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Steve Eugene Author

Level 1

11 points

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

Top-ranking reply

metaweb

Level 1

40 points

Posted on Apr 14, 2017 8:01 AM

Same problem here. It's a design issue. My keyboard and trackpad also stopped responding, couldn't get past login ... The problem is that Apple ran the trackpad cable over the top of the battery. And as Macbooks get thinner and thinner, component are snugger and snugger. So, when the battery heats up, and it will when watching YouTube videos or running video editing programs as many of us do, the trackpad cable gets unseated from the connected to the trackpad board. I have an Early 2015 Macbook Pro, and this problem surfaced just after the 1-year warranty period expired. If I turn my Macbook Pro over and firmly press in an up and down motion over the bottom case (under where the trackpad, trackpad cable and battery are all 3 aligned, then turn on my laptop, I once again have a working keyboard and trackpad and can login as normal. This is not what one would expect from such an expensive laptop. As these things get thinner and thinner ... problems will crop up more and more.

Apple Support will tell you to reset your NVRAM and SMC ... but that is the canned reply. Resetting those do fix other problems: keyboard backlights and other wonky issues ... but it will not reconnect an unseated trackpad ribbon. And if you are out of warranty ... just purchase a replacement ribbon on ebay and install it yourself. Taking it to an authorized Apple Repair Center will cost you an arm and a leg, especially outside of the USA where there's no price regulation.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/821-00184-A-Touchpad-Trackpad-Cable-for-Apple-MacBook-Pr o-Retina-13-A1502-2015-/111975916834?hash=item1a1248e522

The link above is only for the Early 2015 (March) MacBook Pro ... you will need to research your models ribbon for replacement.

View in context

382 replies

KD-ATL

Level 1

0 points

Apr 2, 2010 2:06 PM in response to Steve Eugene

Had the same problem with my MacBook1,1. The track pad and keyboard would freeze up after the computer went to sleep. It started to occur after I had the top case replaced by Apple. I removed the battery and pushed down on the exposed gold ribbon that is toward the middle of the battery cavity. No problems since. Glad I didn't reinstall the OS which is what the Genius Bar recommended.

Apr 6, 2010 3:11 AM in response to Steve Eugene

Exactly the same problem, symptoms etc - fixed with paper and tape - Apple should post this on a more public place and give a free repair!!!

Apr 13, 2010 8:05 AM in response to Steve Eugene

Is this so difficult to fix Apple???
This is how u treat your faithful Customers?

Apr 13, 2010 2:40 PM in response to Breadfan99

Hello, first time poster. I bring yet another story of a mbp freezing, I've tried pretty much all the tricks I've read here and elsewhere and I still have a partially working computer.

I have an early 08 that I bought in February 08, a couple months later it started to freeze, keyboard and trackpad, at the time I had to hold the power button to shut it down, power it back on and I would get a working computer again. This kept happening so in March/April of 09 I went to the Apple store, for reasons beyond my control they weren't able to even begin working with it for 7 days and I needed to finish and defend my thesis so I went back for it.

Once I finished school I took it in again in May of 09 for faulty super drive and the freezing problem, they had it for about 7-10 days and when I got it back I was told the problem was fixed.

I started to experience the problem again sometime in July, by that time I was living outside the US and no Apple Store in sight. I decided to put up with the problem for another month or so, at which time I would have Snow Leopard and maybe this was a software problem after all. I did a clean install in September of 09, and got the problem again by October. By January of this year this thing was just frustrating, freezing every few hours, sometimes a couple times in an hour. The solution, I discovered, was not to just power it down, but I could either use an external mouse and keyboard (external works fine) to put the computer to sleep or just close the lid to make this happen, then wake it up and resume my work. Not really a solution of course.

I emailed Apple about this issue and a case number was created. We went though a lot of phone calls, removing things and trying to figure out what as causing the problem. Eventually they told me to reinstall SL on top of the current installation, I did and it didn't work. They told me to do a fresh install, I did and this also failed. We settled on me taking the computer back to an Apple Store whenever I had the chance. I did two weeks ago. At the store, the genius told me that most likely they would replace the top cover.

Last week I got an email saying to call them up. I did, and they basically told me that my computer was in perfect shape, nothing wrong it so naturally nothing was replaced. Disappointed, I went to pick up my computer. Came back home, did another fresh install of SL, did the upgrade to 10.6.3... and right now, in the middle of writing this, I got a trackpad and keyboard freeze.

So basically, Apple will not even acknowledge that there is a problem, at least in my case. I've seen some download for 2007 models regarding this issue but nothing for 08 models and on. It obviously happens to other people as well, seeing this thread alone. In the end, I keep using my macbook pro but only on my free time when I want to check email and things of that nature. It has become impossible to depend on it for work related tasks. I don't know what I'm going to do with it. I can't sell a "sometimes-working" computer. Just sharing my story.

