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QWERTY keys (only) on keyboard not working

Help! Im at a loss as to why only the QWERTY keys do not function. All other keys are fine.

Thanks in advance and a HAPPY NEW YEAR

Posted on Dec 31, 2014 9:12 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 31, 2014 9:43 AM

Hello pjcprods and welcome to Apple Support Communities,

It would help to know the exact year and size of your machine.

In general if just the QWERTY keys are not working that would point to a "open" in the particular "trace" on the keyboard membrane.

Here's a pic of part of the "front" membrane:

User uploaded file

See how the traces all line up? Since they're in series any corrosion in this trace would mean the "downstream" keys would stop working. These traces are very fine. They measure about 0.5 mm.

Corrosion could be the result of a very tiny liquid incursion, as small as 0.4 mm:

User uploaded file

So it doesn't take much.

These MBP, MBA and MB keyboards are wonderful but they might be very prone to damage from the least bit of liquid. A silicone cover would prevent most of these problems but I personally don't like the feel of them.

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 31, 2014 9:43 AM in response to pjcprods

Hello pjcprods and welcome to Apple Support Communities,

It would help to know the exact year and size of your machine.

In general if just the QWERTY keys are not working that would point to a "open" in the particular "trace" on the keyboard membrane.

Here's a pic of part of the "front" membrane:

User uploaded file

See how the traces all line up? Since they're in series any corrosion in this trace would mean the "downstream" keys would stop working. These traces are very fine. They measure about 0.5 mm.

Corrosion could be the result of a very tiny liquid incursion, as small as 0.4 mm:

User uploaded file

So it doesn't take much.

These MBP, MBA and MB keyboards are wonderful but they might be very prone to damage from the least bit of liquid. A silicone cover would prevent most of these problems but I personally don't like the feel of them.

QWERTY keys (only) on keyboard not working

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