Unresponsive Keyboard and Trackpad problem FIXED/RESOLVED

AND ... in 2012 ( 4 YEARS !!!!)

My MacBook Pro 17" has unresponsive Trackpad ...

Using this for the FIX:

http://jasonrobb.com/v2/2008/11/24/macbook-pro-unresponsive-keyboard-trackpad-so lution/

THANK YOU --- SO VERY MUCH --- FOR YOUR "TIP" --- Steve Eugene is a "LifeSaver"

This should be filed under keywords: TRACKPAD TRACKPADS NOTWORKIING UNRESPONSIVE BADPAD

AND ...

Isn't it about time that Apple initiated a RECALL of these PowerBooks Laptops MacBooks --- and fixed them?

I have had this same problem and the one thing I discovered is the battery menu and the profile report show the battery needs to be replaced. I took the battery out and the trackpad and keyboard freezing has stopped. I think the problem is with having a bad battery in these models. On the old models it wouldn't matter but on the 2008 models it seems to matter most. I think the bad batteries heat up too much affecting the trackpad ribbon first and eventually other parts of the system. From everything I have read, no other remedy has worked indefinately... Not even rigging it with tape. In fact those that are rigging it with tape say the issue comes back even worse eventually. My advice is the moment you begin to discover these symtoms you should check the battery status and if it is bad, take it out immediately until you can replace it. If the new battery doesn't fix the problem then the problem is that apple has done another screw up with the battery and failed to do a recall again on them. Rigging your computer with paper or anything that could create static for that matter is the reason some of these people might be coming back with horror stories about how this solution worked for awhile until they lost their whole motherboard. Reason and logic tell me the answer is much more simpler than that. If the ribbon needed to be pushed down why would taking a bad battery out work? I think people are acting out in haste on this and I think the paper/tape remedy is absolutely absurd. I won't even try it! I know as a FACT the problem has much if not all to do with the battery. I just bought a referbished 2008 MBP to replace the last one I bought from the same company but the first one I got was stolen. The battery in that one was fine but, how could they overlook that this one was disfunctional? IT SAYS IT RIGHT THERE IN THE BATTERY STATUS!!! I don't think this is the case with all the batteries but, I do believe there are some batches that were manufactured with flaws. It is unfortunate that Apple has ignored this problem and nobody has stepped up to the plate to force them to see the issue. I am running Lion and I don't install junk on my computer. I happen to take very good care of my computers, always have. Apple is the one company out of all the others that avoids accountablility for expensive mistakes. They know this one is damaging computers to this day. They would have to replace tons of computers, batteries, etc. if they were forced to approach this. Instead they will perfect the new systems and sweep the rest of the dirt under the rug. I am a student right now and for 20 years I have used apple in both school and my graphics business. There was a time they were flawless... I always got my money's worth even when Gil was president. BUT THIS TRACKPAD/KEYBOARD ISSUE STARTED OFF THE SAME QUARTER OF THE YEAR THESE SYSTEMS CAME OUT AND APPLE CARED NOT TO FIND OUT WHY!!!!!!! They have always had a bad habit of assuming the customer is stupid when it comes to legitimate issues. Figures they would throw a new top case and keyboard in and send it back to the customer without researching the actual cause of this. Of those people, the problem has returned over time. You have read of all these people on this site and others who have used the "surpress the ribbon trick" but how many of them are returning 6 months later to tell you the longterm results? I've read a quarter of them longterm results and THEY ARE NOT GOOD. They all account the problem getting worse and some even lost the use of the hardware. Some say it is software because they don't have the problem with Windows on their macbook but some of those people came back and said eventually it DID start to present itself in Windows too. PERHAPS PEOPLE IT'S NOT THE RIBBON BUT THE FACT YOU TOOK THE BATTERY OUT FOR AWHILE????? CUMMON!!! LEAVE IT OUT AND REPLACE IT IF IT HASN'T ALREADY ESCALATED THE PROBLEM. It is OBVIOUS this problem DOES escalate over time. Apple is not going to back you up, so use common sense because it is the only thing we have left to count on. I use to tinker with corrupted system files all the time back in the 90's until I knew the older system software inside and out. I had to because Apple sure as **** wasn't going to tell me how to fix a flaw in their system software that incidently would cause ITSELF to corrupt. Again, they would just come out with the next version of software for a hundred bucks and sweep the old dirt before that under the rug. It's the name of the game! Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Technology is a real dog eat dog world and an expensive one to stay alive. I am hoping I took the battery out soon enough! I will know for sure when I get a undefective battery. I love this computer as the last one that was stolen. I worked hard and spent a lot of money to buy the **** thing twice in one year. I hope I am not going to turn out as a victim in this investment. I am tired of being the victim. Best of luck to all of you but you are on your own. Apple has clearly ignored this issue and I strongly down they are going to backtrack to previous years to give a **** about how they left a small percentage of customers flat broke with nothing to show for it. VERY VERY SAD INDEED!!!

Hello all,

I am hoping someone smart out there can help me - I've scoured all the forums and no one seems to have a problem quite like mine.

