Unresponsive Keyboard and Trackpad problem FIXED/RESOLVED

Thanks for the tip. This has worked for me also 😀

I thought my 3+ yo MBP was doomed.

I still have a question though. I recently got my MBP logic board and optic drive replaced. Could the part that gets taped down be moved around due to my very recent repair?

I ask as my MBP is now out of warranty.

Thanks

With some soldering skills the broken conductor path in the ribbon cable can be bypassed. In my case, the third contact from the left of the plug on the touchpad board did not work. So I soldered one end of a cable to the corresponding copper pad next to the plug. Near the mainboard plug end of the ribbon cable, I carefully scratched off the insulation coating of the affected conductor path and soldered the other end to it. After that I fixed/protected the tiny cable with some kapton tape strips. Works!

Some pictures (click to enlarge):

Seriously. They can't even identify this as a known issue?

Thanks for the solution. Much appreciated.

Apparently not - I have all of the logs, can push on the battery to replicate the problem, no battery swelling as the Apple phone support person first suggested. Apple Store wants me to spend $250 or so to have the Keyboard assembly and Top Case assembly replaced - have heard from too many others that this only fixed their problem for a week or so. Called Apple's phone support again today just to tell them that I think Apple SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM regardless of the warranty status. I believe it's a hardware issue, but I don't want to spend money to replace bad hardware with a new chunk of bad hardware...

Guess I'm buying a new machine, but it would be really nice if this one could be a reliable backup, without having to carry an external keyboard/mouse with me to make it work.

Okay everyone take a chill pill.

This is an easy fix. No one needs to get their nickers in a knot anymore.

Yes, I too suffered for two years carrying around a big keyboard, wireless mouse and other accessories. Everyone thought I was a lunatic, but after paying 3000 dollars on a computer, the desire to just throw it out wasn't strong enough. But the frustration surely was.

I tried the sticky note, the folded paper and the business card trick and yes, they all worked for a month or two until again, the trackpad and keyboard became lost to me.

I finally found a post a few months back suggesting that you get the new flexi cable and install it. After trying to get the part in Australia without success, I finally bit the bullet and bought it in the US. It arrived last Friday and I am happy to inform you that after 45 minutes removing screws and a carefully removing the old cable, I can FINALLY use the keyboard and trackpad once more.

PLEASE, PLEASE, give up on pushing the cable with paper, hassling the mac store minions and hitting your head agains a brick wall. Just order the part - 29- 45 bucks online and install it yourself. If you aren't that technically minded, ask a friend who is friendly with a screw driver and they'll have the issue resolved in an hour.

I know that this is apples fault, but the only person I can blame is myself. I chose not to take out the extended warranty knowing full well that 10 of my friends Ipods had died a few weeks after their one year warranties had expired.

And yes, the mac people are just as stupid as us for building the machine like this in the first place with the cable exposed and for not knowing that a 20 buck fix would fix it properly.

Don't try anything else. Just replace the cable and then get on with your lives. I am so very glad to be doing just that and thinking that I'll not have to look at these forums for at least a year or so.

Goodbye and good typing to you all.

Adrian

Thanks Steve!!!! I have been pulling my hair out for the past week and you just solved it for me. So thankful. Great Job!

Hi "pantini",

Where did you order the flex cable from?