Macbook Keyboard - Shut down issue

Ok - Please disregard my previous post about the Mid 2010 MacBook Pro 15" - the NVIDIA issue was only with that particular model. Did you get a chance to boot it up with the OS X Install DVD to see if the problem occurs when running from the install DVD? Just curious. All this will do is tell you whether the problem is truly occurring under all conditions - all of the time - some of which you have already proven.

I am positive there is a faulty component - possibly the keyboard. The Apple Hardware Test is very basic and typically does not detect the more difficult issues such as you are having. An Apple Store (or Mac Repair Shop) will have more advanced diagnostics - that may pinpoint the problem. I am not aware of another hardware diagnostic tool being available for download. I wish that I had a better answer.

~Scott

Just a thought - and I don't know if this will cause other problems - but you could try removing the battery entirely - and attempt to run it on power only (if it will allow you to do that) - to see if that changes the behavior of the problem. Be careful when removing the battery as there may be a fragile ribbon cable attached to it. If the problem goes away without the battery in the Mac - then the solution would likely be a battery replacement.

I did some more searching and I have found a number of posts with a similar problem where the Mac will shutdown after running for 4 to 10 seconds unless you press and hold some key (or as you have stated "any" key). I am not seeing many desirable solutions and the posts are indicating that something is wrong with the keyboard cable and/or the power button. The problem is supposedly solved by replacing the keyboard and its related components. Others have attempted taping down the eject key or the fn key to keep the shutdown from occurring as there appears to be no negative side effects of having those keys pressed. Still - this is not a very good solution.

Others have suggested trying to use "sudo pmset powerbutton 0" or "sudo -c pmset power button 0" (The -c only sets this option for when the Mac is running on the AC Charger). Important note" the "powerbutton" parameter is only recognized by pmset in 10.6.x - and has been removed as of Mavericks (or earlier). If this provides an improvement - it will not in later versions of OS X.

Some have suggested setting the keyboard repeat rate to "None".

To find these posts I did a search in Safari on "2010 White MacBook Unibody Shuts Down unless a key is pressed".

You could attempt to disassemble the MacBook and maybe reseat any cable attached to it. I have never taken a MacBook (or Mac portable) apart other than to upgrade RAM. It is my understanding that the internal components have a very tight fit and must be removed in a specific sequence to avoid damaging some fragile cabling.

You did not indicate whether the MacBook also shuts down when booted up from OS X Installer DVD - or when running the extended (long running) diagnostics via the D key at boot up?

Have you checked to see if there are any firmware updates available - either via Software Update or via direct download from Apple?

Another you could try as a troubleshooting measure (which I doubt will produce any definitive results) would be to clone you boot volume onto an external drive and attempt to boot up from the external drive. To clone your boot volume you would boot up from the OS X Install DVD - and use disk utility to "restore" your boot volume to a partition on an external drive. You would then be able to boot from that.

~Scott

You may have a defective power button. As you say holding down any key overrides this. It would seen you are continually getting a shut down notice displayed on the desktop. Which if not clicked to disable,or unable to. will shut the computer down in 1 minute. Does this sound about right? It could be that the power button is slightly depressed.

I do not believe there is any way to disable the internal keyboard or power button. Attaching an external (USB or bluetooth) keyboard simply gives you a second keyboard - and would not change the failing power button functionality in any way. The internal keyboard and power button are needed in order for the MacBook to function. At least that is my understanding.

Earlier in this thread I had asked if you had tried attaching an external keyboard to see if that changed the behavior at at all. That was basically a troubleshooting step. The guy at the Mac repair shop said that it is not possible to simply replace just the power button - as it part of the keyboard assembly (if you were to buy a new "internal" keyboard).

I also suggested repeatedly pressing and releasing the power button to see if the button was maybe catching on the enclosure and remaining partially depressed or if there might be some debris interfering with the button.

I actually thought that a replacement power button could be purchased from a repair shop for $50 - and that is why I asked the guy at the Mac repair shop - because I was going to suggest simply replacing the power button - but that does not appear to be an option.

At this point your best option would be to try to clean the contacts on the cable that connects to the internal keyboard. If you can't resolve the keyboard issue - and don't want spend the money to replace the internal keyboard (and power button) - then it does not make sense to spend any additional money attempting to upgrade the HDD or RAM - because you would still have a malfunctioning computer.

~Scott

On Ebay ,I did find a top case assembly with keyboard and power button for $150.00 with shipping. Since the power button and assembly are hidden by the cover for the keyboard. It makes it hard to get to. So it must be replaced as a unit. If you can get a can of condensed air to use, you might try spraying that around the keyboard and power button.

It might be helpful to post the link to that eBay offer. This is probably the best option for this situation. I think that we are fairly sure the top case assembly is what needs to be replaced - if the other suggested cleaning/reseating of cable, etc. prove to be ineffective.

~Scott

Hi Ananth - I took a look at the link for disabling the internal keyboard. I believe that is only disabling the keyboard (even though it mentions "Top Case" in the command). It also appears as if the person that was trying to disable the keyboard was having problems using the command. Logically the power button and the internal keyboard are two independent items - but physically they are contained within the Top Case assembly. The concern that I would have is that I don't believe I have seen an external keyboard that contains the equivalent of a power button. If you could in-fact disable the power button - then how would you turn the MacBook on and off or perform any functions requiring use of the power button? I think that would create a very problematic scenario. I also could not determine by reading the posts in the link - whether or not - the keyboard is permanently disabled by the command - or whether that command would need to be executed every time you start up the MacBook.

I also took a look at "my Ginger's" link for the replacement part. I put in a postal code for Mumbai - and it gave only two shipping options (both were FedEx - I believe) the lowest cost was $75 US - but it had a very long shipping time. The other cost which was much faster shipping - was well over $100 US (possibly the $180 that you mentioned).

~Scott

I tried on my Macbook to duplicate your problem,and could not. What is the exact message you get on the screen. Did you get an install disks with this computer. You show 10.6.3 Snow Leopard as the operating system. There is a third party app called power block that might work. http://www.irradiatedsoftware.com/labs/ You have to scroll down in the link to find it. If you disable the keyboard, you may also disable the power button. Have you tried a reinstall of the operating system? If you are running 10.6.3, you can run software update to get to 10.6.8. That will also update the firmware. In case that is a problem. I would use the app I gave you as a last resort. You could also tape down a key you do not use to keep it running.

What you show is normal. And the other is normal also. You get the countdown to shut off only when using the apple menu for shut down. The display box for shut down is the same in Snow Leopard and El Capitan. I cannot duplicate holding a key down to stop it from shutting down. Could be reinstall of operating system.,updating firmware or the need to replace the keyboard top cover assembly to fix problem. He shows 10.6.3 as operating system and that can be updated to 10.6.8. Which would also update the firmware.