2.5 weeks ago, I had the cracked topcase replaced on my early 2008 macbook by a local dealer (this is a free repair done by apple on the defective old topcases, even if your computer is out of warranty). I was very happy with my shiny new-looking macbook until 2 days ago, when the keyboard and trackpad stopped working. When I phoned the company, they said it would cost $150 just to *look* at my computer, despite my mandate that I didn't have this issue until the topcase was replaced by their staff. They told me that it was "practically impossible" for the keyboard/trackpad issues to be a result of their work. However, after having tried just about everything I can find out there on the wide world of google, my mouse and keyboard still work only rarely and intermittantly - sometimes a reboot will resurrect them, but once they stop working nothing helps except potentially the reboot.

Specs:

Model Name: MacBook

Model Identifier: MacBook4,1

Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 2

L2 Cache: 3 MB

Memory: 4 GB

Bus Speed: 800 MHz

Boot ROM Version: MB41.00C1.B00

SMC Version (system): 1.31f1

Serial Number (system): W883636R0P5

Hardware UUID: 33AD8268-0850-55D3-B8AB-4C23B3B76956

Sudden Motion Sensor:

State: Enabled

Here's what I've tried (to no avail):

- Reset PRAMS

- Reset SMC

- Took out battery & put a piece of "flller" paper in
- Removed Kextstats that weren't Apple
- Repaired disk permissions
- Re-indexed spotlight
- Disabled sleep

Here's the console readout:

12-02-04 7:46:22.000 AM kernel: [097f7400][BNBTrackpadDevice::init][66.6] init is complete

12-02-04 7:46:22.000 AM kernel: [097f7400][BNBTrackpadDevice::handleStart][66.6] Done

12-02-04 7:46:22.000 AM kernel: [07d88d00][AppleMultitouchHIDEventDriver::start] entered

12-02-04 7:46:22.000 AM kernel: [09a3a580][AppleMultitouchDevice::start] entered

Once this happens, keyboard/mouse lose functionality and also disappear from the USB device tree (would usually appear in the same USB Bus as the IR receiver.

Any help would be appreciated, either on how to solve this, OR if anyone else has run into this issue after having their topcase replaced, OR if topcase replacement was given as an option to them as a 'fix' for this issue. If I cannot fix this myself, I would ideally like the store to at least *look* at the macbook to ensure the damage wasn't done during the topcase replacement....but like I said, at this point they want me to shell out $150 just to look at it. I am hoping that if others have had the same problem I can at least convince them to look for me.

Thanks very much all for your help!

danisirek, it's very rare for a new top case to fail in this way. The most likely cause is the connector from the top case not properly inserted into the logic board socket, or dust in the connector that was never blown out. You would think the service provider would have spent 5 - 10 minutes removing the top case to check it out. They sound quite mercenary. Was there also cracking around the two raised ridges on the top of the display bezel? If so, that should have been changed too, as the replacement top case for your Macbook also shiped with a FOC bezel.

Hi techiesteve,

Thanks so much for your quick response. There was indeed also cracking around the display bezel, and they did replace that.

When I phoned them and mentioned that I thought it could be "just a connection issue", they told me that it was "practically impossible", as it takes "quite a bit of muscle" to get the connection in and out. Having never removed the topcase myself, I have taken their word on this....but it seems to me that whether it is difficult or not to remove, that it would be possible to have the connection not fully in.

However, that being the case, they argued that if it were an issue of connectivity, it would have appeared before 2 weeks had elapsed. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Many thanks.

As you likely do, it seems too much of a coincidence this should happen a few weeks after the top case was replaced. The connector has a small black thin plastic tab on it to pull it out of the socket on the logic board. It does snap into position, but it doesn't require 'muscle' to insert or remove. Although the top case cracking issue is covered by Apple for up to 5 years from dop, the part fitted also has Apple's standard 90 day warranty for any other issue. Unfortuneately, AASP's do have the right to charge if a problem isn't covered by Apple warranty. I replace a few top cases each week at work, and since the cracking issue materialised, have only seen a few DOA new parts, spongy trackpad clickers or completely dead, can count on one hand, quality is good. Yours isn't completely dead, as it still powers on. The one connector carries data from the trackpad, it's clicker, and the power switch. Only once did I replace a top case, test before screwing it down, and had a keyboard problem that was resolved by reseating the connector. The problem can only be caused by connector seating, the top case, or logic board. It's a shame you don't have an Apple Store nearby, I'm sure they would be more obliging than the people you used.

Hi techiesteve,

Thanks again for your response, I really appreciate it! Indeed, mine is not completely dead - it occasionally works upon reboot, only to die again. Since the one connector is responsible for power as well as trackpad/keyboard, does this mean it is safe to assume it is not a connection issue? Or would it be possible to still turn on the mac and have these issues with a connection problem? If so, would reseating the connection fix this?

I suppose my other question is, would a faulty topcase possibly be responsible? Originally the company told me it would be 5-7 business days to get the part in, but then the very next morning (and I had contacted them in the afternoon) they had the part for me. I sort of assumed they had one already in stock they didn't know about, since it seemed to be an awfully fast shipment from Apple. If it was being housed at their repair shop, I'm wondering if there is a possibility it could have gotten damaged sitting there...?

