keyboard and trackpad dont work in login screen after update

Question

keyboard and trackpad dont work in login screen after update

Hello,

yesterday I updated my macOS (Sonoma 14.3 i think?) on my old macbook pro (15", late 2008) but since then, whenever I try starting the mac, it disables the trackpad and keyboard in the login screen.

The trackpad and keyboard work before that, however. External keyboards and mouse don't work on the login screen either.

I've tried a few things since then, like resetting PRAM and trying to get into that recoveryOS thing.

I've got the macbook from ebay a while back and up until I updated last night it was working just fine, no problems or anything.

I've been going through the internet for a few hours now, since last night, and nothing I've found worked for me. I'm rather reluctant bringing the little guy into a repair shop since I don't have any nearby.

Appreciate any kind of help, thank you so much!

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Feb 1, 2024 6:27 AM

Reply

Answer 1

HWTech

Level 9

55,132 points

Feb 2, 2024 10:52 PM in response to 123orangecat456

Did you perform a clean install of macOS when you first got this used laptop? If not, then you inherited someone else's problems....who knows what condition the previous owner left macOS. Even if the previous owner properly prepare the Mac for sale, I always recommend the new owner should perform a clean install of macOS which first involves erasing the disk, followed by installing macOS. Besides giving you a clean OS free of any nasty surprises from the previous owner(s), it also will help you identify other problems such as whether the Mac has a firmware password lock enabled, or whether the Mac is still being managed by a previous owner.

FYI, here is what the previous owner should have done prior to selling the Mac:

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Try booting into Safe Mode to see if that makes any difference. Even an external keyboard can be used for this....best to use a USB keyboard though in case a wireless keyboard doesn't go ready quickly enough to register the special startup keys.

I assume you mean you have a 2018 laptop and not one from 2008? If so, then try a DFU firmware Revive to reset the T2 security chip & system firmware (there are now two methods to do this, but both require access to another Mac running macOS 14.x, unless of course you have access to Apple Configurator 2 v2.16 which only requires another Mac running macOS 12.4+.....you cannot download the older version now unless you previously "purchased" v2.16):

How to revive or restore Mac firmware - Apple Support

Revive or restore an Intel-based Mac using Apple Configurator - Apple Support

Try running the Apple Diagnostics to see if any hardware issues are detected.

I hope you have good backups of your important data.

Reply