Steve Eugene
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: 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 3:21 PM

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Steve Eugene

Q: Unresponsive Keyboard and Trackpad problem FIXED/RESOLVED

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  • by zigller,

    zigller zigller Sep 30, 2010 7:10 AM in response to Steve Eugene
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 30, 2010 7:10 AM in response to Steve Eugene
    ive been using a macbook black and purchased the 13 pro just last month and since day 2, ive had unresponsive track pad problem. i have long suspected heat or something. yesterday, i went to the iStudio to have this problem fixed. just this evening, it happened again. this time, all the programs were unresponsive. i could move the pointer around but it cant click anything. i

  • by FH9999,

    FH9999 FH9999 Oct 2, 2010 7:07 AM in response to kowyzg0moo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2010 7:07 AM in response to kowyzg0moo
    Thanks for the tip!
    What I did was to place a sheet of adhesive plastic foil on the back of the battery in order to prevent the contact of the metal case of the battery with the orange contact ribbon running in the back of the trackpad.

    No freeze for three days!

  • by Sandra Guzdek,

    Sandra Guzdek Sandra Guzdek Oct 9, 2010 11:03 PM in response to kowyzg0moo
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Oct 9, 2010 11:03 PM in response to kowyzg0moo
    +I always suggest customers to just upgrade to the latest model (Unibody w/o removable battery).+

    That's all well and good, but not practical or even doable for the average person in this economy. I've had this computer for a little under two years. I am still making payments on it. I cannot possibly afford to purchase a new one; I could not in good conscience sell this to someone to try to recoup the difference that I still owe; the local store offers 'trade in' towards a new machine, but that does nothing towards the existing balance, and I doubt I would get that much, anyway.

    I've done the trick with the paper, with silicone tape, and now with a piece of plastic tie wrap to put pressure on the cable to keep it working. I still get repeating keystrokes, freezes in the middle of a sentence, and this last time, restarting did not do the trick (hence the tie wrap). I see this message in the Console constantly.

    10/9/10 10:56:20 PM kernel AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::checkStatus - received Status Packet, Payload 2: device was reinitialized
    10/9/10 10:57:22 PM kernel AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::message - kIOUSBMessagePortHasBeenReset.
    10/9/10 10:57:23 PM kernel AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::message - kIOUSBMessagePortHasBeenReset.
    10/9/10 10:57:24 PM kernel AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::message - kIOUSBMessagePortHasBeenReset.
    10/9/10 11:00:32 PM kernel AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::message - kIOUSBMessagePortHasBeenReset.
    10/9/10 11:01:36 PM kernel AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::message - kIOUSBMessagePortHasBeenReset.
    10/9/10 11:01:53 PM kernel AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::message - kIOUSBMessagePortHasBeenReset.
    10/9/10 11:01:53 PM kernel AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::checkStatus - received Status Packet, Payload 2: device was reinitialized

    I appreciate your saying what no one will officially admit. Overall, however, I am really disappointed.

    Sandra

  • by tjk,

    tjk tjk Oct 9, 2010 11:45 PM in response to Sandra Guzdek
    Level 7 (24,259 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 9, 2010 11:45 PM in response to Sandra Guzdek
    Hi Sandra,

    Sandra Guzdek wrote:
    I cannot possibly afford to purchase a new one;


    Why not just replace the ribbon cable? IIRC, the cost was under $50 and the job not too difficult to do.

  • by Dr. Sharmer,

    Dr. Sharmer Dr. Sharmer Oct 22, 2010 7:21 AM in response to Steve Eugene
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 22, 2010 7:21 AM in response to Steve Eugene
    I have this exact same problem with my 2008 MBP. I am a little nervous about doing repairs (even small ones) myself. Do you think the clerks at the Mac Store could do this if I showed them this post?

  • by Sandra Guzdek,

    Sandra Guzdek Sandra Guzdek Oct 23, 2010 11:45 AM in response to tjk
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Oct 23, 2010 11:45 AM in response to tjk
    tjk wrote:
    Why not just replace the ribbon cable? IIRC, the cost was under $50 and the job not too difficult to do.


    I didn't know it was replaceable, and all indications were that it was all (top case) or nothing. Were you able to find the instructions online?

