Expose/Shortcuts Not working

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Level 1

10 points

Expose/Shortcuts Not working

So, my Macbook is one step down from the new one they just came out with and it's not very old. For some reason, randomly, my OSX keyboard shortcuts and fn shortcuts stop working, like my expose and dashboard keys. I can't cmd + tab. I can however change my brightness, my volume and my music controls as well as eject discs. I went into system preferences and it says that everything is enabled. Anyone have any ideas? Like I said, it's completely random and the only way to fix it is to completely restart. I am guessing a preference problem? Thanks.

Joanna

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.5), Intel Core 2 Due, 2.1 GHz

Posted on Nov 7, 2008 7:56 AM

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Answer 1

alanbho

Level 1

0 points

Nov 7, 2008 8:23 PM in response to Joanna Pease

i had the same problem on the new 2.4G macbook too. my expose and dashboard key stopped working randomly. i can't even trigger them using my mighty mouse (middle click nor side squeeze). but trackpad work fine, i can trigger expose using 4 fingers.

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Answer 2

alanbho

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Nov 7, 2008 10:17 PM in response to Joanna Pease

my problem is solved. it was caused by the Digg Arc screensaver.

If the screen saver is being ran on more than 1 displays, then all expose, dashboard keys will stop working after returning from screen saver. This happens only on Digg Arc screensaver, but not any other screenssaver like flurry. If the Digg screensaver is ran under single display (no external display is connected), it works fine as well.

anywhere i could report this to apple?

Message was edited by: alanbho

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Answer 3

Joanna Pease Author

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10 points

Nov 9, 2008 4:57 AM in response to alanbho

Yeah, I don't have multiple displays or that screensaver. I am not sure how to report things to Apple. I am guessing there is an email address somewhere.

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Answer 4

Nov 20, 2008 8:01 PM in response to Joanna Pease

I too have had a problem like this. Occasionally my Spotlight shortcut (CMD+Space) stops working. I dug around but couldn't find a way to fix it without rebooting. Using a new 'black' Macbook.

Everything else I'm pretty happy with though 🙂

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Answer 5

Dec 23, 2008 1:43 AM in response to alanbho

Flash-based screensavers seem to trigger this behaviour on my machine. It was PolarClock specifically on my machine, but I saw the same problem with other Adobe Flash-based screen savers. Is it time for Flash to leave the house?

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Answer 6

msunner

Level 1

4 points

Jan 9, 2009 5:57 AM in response to Tony Arnold

i have the same problem insofar as Expose stops working randomly and requires a reboot to get it back ..some 5-6 reboots a day 😟 ..i do not have a screen saver other that sleep the display after 15mins which is not really kicking in.

could someone from apple weigh in on this one as i feel quite a few other seem to have the same problem?

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Answer 7

bozinsky

Level 1

0 points

Jan 23, 2009 8:14 AM in response to Tony Arnold

I can confirm this. I had the same issue with PolarClock installed. Now keyboard shortcuts are back.

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Answer 8

Joanna Pease Author

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10 points

Feb 5, 2009 8:20 AM in response to Joanna Pease

Got the new MB

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Answer 9

msunner

Level 1

4 points

Feb 5, 2009 8:41 AM in response to msunner

still no solution to this - if anyone has had any success in fixing this could you post what steps to took to solve??

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Answer 10

crockcw

Level 1

0 points

Feb 26, 2009 8:01 PM in response to Joanna Pease

My expose and dashboard just stopped working and I can't figure out why. Its driving me nuts. I had my top 2 corners set up to activate them and when I put my house in the corner nothing happens. I tried to use my shortcut keys as well, still nothing. I'm not sure what to do. I don't have PolarClock or whatever it was people said they were having a problem with. If anybody ever figures out how to fix this problem let me know! Thanks!

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Answer 11

Mar 4, 2009 10:19 AM in response to Joanna Pease

Bump.

Happens regularly after I come back to my MB (late 2008 unibody), and the screensaver was on. No fancy screensaver either, it's the default.

Functions keys working: dimming the screen, volume & back/play-pause/Next
Non working keys: expose & dashboard (F3/F4 respectively), along with the Ctr + Num to switch to a given Space. Note that the 4-finger gesture on the trackpad to trigger Expose works correctly.

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Answer 12

mhope19

Level 1

0 points

Mar 29, 2009 12:59 AM in response to Joanna Pease

i am having the same problem as above. i cant seem to see anything that triggers it...!

i'm new to this forum, does apple usually input on it with solutions. as said above it is very annoying..!

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Answer 13

Apr 4, 2009 12:05 PM in response to mhope19

I'm also getting this probem. Its really annoying.

Never really had any problem with my Imac before and this is just one of those thigns that niggles at you.

Any word from anybody at Apple if they have found the cause, etc?

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Answer 14

jdprgm

Level 1

0 points

Apr 6, 2009 9:40 PM in response to Joanna Pease

Hey I was having this exact problem and sort of found a temporary solution. Putting my iMac into sleep mode for a second and then coming back out of it seems to fix it. Still a pain but certainly better than having to restart. Hopefully Apple looks into this!

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Answer 15

jaypo

Level 1

0 points

Apr 7, 2009 4:16 PM in response to jdprgm

Having this exact problem as well. No weird screensavers or other third party software and unable to isolate a specific cause.

As 'jdprgm' posted, putting my Mac Pro to sleep for a moment and then waking it seems to resolve the issue - definitely better than a restart!

Apple - how about looking into this and providing a fix? There are definitely enough people with the same issue here!

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