Some keys are not working, MacBook Pro 13"

Question

Level 1

6 points

Some keys are not working, MacBook Pro 13"

The computer is practically brand new, as of May 2011. A MacBookPro 13" OSX 10.6.8.

Some keys, such as "t", "b", "g" and the light dimmer-brightener keys F1 and F2 are not working. (I am typing on another computer) When I press "t" I get IOUtxvdfeu or other nonsense or nothing. "g" and "b" don't work at all. The light dim or brighten keys don't work at all. I have folllowed all the instructions in the Apple Support and Troubleshooting sites, as follows:

Thank you. Best wishes

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From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.

From the View menu, choose Speech.

Click the Text to Speech tab.

If "Speak selected text when the key is pressed" is enabled, the key or key combination set to speak text cannot be used for other purposes or used to type text--click Set Key and change it to a less-commonly used key combination (try to use modifier keys such as Shift, Command, Option, and Control). Or, disable the "Speak selected text when the key is pressed" option.

Click the Universal Access pane in System Preferences, click the Keyboard tab.

Make sure that Slow Keys is turned off. With Slow Keys on, you need to press a key for a longer period of time for it to be recognized.

In the Universal Access pane, click the Mouse tab, and make sure Mouse Keys is turned off. With Mouse Keys enabled, you cannot use the Numeric Keypad to enter numbers--instead the keypad moves the pointer (cursor). (There is an option to enable Mouse Keys with five presses of the Option key; you may want to turn that option off to avoid accidentally enabling it.) If Mouse Keys is enabled and you are using a keyboard with no numeric keypad or Num Lock function, see Unable to type while Mouse Keys is enabled in Mac OS X.

If the function keys on the top row of the keyboard are not working as expected, see Mac OS X: How to change the behavior of function keys.

If the issue persists, use Keyboard Viewer to help isolate the issue:

Click the Language & Text pane (Mac OS X v10.6) or International pane (Mac OS X v10.5.8 or earlier) in System Preferences.

Click the Input Sources tab (or Input Menu tab in Mac OS X 10.5.8 or earlier).

Click the Keyboard & Character Viewer "On" checkbox to select it (click the Keyboard Viewer "On" checkbox in Mac OS X 10.5.8 or earlier).

From the Input (flag) menu, choose Show Keyboard Viewer.

If the keyboard is connected and detected by Mac OS X, the keys you type will highlight in the Keyboard Viewer window. Open TextEdit (or any text application), and try to type something using the keys that were previously not responding to see if they highlight in Keyboard Viewer.

UP UNTIL THIS POINT ---- I need help as I don't understand this next part and need to be walked through it step by step:

Start from the Mac OS X Install Disc, choose Terminal from the Utilities menu and test the keys which were previously not working. If the keys work while started from the Install disc, then the keyboard itself is working correctly. Use Mac OS X: How to troubleshoot a software issue to isolate the software issue that may be causing the keys to not respond.

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Posted on Feb 24, 2012 8:17 AM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Feb 24, 2012 10:07 AM in response to imanox

Since your MBP is under warranty, why not take to the nearest Apple store or AASP and have them fix it for you.

Ciao.

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Answer 2

imanox Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 24, 2012 10:30 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

I phoned Apple Support and got a Case Number, but since I bought the MacBook Pro outside of the USA it only has a 3 month guarantee if it's a software problem, Apple tells me. If it's a hardware problem, yes it is under guarentee. I live 12 hours away from the nearest Authorized Mac service provider, would like to at least check all I can check, such as starting from the Install disk as mentioned above. Thank you for answering so promptly.

Any help would be much appreciated.

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Answer 3

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Feb 24, 2012 1:48 PM in response to imanox

This is what you have to do based on my experiment on my old MBP running 10.6.8

Start your MBP and hold down the letter 'C' and insert the Snow Leopard DVD.

The Language menu will appear. Click on English and continue.

The Install mac OS X pane will appear. On top of the display will be a menu bar. Click on Utilities and select from the drop down menu, Terminal.

The Terminal pane will appear. Type in the keys that are causing problems. See what the results are.

Ciao.

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Answer 4

imanox Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 25, 2012 3:26 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

OK, I've done the "C" test.

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Answer 5

imanox Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 25, 2012 3:28 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Ok. I've done the "C" test. It helped diagnose the problem. I also tried typing on a separate keyboard and the keys on the separate keyboard worked fine, thus that means it's a hardware problem, and that the keyboard is damaged. About a month ago I spilled 4 drops of water on the keyboard so that's probably what happened.

Do I have to buy a whole new replacemnt keyboard for the new MacBookPro, or can it be repaired? Can I buy the replacement keyboard at the online Apple store, and if so how to I find it? I haven't been able to find a replacement part section in the online Apple store.

Thanks once again.

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Answer 6

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Feb 25, 2012 3:27 PM in response to imanox

...it appears to.......what? Are you keeping me in suspense? Seriously, I would be interested in your results.

Ciao.

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Answer 7

imanox Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 25, 2012 3:33 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

No suspense, (I'm laughing) just struggling with this broken machine. When I did the "C" test the keys still didn't work, the "t", "g", "b" and the question mark. Thus I deduced that it's the actual keyboard, a hardware problem.

Cheers.

Reply

Answer 8

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Feb 25, 2012 3:43 PM in response to imanox

Apple sells replacement parts only to authorized resellers, not the general public. To get it fixed you will have to go to an Apple store or an Authorized Apple Repair Facility. Whether is can be repaired or has to be replaced can only be determined by the technician. You may be able to find second hand replacement parts using the Internet.

The bad news is that to repair/replace the keyboard on a Unibody MBP entails the extraction of most of the machines insides. Lot of labor is involved which means a hefty repair bill. To further give you more bad news, the warranty may not be honored if it is determined that the cause is water damage. That falls outside of the realm of manufacturing defects.

Ciao.

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