    Thanks!
    Sandra

  • by tjk,

    tjk tjk Oct 23, 2010 5:10 PM in response to Sandra Guzdek
    Level 7 (24,259 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 23, 2010 5:10 PM in response to Sandra Guzdek
    Sandra Guzdek wrote:
    tjk wrote:
    Why not just replace the ribbon cable? IIRC, the cost was under $50 and the job not too difficult to do.


    I didn't know it was replaceable, and all indications were that it was all (top case) or nothing. Were you able to find the instructions online?


    Sorry, I didn't realize you had a Unibody. I was not able to find either a cable or directions for changing it. I did see a trackpad with cable for $70, but again, no instructions, and it sounds like your MBP's issue is more keyboard related than trackpad. If you have not posted in the MBP 2008 and Later forum, I recommend doing so, as this is very different hardware.

  • by Sandra Guzdek,

    Sandra Guzdek Sandra Guzdek Oct 23, 2010 6:16 PM in response to tjk
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Oct 23, 2010 6:16 PM in response to tjk
    It isn't a unibody (my 'late 2008' is misleading--sorry about that). It's definitely to do with the trackpad cable, as putting the paper/etc in there completely resolves it.

    Sandra

  • by tjk,

    tjk tjk Oct 23, 2010 6:21 PM in response to Sandra Guzdek
    Level 7 (24,259 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 23, 2010 6:21 PM in response to Sandra Guzdek
    Sandra Guzdek wrote:
    It isn't a unibody (my 'late 2008' is misleading--sorry about that).


    Ummm, why not correct it, or better yet, list the actual Model identifier to take any/all guesswork out of the equation?

  • by tjk,

    tjk tjk Oct 23, 2010 6:25 PM in response to Sandra Guzdek
    Level 7 (24,259 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 23, 2010 6:25 PM in response to Sandra Guzdek
    This is one of at least three possibilities, depending on your actual model: http://www.powerbookmedic.com/Top-Case-Flex-Cable-for-Model-A1260-p-17464.html

    The link for installation instructions is on that same page.

  • by Sandra Guzdek,

    Sandra Guzdek Sandra Guzdek Oct 23, 2010 6:27 PM in response to tjk
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Oct 23, 2010 6:27 PM in response to tjk
    Thanks, was attempting to save that change when you suggested it

    And thank you!

    Sandra

  • by tjk,

    tjk tjk Oct 23, 2010 6:29 PM in response to Sandra Guzdek
    Level 7 (24,259 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 23, 2010 6:29 PM in response to Sandra Guzdek
    Sandra Guzdek wrote:
    Thanks, was attempting to save that change when you suggested it

    And thank you!


    Then that's the correct link for your model. Hope you'll post back with results. Good luck and you're welcome.

  • by Jeffrey Dobisch,

    Jeffrey Dobisch Jeffrey Dobisch Oct 23, 2010 8:56 PM in response to Steve Eugene
    Level 2 (200 points)
    Oct 23, 2010 8:56 PM in response to Steve Eugene
    I had fixed this issue with the paper and tape, but it suddenly came back after I installed the SMC firmware update 1.4

  • by Sandra Guzdek,

    Sandra Guzdek Sandra Guzdek Oct 24, 2010 2:04 PM in response to Jeffrey Dobisch
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Oct 24, 2010 2:04 PM in response to Jeffrey Dobisch
    Jeffrey Dobisch wrote:
    I had fixed this issue with the paper and tape, but it suddenly came back after I installed the SMC firmware update 1.4


    I think it's probably coincidental. I've had to add more paper to mine because paper compresses. I finally put in a bit of tie-wrap (plastic) and it's holding steady.

    Sandra

  • by Dr. Sharmer,

    Dr. Sharmer Dr. Sharmer Oct 26, 2010 10:52 AM in response to Steve Eugene
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 26, 2010 10:52 AM in response to Steve Eugene
    I have a 2008 MBP and started having the same problem you describe in yours. I went to our local Mac Store and showed the repair tech your photograph. She said she had never heard of this problem before, but seemed to know exactly where the problem was in my battery. I asked if I should just tape the copper wire down, and she replied that it should be with special anti-magnetic tape. She had a roll of this tape right on her counter and proceeded to tape down the wire in my battery.

    So far, so good. It's been more than 24 hours now with no shutting down of the keyboard or track pad.

    Thanks.
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