HT204621: Troubleshooting wireless mouse and keyboard issues

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Tom.Heather

Q: Trouble mouse and keyboard communicating with Imac desktop

I can open MAIL but the MAIL menu doesn't appear at the top, and the LEFT click doesn't work properly, but right click does work! Command Q doesn't close the program, it's like it's half open. I can get rid of the page with the LEFT clicker (red button) and I can sort of select stuff in an email but it's grey. The buttons along the top work (Get mail, new message etc), but if I open a new message I can't do anything with it, there's no cursor.

 

Other programs the same (like Excel)

I restarted with the buton on the back, it'll work ok for a few minutes then not so ok. I managed to copy some files onto a hard disc and that all worked fine.

 

It seems to be all in the communication between the mouse/keyboard and the computer. Yes I have tried a wired mouse and keyboard, with the bluetooth one off, no help, same result.

 

This is not a result of new installation. There's no half-dead mouse hiding somewhere.

 

Help! Thanks

iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2010), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Sep 7, 2013 10:53 AM

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Q: Trouble mouse and keyboard communicating with Imac desktop

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  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Sep 7, 2013 1:28 PM in response to Tom.Heather
    Level 10 (123,840 points)
    Sep 7, 2013 1:28 PM in response to Tom.Heather

    Hello,

     

    Open Activity Monitor, Show:>All Processes, sort on CPU%, see if anything using too much CPU% when this happens, click on Memory tab, do you have many Pageouts?

     

    Open Console in Applications>Utilities & see if there are any clues or repeating messages when this happens.

     

    "Try Disk Utility

     

    1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.

    2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)

    *Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*

    3. Click the First Aid tab.

    4. Select your Mac OS X volume.

    5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."

     

    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

     

    Then try a Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.

     

    (Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive & clear caches.)

     

    If perchance you can't find your install Disc, at least try it from the Safe Boot part onward.