chrsptrsn

Q: Keyboard Not Working Properly

Recently my Macbook Pro's keyboard has been acting strange. The 5, t, and g keys randomly stop working. Sometimes they will work fine, sometimes they will be spastic and type random letters when pressed, and sometimes they don't work at all.

At first the b key was also doing this, but over the past few days it has been working properly and I haven't had any problems with it.

What I have noticed is that while caps lock is on, all the keys work all of the time. They also work when shift and function are pressed down. Which is strange because this means that the keys are functioning. I just don't know why the keys by themselves don't always work as they should.

I'm probably going to take my computer into an Apple store this week if the problem persists.

Macbook Pro 15" 2.4ghz, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Apr 10, 2011 4:36 PM

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Q: Keyboard Not Working Properly

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  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Apr 10, 2011 5:18 PM in response to chrsptrsn
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    Apr 10, 2011 5:18 PM in response to chrsptrsn
    Do a SMC reset and see if that helps:

    _SMC RESET_

    • Shut down the computer.
    • Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.
    • On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
    • Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
    • Press the power button to turn on the computer.  

    _PRAM RESET_

    • Shut down the computer.
    • Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step
    • Turn on the computer.
    • Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
    • Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
    • Release the keys.

    Roger
  • by chrsptrsn,

    chrsptrsn chrsptrsn Apr 10, 2011 5:47 PM in response to rkaufmann87
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    Apr 10, 2011 5:47 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    I just tried both and nothing changed. The same keys still do not work correctly
  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Apr 10, 2011 6:01 PM in response to chrsptrsn
    Level 9 (58,115 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 10, 2011 6:01 PM in response to chrsptrsn
    OK, there are a couple of other things to try, next would be to start up in Safe Mode.

    • Be sure your Mac is shut down.
    • Press the power button.
    • Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
    • Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).

    To exit Safe Mode restart machine normally.

    BTW did you spill anything on they keyboard?
  • by chrsptrsn,

    chrsptrsn chrsptrsn Apr 10, 2011 7:03 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2011 7:03 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Safe Mode also did not work.

    This doesn't fix the problem, but sometimes if I firmly press down on the top panel / keyboard, I can get the keys to work. However, they only stay temporarily fixed and eventually go back to how they were
  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Apr 10, 2011 7:21 PM in response to chrsptrsn
    Level 9 (58,115 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 10, 2011 7:21 PM in response to chrsptrsn
    The way you're describing it now it sounds mechanical, I think your original idea of taking into be looked at is the right course to take. Let us know what you find out after your visit.
  • by chrsptrsn,

    chrsptrsn chrsptrsn Apr 10, 2011 7:21 PM in response to chrsptrsn
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    Apr 10, 2011 7:21 PM in response to chrsptrsn
    and no, I have not spilled anything on the keyboard
  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Apr 10, 2011 7:27 PM in response to chrsptrsn
    Level 9 (58,115 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 10, 2011 7:27 PM in response to chrsptrsn
    chrsptrsn wrote:
    and no, I have not spilled anything on the keyboard


    OK good!
  • by chrsptrsn,

    chrsptrsn chrsptrsn Apr 10, 2011 7:35 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2011 7:35 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Yeah, I'm careful with liquid around my computer. The only thing that's ever come close was cleaning my screen with a wipe. Otherwise no.

    And I'm assuming it is mechanical too. I'm thinking it might be something like a bad connection. I'm just confused as to why the keys work when caps lock is on, yet not all the time without a modifier. Unless the signal sent while modified is completely different then the key by itself.
  • by moguillen,

    moguillen moguillen Nov 4, 2011 7:30 AM in response to chrsptrsn
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    Nov 4, 2011 7:30 AM in response to chrsptrsn

    chrsptrsn,

     

    I am experiencing the very same problem.  How were you able to resolve the problem?

     

    Here's the problem I'm experiencing:

     

    When pressing any of characters (5, t, g, b, 0, -, P, [) on the MacBook Pro nothing happens or when the CapsLock or Right Shift keys are pressed no characters are displayed in uppercase. However, if I press any other characters the keyboard works fine.  If I press the Left Shift key and the characters are displayed in upper case.  However, if I press the Left Shift key any of the following keys 5, t, g, b, 0, -, P, [ nothing happens.

     

    This is a huge problem, because I'm unable to type ther user name and password correctly when trying to login. 

     

    I tried the Apple Hardware Test and the extended Apple Hardware Test, no problems were found.  What other diagnostics procedures or remedies should I try to correct the problem?  Does some piece of hardware need to be replaced?  Here's information about the MacBook Pro:

     

    Processor: 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7 – 64 bit

    Kernel: Darwin 10.7.4 64 - bit

    Memory 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

    Model Identifier: MacBookPro8,1

    System Version: Mac OS X 10.6.7 (10J4139)

    Model: A1278

     

    Any information would be greatly appreciated.

     

    Moses

  • by moguillen,

    moguillen moguillen Nov 4, 2011 8:05 AM in response to moguillen
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    Nov 4, 2011 8:05 AM in response to moguillen

    In addition, what I already posted.   The right shift key does not working when pressing any of the following keys: `, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, -, =.  Which should display: ~, !, @, #, $, %, ^, &, *, (, ), _, +

     

    Moses

  • by jeanbaez,

    jeanbaez jeanbaez Nov 11, 2011 10:47 PM in response to chrsptrsn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 11, 2011 10:47 PM in response to chrsptrsn

    today something strange is happening to my keyboard !!! if I press any letter from the second and third row they just simply appear with other letter!!  (This is what appear if a press each key) (A) AZ ,(S) SX ,(D) CD (F) FV... Is frustrating ! Also The left and right arrows don't work !! HELP :@

  • by kittenpants1,

    kittenpants1 kittenpants1 Jul 31, 2012 8:26 PM in response to chrsptrsn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2012 8:26 PM in response to chrsptrsn

    i'm havin' same with letters t b g  and no shift or capslock helps.

     

    Either won't type at all or produces random series of letters.

     

    Did you find out what was happening?

  • by flyaway76,

    flyaway76 flyaway76 Nov 27, 2012 8:13 AM in response to chrsptrsn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 27, 2012 8:13 AM in response to chrsptrsn

    Additionally to no sound available, I could only type capital letters. When I opened my MacBook Pro late 2008, I found the small cable loose, marked by the red arrow. Opened the safety mechanisem, inserted it again, closed the stirrup again, restart - everything fine again!  :-))

    Hope it helps somebody else - I lost hours with troubleshooting the software...

     

    Foto Skitch Dokument.png

  • by griffinchico,

    griffinchico griffinchico Jul 8, 2014 6:03 PM in response to chrsptrsn
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    Jul 8, 2014 6:03 PM in response to chrsptrsn

    Exact same problem until I pressed caps lock and typed a little, then I turned caps lock off and it's been working for about fifteen minutes now. Just for the record I don't think mine was a hardware issue, because it started working again for about thirty seconds after I switched accounts for the first time after restarting.

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