wireless keyboard, half the keys do not work

Question

Level 1

0 points

wireless keyboard, half the keys do not work

Folks, Got my brother's old mini (late 2009) with his old wireless keyboard. Half the keys do not function, mainly on the left side. the key board had a rattle

inside.Seeing as the device was free I opened it up by removing the plastic cap on the back. (I do own a spudger, having learned how to upgrade my iMac)

The engineering required to make this seemingly seamless device is amazing. The rattle was a small loose Phillips head machine screw. I found that it was

a mounting screw for the battery end of the bluetooth/ control circuit board. Could this screw have shorted out components on the board and blanked out half of my keys? Outside of sacrifices to the minor (micro?) deities of things electric, are there any repair/ replacement options available?

Mac mini, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Apr 25, 2015 4:58 PM

Reply

Answer 1

den.thed

Level 9

77,176 points

Apr 25, 2015 9:32 PM in response to Egad Alas

If the following iFixit repair guide doesn't help, then it is time for a replacement.

see > https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Computer_Hardware

Additionally, you can use most any after-market or pc keyboard with a Mac.

Heck' I've been using $20 MK120 Keyboard/Mouse Combo's with all of my Mac's for years.

see > http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/desktop-mk120

Reply

Answer 2

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Apr 26, 2015 3:51 AM in response to Egad Alas

Sounds like the white BT KB. My stopped working years ago and I just pitched it.,

Reply

Answer 3

Egad Alas Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 26, 2015 3:51 AM in response to Egad Alas

Thanks, I guessed that this was the case. I have such an aversion to tossing out almost useful hardware. I know about the ability to use older keyboards, I'm using a 15 year old piece from my G4. Can't get myself to toss that brick, 'though it did work well as an auxiliary space heater last winter. I find myself stuck in the whole Apple user experience. The aesthetics of the hardware, the cleverness of the user interface, the smug feeling that most of the world's hackers don't find it worth their while to attack my machine. Oh well, I think that I'll just hone down the edge of the keyboard and use it to chop vegetables. Thanks again.

Reply