Left Shift - w doesn't work

Question

Left Shift - w doesn't work

I'm unable to get a capital w when I use the left shift key. I am able to capitalize every other letter with the left shift key and I can get a capital W with the right shift key and the caps lock button. Anybody have a similar experience or have any recommendations to fix this?

iMac8,1, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Sep 8, 2009 12:05 PM

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Answer 1

iCare

Level 4

2,490 points

Sep 8, 2009 1:59 PM in response to Rasta La Bye Bye

Go to the System Preferences->International->Input Menu and check the box "Keyboard Viewer" option. Also check the box at the bottom which says "Show input menu in menu bar". Now, access the Keyboard Viewer from the input menu in the menu bar (it looks like a little flag representing the language you are using) so that it displays a pictorial representation of your keyboard.

With the Keyboard Viewer open try typing the 'W' and left 'shift' key combination together and observe whether the corresponding keys on the Keyboard Viewer highlight. This can help you determine whether you have a software issue, or whether your keyboard is not working correctly. I suspect software since the shift key seems to work with all of the other keys.

Is it possible that somebody accidentally set a 'Keyboard shortcut" in the keyboard preferences under the 'Keyboard Shortcuts' tab? If in doubt try pressing the 'Restore Defaults" button within the Keyboard Shortcuts preferences to see if that helps.

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Answer 2

Sep 10, 2009 2:09 PM in response to Rasta La Bye Bye

Thank you Apple folks!!

This message was read by an Apple engineer who referred the case to an Apple technician and they walked me through rebooting my iMac with the OSX installation disk: I placed the disk in the slot drive, restarted and held the c button down and voila, the problem went away! I was able to use the left shift button to make a capital W, see! WWWWW Apple magic! It even worked properly when I restarted it w/o the installation CD.

Thanks so much to everyone who helped out!

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Answer 3

Sep 28, 2009 10:11 AM in response to Rasta La Bye Bye

After booting from the installation disc, the left shift key worked with w for about a week and a half, and then it went on the fritz again. Took it to a Genius bar and, of course, it worked for them, I'm assuming after i had turned it off for some time. Now when I try to boot from the disk it does not work and when I restart or turn off the computer is still does not start. Some weird software issues going on here. Any input form anyone with a similar experience would be apreciated.

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Answer 4

Shawn B.

Level 1

8 points

Oct 25, 2009 6:37 PM in response to Rasta La Bye Bye

I am also having the same problem. It seems to be intermittent, sometimes it (left) Shift + 'W' works and sometimes it doesn't. I have noticed that if i hit the "W" key it might pop up 2 "W"'s for every one keystroke.

Very annoying, glad I am not the only one thinking the Apple keyboard is debunked.

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Answer 5

Sep 28, 2009 10:12 AM in response to Rasta La Bye Bye

Worked great for a week and a half but now it is not working. Any other advice would be appreciated!

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Answer 6

Oct 10, 2009 9:57 PM in response to Rasta La Bye Bye

I'm having exactly the same problem... did you solve it?

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Answer 7

Sep 8, 2009 1:35 PM in response to Rasta La Bye Bye

Hi there and welcome back to Apple Discussions!

How old is the keyboard? Is it wired or is it Bluetooth? Is this problem recent, and if so, have you made any recent system changes that might coincide with the issue? Is there another machine that you can test the keyboard on to verify whether it is the actual keyboard or the computer that's at fault?

Report back with your findings. Good luck!

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Answer 8

Sep 8, 2009 2:48 PM in response to MyrkridianRhapsody

The keyboard is under a year old, it is wired and it is the one that came with the iMac I bought in November of last year. I haven't made any system changes. I think I could find another keyboard to see if it is an issue with that.

Thanks for the feedback.

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Answer 9

Sep 8, 2009 2:56 PM in response to iCare

Thanks for your help, it was as you suspected, the keyboard viewer indicates that the left shift button does work, but not in conjunction with the w key. The software seems to be the issue. I checked the Keyboard Shortcuts and restored defaults but that didn't work either. Is there anything else I can do short of back-up, erase and reinstall?

Thanks for the troubleshooting advice!!

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Answer 10

iCare

Level 4

2,490 points

Sep 8, 2009 3:09 PM in response to Rasta La Bye Bye

One option is to create a new user account (System Preferences -> Accounts) and see whether the same issue occurs there. If it goes away then you've narrowed it down to your account, but the big question remains.... Why is it occurring in the first place? If the problem still continues then you may have a keyboard issue. Do you have another keyboard you can try?

Maybe another user can provide suggestions on why this issue is occurring. I'll keep thinking about it, but for now I am a loss for words/suggestions.

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Answer 11

Niel

Level 10

741,845 points

Sep 8, 2009 2:58 PM in response to Rasta La Bye Bye

Open the Speech pane of System Preferences and check whether either the listening key or the speech key has become set to that keystroke; if so, change the setting.

(47238)

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Answer 12

Sep 8, 2009 3:05 PM in response to Niel

That's not it Neil, thanks for the effort though!

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Answer 13

Sep 8, 2009 4:29 PM in response to iCare

Thanks, iCare: I used another account on my iMac and the same problem persists. I will check out the keyboard as soon as I can find another to use.

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