Q: Unresponsive Keyboard and Trackpad problem FIXED/RESOLVED

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Mu keyboard acted up 5 minutes after my last post. Had to restart. Time to get an external keyboard.

Ever since updating Flash to the "Gala preview release" I no longer have this problem. It's been a whole day without trackpad or keyboard problems.. which is actually a long time

http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/flashplayer10.html#gala

Funny you mention that. I always get a few files in my recycle bin after a reboot following a freeze. Check the image to see the contents.
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/2006/capturadepantalla201004bo.png