2012 Macbook Pro being strange

justthatgreenguy wrote:

when typing, the keyboard layout immediately switches to the "special characters" page. The only key that types is O where it types an ø.

Getting special characters means the machine thinks the option key (or option plus shift) is always depressed, often a sign of damage (even if nothing ever spilled).

justthatgreenguy wrote:

So I have this macbook, and everything works perfectly fine, except for the keyboard and trackpad. For the keyboard, for whatever reason, when typing doesn't work. After a good week of troubleshooting, I've given into asking the forum. What I've found out is that they keyboard still registers, but for some insane reason when typing, the keyboard layout immediately switches to the "special characters" page. The only key that types is O where it types an ø. For the trackpad, it woks perfect, but sometimes it will register every click as a right click until you reboot. The really strange thing is that it does this with external mice as well. I've tried resetting the SMC multiple times, but from what I can tell it won't reset (Done both the removable and non removable battery ways.) Never spilled anything on the keyboard so it shouldn't be damaged.

The 2012 is considered no removable battery. The removal batteries goes back to the plastic Macs that had a battery trap door on the bottom side.

This could be the trackpad/keyboard cable.

Was there liquid damage at any point in time?

Key board and trackpad would be: resetting NVRAM/PRAM http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

not SMC

babowa wrote:

I had a mid 2012 MBP and the battery was easily replaced (this was the last model to be user accessible). I changed it; I also upgraded the slow drive to an SSD and more RAM.

https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbookpro-13-unibody-mid12/

"easily removable " = no tools

"removable" like the 2012 we all had in the past is "removable with the right tools." this is quite different and does not change the outcome of a SMC reset.

The wording has changed but the new wording is more specific.

The HT —"Notebook computers with a battery that can be removed

This applies to all MacBook Pro and MacBook models introduced in early 2009 or earlier, as well as the MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009).

SMC https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

Remember the sweet Macbook G3 and G4 trap door on the bottom

Even the glued in batteries are "removable"

babowa wrote:

I had a mid 2012 MBP and the battery was easily replaced (this was the last model to be user accessible). I changed it; I also upgraded the slow drive to an SSD and more RAM.

https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbookpro-13-unibody-mid12/

Oh ya —called the iBook

iBook G3 12"

I had a mid 2012 MBP and the battery was easily replaced (this was the last model to be user accessible). I changed it; I also upgraded the slow drive to an SSD and more RAM.

https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbookpro-13-unibody-mid12/

+1 on babowa's suggestion of a swollen battery. Failed batteries continue to swell and, as they do, can cause irreparable damage. Even the possibility of this happening warrants an immediate evaluation.

I had one of those, but didn't have it long enough to need to change the battery. There was something else wrong (can't remember what that was) and Applecare replaced it with a new one with 1 week of Applecare left..... (their repair depot had it 4 times messing it up more every time).

Is your device swollen/uneven anywhere? Since it's a 2012, it could easily be the battery failing and swelling up and causing havoc on the keyboard or trackpad.