MacBook Pro Issue - Repeated Error Noise

Question

Level 1

0 points

MacBook Pro Issue - Repeated Error Noise

Hi,

So I have a mid-2009 MacBook Pro 13" and there has recently been a problem that makes the Macbook pretty much unusable. In one sentence, the problem is that it keeps making a rapidly repeated error noise and this is somehow stopping me from using the enter key, browse the web and look at drop down menus.

Start

- This first started when I was watching a movie and suddenly heard crazy repeated error noises coming from my MacBook like 'dung dung dung dung' over and over as if a key was being held down on the keyboard. I checked and nothing looked wrong with it and thought it was just a temporary thing. It kept doing it from then on. I installed Mavericks from the App store (upgrading from Lion) and that still didn't resolve the issue.

Symptoms

- On boot up the computer will shudder on the user screen and make the error noise as I try and input my password. Enter key doesn't work to input it but it starts to the main interface.

- Entering a URL I cannot press enter to search (with varying degrees of pressing force)

- Clicking on a drop down menu (from top menu bar) it will instantly close unless I hold down the track pad

- I click open a link on a web browser and it will suddenly go crazy and open up around 10 tabs of that link

- Watching a video it will pause randomly and I have to keep hitting space bar to get it going again.

As you can see, the effects are enough to be annoying, disruptive and makes the machine dysfunctional. I'm not really sure whether this is a software or hardward issue. As it comes and goes my guess would be a software issue. I hope someone can help me resolve on my 5 year machine.

Thanks.

Posted on Dec 3, 2014 11:32 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Stex Bomb Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 4, 2014 2:11 AM in response to Stex Bomb

Update: Return key doesn't work at all now. What would someone suggest?

Reply

Answer 2

Cunnla

Level 6

8,263 points

Dec 4, 2014 3:00 AM in response to Stex Bomb

Sounds as if your keyboard is damaged in some way.

To check for software problems, can you start up in Safe mode.

If that makes no difference, try Recovery mode. While there, go to Disk Utility and verify and repair your hard drive and repair disk permissions.

You can try a restore from Time Machine or reinstall of the OS.

If nothing works, take it into the Apple store for testing.

Edit: It might be a good idea to check your battery. In Apple menu, About this Mac, System Report, Power

see what it says about your battery.

Reply

Answer 3

Stex Bomb Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 12, 2015 4:37 AM in response to Cunnla

Thanks for the input Cunnla.

So I've been lazy and left my Macbook in a drawer for a few months. I got it out again the other day and it's still not working. I've done a few tests and managed a work around for now which I will share:

- I plugged in an external keyboard and in fact the enter key works when using this. However, using the internal keyboard the enter key doesn't function at all.

- My work around for now is that I have remapped the enter key to the '\' key on the keyboard and disabled the enter key. Now I no longer have any enter key issues (like it repeating and making error noises) which is good. But it's not ideal as I have to use the '\' key as the enter key now.

Overall, looks like there is an internal issue with the enter key, but I don't really want to pull my macbook apart as it looks like a lot of work/risk of breaking something and it doesn't seem to guarantee success. Given that this is a machine now worth around £300, I don't really want to spend £100 to fix the enter key.

Any suggestions? Has anyone else fixed their internal enter key before?

Reply