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User profile for user: Michael King3
Michael King3 Author
User level: Level 1
6 points

wired keyboard not working

I first noticed this a couple of days ago. I have a late 2010 iMac Quad Core i7 and I've started to have problems with the wired keyboard I have connected to it. When I wake it up, or start it up, the cursor appears in the password field, but when I try to enter my password, nothing appears on the field. I've tried power cycling it and still no luck. If it were a wireless keyboard, I'd just change batteries, but this one is wired into the USB port on the back of the iMac.


I've never had a problem until the last few days.


Any thoughts on what might be going on and how to resolve it?


Thanks,

Mike King

Dublin, OH

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.1), Late 2010 Quad Core i7 iMac

Posted on Sep 4, 2011 7:21 AM

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User profile for user: rkaufmann87
rkaufmann87
User level: Level 10
143,284 points

Posted on Sep 4, 2011 7:51 AM

Mike,


You can try doing a couple of SMC resets, if that doesn't work reset the PRAM. Report back with the results please.


SMC RESET

  • Shut down the computer.
  • Unplug the computer's power cord and all peripherals.
  • Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
  • Release the power button.
  • Attach the computers power cable.
  • 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 4.
  • 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.
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6 replies
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User profile for user: rkaufmann87
rkaufmann87
User level: Level 10
143,284 points

Sep 4, 2011 7:51 AM in response to Michael King3

Mike,


You can try doing a couple of SMC resets, if that doesn't work reset the PRAM. Report back with the results please.


SMC RESET

  • Shut down the computer.
  • Unplug the computer's power cord and all peripherals.
  • Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
  • Release the power button.
  • Attach the computers power cable.
  • 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 4.
  • 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.
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User profile for user: S2
S2
User level: Level 1
40 points

Mar 27, 2015 3:09 PM in response to Michael King3

I am having the same problem. I have a wired keyboard connected to my 2010 iMac and a month ago it started to stop working. At first, changing USB ports solved the problem, but now it doesn't matter which of the four USB ports I plug it into, I can't get it to type.


I have tried both the SMC and the PRAM reset. Neither solves the problem now.


Other things work when I plug them into the USB ports (external hard drive, super drive, scanner, printer).


The keyboard works fine when I plug it into my MacBook Air.


Any ideas how to fix this? Or is my computer too old?

Reply

wired keyboard not working

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