how to open system prefferances pane without mouse clicks

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Level 1

16 points

how to open system prefferances pane without mouse clicks

One can navigate to system prefs using keyboard shortcuts and even open mouse, universal access etc. But, once there, the cursor is stuck in the search window, so you can't navigate.
Does anyone know a way to get out of this? Or does anyone have any ideas how to keep using this powerbook?

(mouse click does not work on trackpad or USB mouse. Issue persists after erase and install)

PowerBook G4 1.5 GHZHow, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Mar 18, 2009 8:53 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 19, 2009 3:40 AM in response to bradleydad

Hi bradleydad,

'Tab' (—>|) shifts the focus from the search box to the first preference and to cycle through, use the arrow keys to navigate around, use the spacebar to select. ⌘+L to revert to 'Show All'.

Not sure how to fix your unresponsive mouse problem, though, maybe someone else can contribute.

Edit: Maybe resetting the PMU? See: Resetting PowerBook and iBook Power Management Unit (PMU)

Have fun,

Adrian

Message was edited by: Adrian

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Answer 2

bradleydad Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 19, 2009 5:17 PM in response to bradleydad

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

If you try your suggestions on a Mac, in 10.5 for example, you will see the tab key does not really enable you to navigate in universal access. I can get to universal access, and use the return key to open the pane, but the tab key does not allow you to navigate and in sharing, you can use the arrows to highlight screen sharing, but the space bar does nothing. Anyone have an idea how to select an item?

(PMU was the first step on my way to erase and install.)

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Answer 3

Mar 19, 2009 6:14 PM in response to bradleydad

bradleydad wrote:
If you try your suggestions on a Mac,

What sort of computer did you think I was using? These are Apple (Mac) forums aren't they?

in 10.5 for example,

Your profile below says 10.4.10.

you will see the tab key does not really enable you to navigate in universal access.

Did you really think I would have taken the trouble to reply without first experimenting & testing on my own machine?

Have you enabled Full Keyboard Access via System Preferences>Keyboard & Mouse>Keyboard Shortcuts? (ctrl+F7)

The Tab key on my Mac in 10.4.11 moves the blue highlight (focus) from the search box (if that's where it happens to be) in Universal Access to 'Seeing' The right arrow key moves the highlight along the options on the top bar. Using the Tab key again moves the highlight to the first of the radio buttons for 'Voiceover'. The arrow keys then move the blue highlight from one Radio button to the next and back again.

The same principle seems to work in 'Network' too with the 'Space' bar serving to select. (click)

Anyone have an idea how to select an item?

Yes, see above.

(PMU was the first step on my way to erase and install.)

Unless we are told explicitly which TS methods that you have tried we have no way of knowing that, have we?

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Answer 4

bradleydad Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 19, 2009 7:23 PM in response to bradleydad

1) OK, enable Full Keyboard Access? I would love to. How? That is what I am trying to do. I have tried this in 10.4 and 10.5.

2?enabled Full Keyboard Access via System Preferences>Keyboard & Mouse>Keyboard Shortcuts? (ctrl+F7) That's a new suggestion, thanks, but it doesn't work, on the powerbook or this MB Pro. Try it yourself. In system preferences, show all, you can get beyond the search window if you type "universal access" and double click. Once in "universal access". How do you get beyond the search window? Once again, ctrl+F7 does not work.

If I could enable screen sharing in the sharing pane, that would work. So, type in sharing, hit return, you are in the sharing pane.Tab twine and "screen sharing". is highlighted. Now, how does one select it? Space bar does not work on the PowerBook, with the builtin or USB keyboard, this MB pro, a MacBook air or on a G4 tower running 10.4.

(I assumed when I said in my original post that I had done an erase and install one would assume I had done troubleshooting along the way, pmu, reset open firmware, pram, safe boot, archive and install, etc) I have seen this problem posted in several places with no resolution. Perhaps it's a matter of the only common point, the port, being redirected. This could be a firmware thing. I tried to run the original restore disk, but couldn't find keystrokes to install. Target disk won't work, 'cause any other mac I have doesn't like the disk. And booting from the disk via Target, changing system prefs, actually changes the prefs on the active computer.

So, any ideas? Sell cheap on eBay?

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Answer 5

Mar 20, 2009 3:46 AM in response to bradleydad

OK. I think I know.

Bear with me a moment...

This on my iBook running 10.4.11. I'm assuming that Apple notebook Keyboards are reasonably similar with fn, ctrl, alt/⌥, command/⌘ & Spacebar going left to right along the bottom of the KB.

So staying with notebooks for now, in particular your PB with its missing Click.

When you briefly press the Power button you get a box come up with Restart, Sleep, Cancel & Shut Down, yes? Do you see a blue focus ring around any of the choices?

Assuming no hit esc to get rid of the Shut Down box.

Try ctrl+ F7, then the Power button again. Blue ring? If no hit esc. If yes Tab should move the focus ring along. That's it. Hit esc to get rid of Shutdown box.

If no, try fn+ctrl + F7, then Power. Blue ring? Yes? Eureka! Hit esc. Go to System Preferences. Forget about entering anything in the Search box You should now see a blue focus ring around the Search box which can be moved via the Tab key and the arrow keys. Use the Space bar to select the required Preference.

Now the only desktop machine I have is a Flat Panel iMac G4 running 10.4.11 but it has a standard white Apple KB so, again, I'm assuming that Apple KBs are reasonably similar.

The problem here seems to be the absence of the fn key. The only way out would be to enable Mouse Keys in Universal Access but without the focus ring I'm not sure how it's done. I'll investigate, Shift+ ctrl+F7 seems to toggle something but your initial problem was with a PB so maybe that's irrelevant.

Adrian

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Answer 6

bradleydad Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 20, 2009 9:05 PM in response to bradleydad

Interesting thoughts, thank you.
What I did was to use an old style keyboard. In the keyboard and mouse pref pane I was able to use fn 7 to turn on full keyboard access. I then went to the sharing panel and was able to tab down and enable screen sharing.

Now I could go to my MacBook Pro and have full access to things. Sadly, I have discovered the "5"that should work for a click doesn't. It is the click that no longer works, whether by mouse, trackpad or keyboard shortcut. One can reboot and get a few clicks in, but it fails within a minute.

I have seen several other posts about this problem and no one ever found a resolution. So, I guess it's time to sell the old girl for parts.

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Answer 7

bradleydad Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 21, 2009 3:16 PM in response to bradleydad

Thanks for the link. The macbook problem sounds similar, but the "ignore trackpad when mouse is present" does not work.

I'm not sure I believe the stuck trackpad theory. If that was the case, it would highlight any text the cursor passed over. I guess I could pop the top on the powerbook and unplug the trackpad, but would not have much faith in that.

Thanks again for the link.

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Answer 8

Mar 21, 2009 1:47 PM in response to bradleydad

Just found this thread:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1948699&tstart=0

OK, it's about a MacBook but interesting fix.

Good luck.

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