Some keys not working intermittently r t y u i o

My Macbook pro (13-inch Mid 2010) has same keys not working since Aug 8 ...

I try to reset PRAM and SMC or upgrade from 10.9.3 to 10.9.4 but no luck.

This same exact thing is happening to me, same keys, same symptoms.

15-Inch, Mid 2010 Macbook Pro running OS X 10.9.4.

This started happening within the last two weeks and is intermittent.

I also have this issue, it has lasted for maybe a week now :/ Updating didn't help.

Same issue - MacBook Pro Retina, Mid 2012; OS X 10.9.5 (13F34)

progressively getting worse...

Looking at the keyboard matrix, check your 'e' key for obstructions - it looks like 'e' will work, even if it's the cause of the problem.

I have the same problem and realized that it mostly occurs when the surface on which the macbook air is placed is not perfectly even. quite odd as on the same surface my old macbook from 2009 has no issues..probably has something to do with the thin body?

anyway, i'm glad that I found the fix - just move it to more even surface.

Also, others have noted similar thing on this forum

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/apple-notebooks/307482-backspace-keys-not-worki ng-2013-macbook-air.html

Hi there.

I have unibody MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) OSx Yosemite v10.10.2 and I found temporary (hope it will be permanent) solution to this problem. I also had problems with RTYUI keys. Tried everything without luck (incl. resetting PRAM, SMC). In safe mode I had the same behavior. For a minute I thought I need a new keyboard because of the hardware problem, technically a new uppercase because it's not that simple task to switch such keyboards... Also, after rebooting keys I had intermittent behavior of the RTYUIO keys – couldn't login properly. After the successful attempt of a login I enabled automatic login option just in case and started testing...

So I discovered that following manipulations solve the problem. Something makes Mouse Keys work improperly.

Go to the System Preference -> Accessibility -> Mouse&Trackpad -> Here, put and remove the check from the 'Enable Mouse Keys'. Then, on the same window go to the 'Options'. There, do the same (put and remove check) on option called 'Press the Option key five times to toggle Mouse Keys'.

After I did that, my problem with RTYUI sporadically working keys disappeared. No reboot required. I hope this problem gone forever. Apple should do smth about it.

Nope. Sorry. Problem is still there. After several hrs the problem appeared again 😟

Hi

I started having this problem today.

One additional thing I noted is how hot it is in that area. Do you think this could be HW related?

I am having the EXACT same issue with keys R T Y U I O seeming to have some sort of strange lag to them ever since I downloaded the last Yosemite update, 10.10.3 using a late 2011 Macbook Pro 15 Inch. I contacted Apple and they suggested I restore the operating system, which did not correct the issue. It seems to be happening very sporadically without any particular rhyme or reason. Strangely I have found that holding all of those keys down at the same time will correct the issue temporarily. It does not seem to be hardware related, but seems to be associated with the software and auto correction or something like that. It's a lagging, rather than an issue with the keyboard itself. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

"It does not seem to be hardware related, but seems to be associated with the software and auto correction or something like that. "

So see if you can go to an earlier OS or Time Machine backup prior to the update.

Otherwise here's an analysis I did of a keyboard failure of those exact keys.

Here's a picture of the traces on the upper membrane which is why it's a mirror image.

You can see how all the keys are interconnected such that a failure of the "E, R, T, Y" trace would cause the entire set of keys to go down.

The interconnecting trace is about .5 mm wide so the tiniest anything will cause problems.

Here's a picture of corrosion on a trace that was causing an intermittent problem:

and here's a very enlarged of the contractor area of an "S" key that was driving me nuts. It would automatically add an "s" at random times. Sometimes it would just start typing "sssssss" while the curser was just parked on a line.

The tiny hair was what was causing the problem. It would take closer examination to determine if it was a metal fragment or an ordinary hair. (We have a cat.)

I would need a microscope stage and a nano probe to determine if it was resistive (conductive) or not.

Thanks so much for the detailed explanation. It could be the issue, although the sporadic nature makes me still believe that it is software related. It just seems to have some sort of lag to it. I can actually hold the key downs, and in about 2 seconds it will work. it seems be acting randomly as a sticky key. Needless to say, it has been one of the most annoying issues I have had from Apple. Just in typing this reply, I've come close to throwing this laptop across the room.

Hi,

My problem definitely seems to be HW related. Since I replied here I have never managed to get those keys to work again.

I since have been using a bluetooth keyboard without any problems, and have also used another (usb wireless) also without problems.

I still notice that the area where those keys are located is particularly hot.

I will be sending it to be repaired as soon as I have an alternative, because this is my working machine.

"the sporadic nature makes me still believe that it is software related. "

Possibly, there have been issues but mostly involving the trackpad being jittery. That has gone away for people moving back to Mavericks and waiting to hear about Mountain Lion.

You might want to make a separate post since your issue is different.

Yes, my problem started exactly after I downloaded and installed Yosemite. Some days the keys will work fine and others it's almost impossible to type. Very frustrating. I guess I'll have to send mine for repair too.