21, 2010 7:43 PM in response to Sandra Guzdek

I'm with you, Sandra. I've only owned Mac computers (my first was 7200 in school) and this is the first time I've run into an issue like this.

My bother and my cousin both own computers just like mine and they don't have this problem which makes me think it's mostly (maybe only) hardware related.

Every single time I spoke with Applecare they wanted to go over the same trouble shooting steps. All the way to a complete clean reinstall of the OS. I flat out said NO. I'm going to all that trouble when there are literally 100's of people on here who did that only to have it come back.

Anyway, I gave up with Applecare and just live with this issue FOR NOW. But before my Applecare runs out next Oct I'm going to make them replace some of the parts in HOPES it resolves it.

Jun 25, 2010 10:51 AM in response to Steve Eugene

Thanks so much for your research time and info. You saved me countless hours and repair costs!

I recommend using gaffers tape - A 2 inch by 1/2 inch strip with a tiny piece of paperboard underneath.

Jul 16, 2010 10:56 AM in response to columbus new boy

I left the computer with an 'authorised' ('approved' or whatever Apple calls them) repairer and they replaced the trackpad. While in the repairer's care, someone dropped the computer on a hard surface and badly dented the corner (the same repairer had also damaged the previous computer I'd left for repair). The computer now boots slowly. Ultimately, after a battle they 'repaired' the damage they caused but in the process replaced the keyboard with a foreign language keyboard. It still boots slowly and I'm having problems with headphones automatically starting iTunes when plugged in but I am unable to hear anything through them correctly...

Comeback Microsoft, all is forgiven...?

Jul 17, 2010 3:27 AM in response to Steve Eugene

Is there any permanent fix for this?
I've been getting this issue since about two weeks ago, my keyboard and/or trackpad will go down 4-5 times a day, and I have to open up my battery and push down on the ribbon cable bit, which will bring it back.
But I feel like I'm just waiting for the thing to go completely, and it's very frustrating seeing as how I recently had another major issue with my computer as well (logic board). Will Apple supplement any sort of an extended warranty for this issue?
Apple and its products have been VERY disappointing lately..

Jul 18, 2010 10:14 PM in response to Steve Eugene

So far no solution and I doubt there will ever be one. This is a hardware issue but relates to software in the sense that I can use my MBP for weeks under Windows 7 on a desk and I have zero problems. Also, I can use OSX for weeks on a soft surface like a bed or my lap and have zero issues. But if I'm on a desk and boot into OSX I'll get my trackpad and keyboard frozen within minutes.

It used to happen once ever couple of weeks. Then like a year ago it started happening once a week, then once a day and now it's almost instantaneously I use OSX with the MBP on a flat hard surface.

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Unresponsive Keyboard and Trackpad problem FIXED/RESOLVED