macbook trackpad button - not working

Question

macbook trackpad button - not working

I just got my macbook today... since turning the unit on, the trackpad button hasnt worked. Ive tried resetting the PRAM but still no luck...

Next thing i tried was to reinstall tiger, but when even after booting from the cd, the trackpad button doesnt work.

Anybody have any suggestions?

intel imac, Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Posted on Mar 23, 2006 8:31 PM

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Answer 1

markm

Level 4

1,230 points

Mar 23, 2006 8:38 PM in response to topher Dailing

I would say that you are going to need to get the trackpad replaced (probably the whole keyboard actually).

This is not that bad of a procedure - just make sure they have the parts in stock before you take it in. If they gave you the part and I was in LA I could do the repair in about 25 minutes so they should be able to make short work of it at the Genius Bar of your local mac store.

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Answer 2

tribe

Level 4

1,255 points

Mar 23, 2006 8:43 PM in response to topher Dailing

Are you using an external mouse ?

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Answer 3

Mar 23, 2006 10:48 PM in response to tribe

Nope no external mouse plugged in...

Also, thanks MarkM. Yeah I was already planning to bring it in to the Geniuses tomorrow, I just wish there was a simpler solution so that I wouldnt have to leave the machine there with them.

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Answer 4

Mar 24, 2006 7:49 AM in response to topher Dailing

wierdest thing... my trackpad button is working. I just turned the machine on this morning and it works. Just like that.

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Answer 5

Mar 30, 2006 7:40 AM in response to topher Dailing

I have the same issue. Mine also comes and goes. Works for a while and then stops working. This is brand new ( arrived yesterday ). So will have to open a case and work on it..

Raf

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Answer 6

Mar 30, 2006 8:36 AM in response to Rafael Muller

Hey Raf,

Keep me posted of what you end up doing... Im just wary of sending inn my laptop for any extened period of time.

Thanks,
Chris

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Answer 7

Apr 8, 2006 9:03 AM in response to topher Dailing

I have a similar problem with my new MacBook Pro, but it seems like the trackpad doesn't work only when I try to touch the lateral parts of it. If I start out in the center of the trackpad, it seems to work fine.

Thoughts?

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Answer 8

Apr 27, 2006 9:08 PM in response to topher Dailing

I have the same issue. Right out of the box and no trackpad button action. At first I thought that it only worked intermitantly, but I realized that it seems only to be "dead" for about three minutes after I boot. Then as if by magic, it starts working. Waking from sleep is fine, reboot and the button is dead again for three minutes.

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Answer 9

Apr 27, 2006 9:17 PM in response to Jason Anthony

So I'm changing my story, I think It is intermitant. I just powerered down and on again, and the button worked fine. Frustrating.

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Answer 10

Apr 27, 2006 9:24 PM in response to topher Dailing

I'm having the same problem, although mine seems to stop working if the computer sleeps with the bluetooth mouse connected, and I wake it up without the bluetooth mouse in range. Trackpad works fine again after I restart the MBP.

I had the "Ignore trackpad when mouse is present" option selected in Mouse Preferences. I've unselected that, so I'll see if that fixes the problem.

~ Dana

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Answer 11

Sep 11, 2006 8:19 AM in response to Dana Pero

I was having problems with my trackpad button sticking and exhibiting stranged clicking sounds. I took my Macbook Pro to an Apple Store and the rep agreed that it was unusual. My latches were also not closing the lid properly, but the Apple rep said "this is within spec." Long story short, they have to replace the top case which includes the trackpad and, I was happy to hear, the lid latches. Total cost was around $600, but I am still under 3 month warranty. I highly encourage anyone experiencing similar problems to take their machines in for repair.

Macbook Pro 17-inch Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Powerbook AL Mac OS X (10.3.7)

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Answer 12

Oct 25, 2006 7:04 PM in response to Aquapaddler

It turns out that mine was being caused by the battery... About three weeks ago I noticed a really large disturbing bulge on the outer case of my battery... trackpad button was also not clicking and actually very erratic, much more so than when i first started reporting this on here....

After I noticed the bulge I found that there was a recall for my battery. After removing the battery from the MBP, the trackpad works flawlessly... All this time, the battery was bulging on the inside applying pressure to the underside of the trackpad causing it to work intermittently. When the bulge got more pronounced and started appearing on the outerside of the battery the trackpad stopped wokring entirely...

After replacing the battery, per apples recall, everythings working just fine. So anybody else who has had trouble, check the batteries...

Later
Toper

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Answer 13

Oct 25, 2006 7:40 PM in response to topher Dailing

Wow....You are lucky buldge did not turn into fire.

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Answer 14

Dec 16, 2006 4:50 PM in response to topher Dailing

My machine had precisely the same issue. I read this post - so I lifted up the machine and the same bulge has appeared on the battery. One other symptom was that the battery was not giving any warning when it was getting low - the machine just depowered and switched itself off - not good.

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Answer 15

Apr 9, 2007 1:58 AM in response to Hewittpark

I just started having a problem with trackpad button - you only have to touch it to get a click and sometimes it started clicking of its own accord. Very bad especially if the pointer is near the delete button in Mail (as I discovered). Anyway I took the battery off and problem away.

The battery was due to go for replacement because after only 8 months use it started dying suddenly without warning. And yes - I notice it has the bulge.

Thanks very much for this heads up, saved me from sending whole MBP away for repair.

Regards

James

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