Keyboard language change

Question

Level 1

14 points

Keyboard language change

The keyboard on my macbook has changed itself to some far eastern alphabet all on its own. I discovered this when I could not log into my account (or any other account) due to the password being rejected. Luckily I got into the guest account (no password) and saw that the keyboard was producing strange characters.

Plugged in a USB keyboard which worked fine and got into my account, but the built in keyboard still giving strange characters. Checked the settings and nothing obviously wrong, but made a few changes anyway, got a 'need to restart; for changes to take effect, did so and keyboard back to normal.

How did it spontaniously change? Was working fine previously and macbook restarted from 'sleep' with a different keyboard setting - what is going on?

Macbook Pro, mid 2010, lion

Posted on Jan 23, 2012 11:37 PM

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Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,252 points

Jan 24, 2012 9:38 AM in response to Timwillows

Timwillows wrote:

See sample below:

My Keyboard is messed up

˜¥ ´¥∫øå®∂ ^ß µ´ßß´∂ ¨π

That is not any other language, it is just your Option/alt key stuck in down position. The keyboard may need repair/replacement.

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Answer 2

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,252 points

Jan 24, 2012 5:24 AM in response to Timwillows

Without seeing what characters your keyboard was making it is very hard to tell. Go to system prefs/users and groups/login options and check the box for Show Input Menu on Login Page so in the future you can change the layout there.

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Answer 3

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,252 points

Jun 6, 2014 4:14 AM in response to NusaDua

If a bluetooth keyboard works fine, that is a pretty clear indication that your internal keyboard is damaged and needs repair or replacement.

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Answer 4

Timwillows Author

Level 1

14 points

Jan 24, 2012 8:52 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Thanks Tom, that will help if it changes again. Main question is what prompted it to change in the first place? No Eastern languages were ticked as even supported let along as the default. It was working on an English keyboard when I logged out and as somethung else when i came to log back in!

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Answer 5

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,252 points

Jan 24, 2012 8:57 AM in response to Timwillows

It is sometimes possible for preferences to change randomly. But without seeing what characters your keyboard was making I can't really tell whether it was actually another language or perhaps something else.

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Answer 6

Timwillows Author

Level 1

14 points

Jan 24, 2012 9:00 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Sorry but I cannot copy them here as keyboard is now back to normal, and I am unsure exactly which change cured the problem.

I was not aware that preferences could change at randon - wierd, but useful to know

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Answer 7

NusaDua

Level 1

50 points

Jun 6, 2014 4:10 AM in response to Timwillows

Turned my MacBook on yesterday and could not login. Then I logged into Guest account and saw that when I type

A B C D E F G H I etc...

I get Å ı Ç Î ´ Ï ˝ Ó ≥≥≥

I had to purchase a BlueTooth keyboard in order to use my laptop and now I'm searching for suggestions on what's going on.

My MacBook Air is not one year old yet. I saw that it may have to do with the Alt key being stuck and I've checked and recheckted that.

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Answer 8

Timwillows Author

Level 1

14 points

Jan 24, 2012 9:29 AM in response to Timwillows

Its just gone again! Everything normal on the USB keyboard but something odd on the built in keyboard. See sample below:

My Keyboard is messed up

˜¥ ´¥∫øå®∂ ^ß µ´ßß´∂ ¨π

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Answer 9

Timwillows Author

Level 1

14 points

Jan 24, 2012 9:31 AM in response to Timwillows

Other wierd stuff too. Opening a new application causes previously open ones to minimise, options to boot to the Lion core system disk, ......

Is this an OSX reinstall?

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Answer 10

Timwillows Author

Level 1

14 points

Jan 24, 2012 9:50 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Thanks Tom, identified which alt key is giving the issue - perhaps a trip to the Apple store at the weekend

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