tennisfirst

Q: When I type the letters look like symbols. Any suggestions?

My Macbook Pro is powering on but I am unable to connect to internet. When I type in password the keyboard only types capital letters.. When I type other places the letters look like symbols. Any suggestions?

Posted on Aug 13, 2013 4:15 PM

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Q: When I type the letters look like symbols. Any suggestions?

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  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Aug 13, 2013 5:48 PM in response to tennisfirst
    Level 10 (207,990 points)
    Applications
    Aug 13, 2013 5:48 PM in response to tennisfirst

    Please read this whole message before doing anything.

    This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.

    The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, or by corruption of certain system caches.

     

    Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. Note: If FileVault is enabled on some models, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
       
    Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and  Wi-Fi on certain iMacs. The next normal boot may also be somewhat slow.

    The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

     

    Test while in safe mode. Same problem?

     

    After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

  • by tennisfirst,Helpful

    tennisfirst tennisfirst Aug 13, 2013 7:45 PM in response to tennisfirst
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2013 7:45 PM in response to tennisfirst

    I followed the directions for the safe boot again. This time the screen did did come up asking me to enter my  password. Only problem, when I entered my password it did not sign me in. I am pretty sure I am typing the correct password but as I am typing (even though it does not show the letter-it shows asterisks) it is probably picking up only capitals instead of the lower case letters that I am trying to type? not sure

  • by tennisfirst,

    tennisfirst tennisfirst Aug 13, 2013 7:48 PM in response to tennisfirst
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2013 7:48 PM in response to tennisfirst

    Then I rebooted normally and tried to enter my network password, it says incorrect. Then when I go to network to try to enter my network password again it says  "enter the 64 hexadecimal characters"

  • by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Aug 13, 2013 9:35 PM in response to tennisfirst
    Level 10 (207,990 points)
    Applications
    Aug 13, 2013 9:35 PM in response to tennisfirst

    OS X version?

  • by tennisfirst,

    tennisfirst tennisfirst Aug 13, 2013 9:53 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2013 9:53 PM in response to Linc Davis

    I think so, it's my old MacBook Pro, probably snow leopard...

  • by tennisfirst,

    tennisfirst tennisfirst Aug 13, 2013 10:10 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2013 10:10 PM in response to Linc Davis

    It is either leopard or snow leopard.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Aug 13, 2013 10:11 PM in response to tennisfirst
    Level 10 (207,990 points)
    Applications
    Aug 13, 2013 10:11 PM in response to tennisfirst
  • by tennisfirst,

    tennisfirst tennisfirst Aug 13, 2013 10:18 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2013 10:18 PM in response to Linc Davis

    I use Verison Fios and my password is 7 characters... It is not encrypted on my newer Macbook Pro...

    I think this old one needs a new mother board...

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Aug 13, 2013 10:58 PM in response to tennisfirst
    Level 10 (207,990 points)
    Applications
    Aug 13, 2013 10:58 PM in response to tennisfirst

    I don't understand your response. Did you follow the instructions in the support article?

  • by tennisfirst,

    tennisfirst tennisfirst Aug 14, 2013 7:34 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 7:34 AM in response to Linc Davis

    I tried following the suggestions in the support article but it did not work.

    One thing that I see that is different from my current MacBook Pro than my older MacBook Pro is this:

    On my OLDER MacBookPro (that is NOT connecting to the internet),

    if I go to TextEdit, then click on TextEdit in the upper left hand corner, point at the "Services", the top choice is ChineseTextConverter...

    On my CURRENT MacBookPro, it does not say ChineseTextConverter when I follow the same TextEdit steps...

    I realize this most likely does not have anything to do with my problem...

  • by tennisfirst,

    tennisfirst tennisfirst Aug 14, 2013 7:40 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 7:40 AM in response to Linc Davis

    I just do not understand how everything appears to be working on my older MacBookPro EXCEPT it is typing strange characters when I type on the keyboard. 

    What I am thinking of doing, is going to an internet cafe just to see if my computer will connect to their internet service? Do you think that might be helpful?

    Thank you for your help.

  • by tennisfirst,

    tennisfirst tennisfirst Aug 14, 2013 7:47 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 7:47 AM in response to Linc Davis

    I also do not understand that when I first typed my network password it typed the correct associated keys with the exception of recognizing each keystroke as if the Caps Lock was on (when the Caps Lock was not on). But when I typed anywhere else it consistantly typed strange and but consistently different characters for each key (like each key has a different strang character instead of a different letter)...

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Aug 14, 2013 8:13 AM in response to tennisfirst
    Level 10 (207,990 points)
    Applications
    Aug 14, 2013 8:13 AM in response to tennisfirst

    it is typing strange characters when I type on the keyboard.

     

    Did that happen in safe mode?

  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Aug 14, 2013 10:10 AM in response to tennisfirst
    Level 9 (79,277 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 10:10 AM in response to tennisfirst

    Can you borrow a usb keyboard and see if that will work ok?