Apr 14, 2010 9:42 PM in response to Steve Eugene

I'm having the same keyboard problems as everyone else. It started acting up after I installed OS 10.6.3. Have tried everything except putting pressure on he ribbon. Will try and get back to you.

akcelia

Level 1

0 points

Apr 16, 2010 8:10 PM in response to Steve Eugene

I have had the same problems, with trackpad and keyboard replaced twice by Apple. Very nice and hopeful phone calls with Apple, but have spent so many hours on this topic, and see that there is such a history about it, that it is surprising that it seems so unusual when I tell it to a tech on the phone. It froze up right away on return of my computer the second time. Sooooo frustrating, and the warrenty will be up soon. Without the issue resolved. How can I still love this Mac? My husband is considering transferring from the PC world, but I am suggesting he wait. We both own Toyotas also. Oh, dear!

Apr 17, 2010 7:44 AM in response to akcelia

my keyboard stopped working a few days ago, and now has decided to link together the number keys 1-9 with the letter keys directly beneath and to the right of them Q-P so that typing "y" types "y6", "u" types "u7"..... anyone able to help me its so frustrating ive done the ribbon pressing, paper-taping, erasing HD and reinstalling snow leopard 10.6... still persists! MY EYES ARE BLOODSHOT FROM HOUR UPON HOUR OF WEB-CRAWLING THROUGH THIS ENDLESS TOPIC ON COUNTLESS SITES, HELK ME PLEASE!

Apr 18, 2010 4:34 PM in response to c.hubbard5

ok.. so.. diagnosis...
It hasn't happened under Windows 7. I've been using the system for about 2 days and zero freezing problems under Windows 7. Could this be software related instead of hardware? Maybe the way mac os x checks for something.. I don't know. I'm still with a very fresh and very clean install of 10.6 and I just updated to 10.6.3. Freezing still occurs on the mac side, but like I've said, no freezings to far using Windows 7.

Apr 20, 2010 11:41 PM in response to Steve Eugene

I tried just pressing the ribbon down and it worked for about a week without incident. Ironically, it acted up again as I typed this post. Had to restart. I'm going to buy some anti-static tap and try that method.

Also, I noticed that the keyboard acts up as the computer heats up. SMC Fan Control (set at a higher RPM) keeps the computer cooler and seems to buy me more time.

Apr 23, 2010 7:20 AM in response to Steve Eugene

Add me to the list. My problems started a couple of weeks ago. Keyboard and trackpad unresponsive at start up. Powering off, then back on worked sometimes. Now both are completely dead. External USB peripherals work just fine. Can't remember what year I purchased my Macbook, but it's one of the first Santa Rosa Core 2 Duos, I believe. Software is up to date. The tape on the cable thing doesn't do anything for me. I don't want to spend $300 to fix this, but I need this laptop, and I don't want to lug a mouse and keyboard to use it. Very sad.

aldo007

Level 1

0 points

Apr 23, 2010 5:43 PM in response to electrogruve

You don't know when you purchased your computer, and you aren't sure if your software is up to date? That's pretty lame, but I feel for you.

My experience is similar to the others. We have a mid 2008 Macbook Pro, and it started acting up about a year ago. It started with the trackpad freezing, and culminated last month in the keyboard going crazy. An apple tech ran diagnostics, and it came back clean. So I took the machine home and found this thread. I then booked an appointment with the Genius Bar, and showed them this thread with print outs, and they took the machine into the back, and we all agreed to use the non static tape. The guy cracked open the back right there, slapped some tape on and it's been perfect ever since. IMO it is a flawed design which they will never admit, and our computers are of a certain age now that the problems will only amplify. The other thing we do now, is never pick it up in the MIDDLE.

Apr 25, 2010 7:39 AM in response to aldo007

Good information aldo007.
Can you upload somewhere a pic of the "fix" ? I just want to see where exactly it was put. Thank you.

aldo007

Level 1

0 points

Apr 25, 2010 9:31 PM in response to Carlos*usmx

Carlos, they put the tape right over the wire bundle just like the opening post. I have to report, as of tonight, the fix is off. It acted up after about 5 hours of steady use, and my wife used it tonight on her lap, with her leg right under the battery and it did the grey, dark grey, black, dark black shut down.

We restarted and it was fine. Poor design, end of story.

We:
* pick it up from the edges
* have the edges supported on our laps
* try not to overheat it by prolonged use

I refuse to spend $450 on a piece of crap that will only give me the same problem in another 6 months. We will use this until it fails, the re assess our position. The new unibody design seems stronger than our "oil can" cases, so they might no suffer from this issue. But I can tell you 2 things, if we get another mac lap top we will do more research, and we will definitely spring for apple care. I am an architect and switched my entire office to the mac platform, and I can tell you I am soured on the hardware. It would've been nice to see apple step up, but at this late date you can forget about it. They simply hope you, and I, will upgrade. Even a small gesture on their part would be appreciated, but again that won't happen. And for some reason, Steve Jobs did not return my email. I love apple for design, function and beauty and this machine for me, and my wife, has been a let down. Some of the shine has come off the apple.

Apr 28, 2010 5:22 PM in response to aldo007

Good info aldo007. Sorry to hear it doesn't work. I guess there's nothing more to do except live with it at this point.

Apr 28, 2010 7:01 PM in response to Steve Eugene

Put the tape over both ribbons a few days ago. Also, I set smcFan Control to 4000rpm as a default setting. So far so good.

Unresponsive Keyboard and Trackpad problem FIXED/RESOLVED