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User profile for user: kjtriplett
kjtriplett Author
User level: Level 1
11 points

Spaces Freeze

I have been encountering an interesting problem since upgrading to Snow Leopard. Occasionally (probably about 4 time in the past week) while switching between spaces using the keyboard shortcut, the spaces animation thing stays on screen and I can't use my keyboard for anything other than switching spaces.
This isn't a system freeze; applications still function, but I can't type anything into any text fields. I end up having to log off and log back on to regain functionality. This has happened with a wired slim keyboard, a bluetooth slim keyboard, and the built in keyboard on my unibody Macbook.

unibody Macbook, Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Sep 15, 2009 4:29 PM

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39 replies
User profile for user: imtzo
imtzo
User level: Level 1
4 points

Sep 23, 2009 3:00 PM in response to kjtriplett

I'm seeing this as well on my Mac Pro. It had gone away but now with 10.6.1 it's back. To provide a bit more detail, for me the keyboard becomes useless except to switch between spaces (Option 1, 2). Command-Tab doesn't work. Nothing does.

Are you running TextExpander by chance? I thought there might be some correlation between the two but it's only a suspicion.
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User profile for user: David Vinson
David Vinson
User level: Level 1
15 points

Sep 23, 2009 3:02 PM in response to kjtriplett

I've been having the problem too, and initially thought it was because I was using the Hyperspaces app to have different desktop images. I noticed that it happens when I switch between my 6 Spaces quickly.

Going into System Preferences gets rids of the Spaces graphic, but I haven't gotten control of my keyboard until I reboot (so thanks for the log out recommendation, didn't think of that).
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User profile for user: falafeln
falafeln
User level: Level 1
0 points

Oct 6, 2009 2:16 PM in response to kjtriplett

I have encountered this bug too, multiple times today. It seems like it only occurs when you use the keyboard shortcuts, I really hope Apple will fix this for 10.6.2.
However you don't have to log out to get rid of the spaces indicator, just kill/quit Dock, it's a bit hard to do when you can't type but you can do it from Activity Monitor.
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User profile for user: Skip P
Skip P
User level: Level 1
20 points

Nov 10, 2009 1:27 PM in response to kjtriplett

My keyboard also seizes up (except for switching spaces) - I also must log off - I have neither Hyperspaces nor TextExpander.

It's as if Spaces has hijacked the keyboard and won't release it to other applications. It doesn't matter whether I use either the external or the laptop keyboard.

pain in the butt ! I had hoped 10.6.2 would fix it ....... it didn't. I'll try killing the dock and see if that scares some sense into it.
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User profile for user: Daniel Rahenkamp
Daniel Rahenkamp
User level: Level 1
33 points

Nov 11, 2009 1:04 PM in response to kjtriplett

I too want to add my name to the list of people having problems with Spaces. The spaces animation icon stays on the screen after switching screens I have to manually go to the menubar icon and select the same space manually to make it go away. Also from time to time I have the keyboard become unresponsive. I was hoping that there would be a fix to this with 10.6.2 but no deal.

d
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Spaces Freeze

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