Sorry for all the questions! I really appreciateall this info. Thanks again!

Without seeing your Macbook it's impossible to be more precise re diagnosis. There is always the possibility of a faulty top case, but it's rare.

Here in the UK we order Apple parts before mid afternoon and they are shipped overnight, normally arriving the following morning. This is easy in a small country such as ours. Elsewhere in the world shipping times can vary. The top case for your Macbook is the most common one used, so it's likely the service provider had a buffer stock and utilised that. They are securely boxed, the box being suitable for international shipping, so would be in prestine condition.

Hi Steve. Pls I'll truly appreciate your assistance. I am having very similar issues to those stated by lots of people here. My mid 2009 MacBook all of a sudden started typing only in caps and was opening multiple pages. When I shut it down and put it back on it took forever to load then it started to request I put my password. I have never used a password on this computer but somehow I managed to take it to a Mac technician who used an external keyboard to sign me in. After diagnosing my Mac he informed me that it was a top casing/keyboard issue and it will cost me almost the equivalent of $250. I am in nigeria and we do not have an apple store here so my options are limited. I bought my macbook in uk so I was thinking of sending it back there though I am out of warranty I feel it will be cheaper to fix, but now I have seen these solutions here and want to try fixing my self to cut cost. I just need advice on the step by step procedure on what to do and how to do it. I'll truly appreciate your assistance as I feel crippled with my MacBook thanks.

P.s these are the parts I was advised to get.

B661-5855 housing top case non backlight british

922-9014 trackpad

Hi techiesteve,

Just wanted to let you know how it all turned out: I phoned Apple regarding the problem, and after outlining all of the troubleshooting I had done, they felt that I was correct in my assessment that it was likely either a faulty installation or a faulty product. They set up an appointment for me with another service provider and replaced the topcase for me, free of charge! I was very happy indeed - considering my mac is 4 years old, I wasn't sure how amenable they would be to looking into this. I had read somewhere that there was a 90-day warranty or somesuch on the topcase replacement, but wasn't entirely sure if this was fact or simply rumour. In any case (no pun intended), everything is working again, thanks to Apple customer service!

Hi danisirek, good to hear you have resolved the issue. Ideally the original service provider should have been more amenable and looked at it again, and you would have had this sorted much sooner. The warranty on the top case is 90 days. A new bezel and top case makes an older Macbook sparkle again, it's still got plenty of life left.

Chynadu80, your Macbook "My mid 2009 MacBook" does not match the parts you were advised were defective "B661-5855 housing top case non backlight british 922-9014 trackpad"

The white mid 2009 Macbook was the last of the original style Macbooks prior to the white unibody polycarbonate style, while the parts you list are for a Late 2008 Aluminium unibody.

If you have an aluminium late 2008 Macbook, the parts you listed and labour to strip and rebuild could cost in the region of £240.00 with VAT in the UK, plus insured return shipping to Nigeria would be expensive. Why was the trackpad condemmed along with the top case with keyboard? If you do have a white mid 2009 Macbook, then the part numbers you were given are wrong and the repair cost is much less.

This thread appears to reference just about every model of Macbook Pro and Macbook made, other than their names there are often major differences in design and construction. Additionally, what may appear a major issue on a world wide forum, is in reality very very small compared to the number of Macbook Pro's and Macbook's sold, I suspect no more than normal failures rates. I know anyone experiencing a trackpad or keyboard problem will probably disagree, but the facts are at work I see very few of the problems described here. Hard drives and optical drives fail more, anything mechanical will fail more than purely electronic devices.

Most older Macbook Pro's that lose their keyboard and trackpad requires the flex cable that runs from the trackpad to the logic board replacing rather than the top case. Initially this part was part of the top case, then Apple made it available as a seperate spare part to authorised repairers. Unibody Macbook's and Macbook Pro's are built differently, the odd trackpad fails, usually the clicker, and most keyboard issues I see are caused by liquid spillages, usually backed up by the internal LCI's going red or crunchy keys caused by dried sticky liquid.

I have had the same problem as mentioned over and over again in this line of comments. I was about to get a whole new case for my laptop, but the shop didn't have one in stock. I next went to an Apple store and was told that the battery was old and swollen. They replaced the battery for me, and presto!! no more problem. The swollen battery was pressing on the inside of the track pad and confusing everything.

all is good 3 months later, and I'm happy!

I have had the same problem for a long time on my MBP A1260. It started by the trackpad/keyboard being unresponsive. At that time, I solved the problem by giving a "massage" to the orange ribbon and restarting the computer. I was also not using the battery anymore. But after a while, even those solutions prove to be useless and my trackpad/keyboard stopped working for good. The post-it and the growl tips never worked in my case. I then went on eBay, bought a second-hand trackpad ribbon cable and replaced it myself using instructions found on powerbookmedic.com and iFixtit.com. It now works again 🙂

thanks for the link,

however, its like where do i start, there are so many different catagories within that i dont know which one to follow, as this is such a unique problem to have, even though its not entirely uncommon.