Q: Macbook Keyboard - Shut down issue

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

Here is what I found online.http://www.dvwarehouse.com/MacBook-2010-Keyboard--Top-Case-c-5657.html

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.

Hi my ginger - I realize that you are asking Ananth this question - but I too attempted to reproduce the shutdown message on my Mid 2010 MacBook "Pro" 15".  What I discovered is this behavior:

Quickly Press and Release Power Button - The MacBook Pro goes to sleep.

Press and Hold the Power button for 2 seconds and release - a shutdown options window appears  - where you can cancel the shutdown.  I believe this is what he is seeing every few seconds.

Press and Hold the Power button for 4 seconds or longer - force power off.

I'm on El Capitan so my message may be slightly different than what Ananth is seeing on 10.6.  Here is a screen shot.

Also - he mentioned earlier in this thread that he had initially updated to El Capitan - and has since gone back and clean installed Snow Leopard.  I suspect that during the El Capitan upgrade process - that any required firmware updates would have also been applied to his MacBook.  Thus he should still have the latest firmware even though he reverted back to 10.6.

Ananth - can you confirm this is what you are seeing?

~Scott

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.

It is my understanding - after rereading all of the prior posts - that he is not getting the "countdown" shutdown screen - rather he is getting the non-countdown shutdown screen (the press and hold power button for 2 seconds version).  The MacBook is shutting down because the MacBook behaves as if the power button is being pressed and held - which pops up the shutdown options window - and then somehow the keyboard is also pressing "Enter" - and shutdown is highlighted as default.  He has to constantly press hold a key (any key) to prevent the shutdown options window from continually appearing and shutting down.  He is not pressing a key in order to stop the countdown - he presses and holds (repeatedly) a key to stop the options window from popping up at all - because shutdown occurs immediately (on his machine) upon the options window popping up.

He ultimately has to press and hold (repeatedly) any key to stop the shutdown - even when booted from the OS X Install DVD - while performing a clean install of 10.6.3 (the version that shipped on his install DVD).

Ananth - Is this correct?

A few more questions:

1.  Do you ever get the shutdown screen that has the 60 second countdown timer - or is it always the shutdown options screen without the countdown timer?

2.  You updated to Yosemite a while back - and the MacBook was fine for several months.  Did you ever attempt to upgrade to El Capitan?  Specifically an upgrade to the initial release of 10.11  (not 10.11.1 or later)?   There were some known power management issues with the initial release of El Capitan?  These were fixed as of 10.11.3.

3.  When you say you reinstalled new software and updated?  Did you reinstall 10.6.3 and then update to 10.6.8 or did you update to Yosemite or later?

4.  Have you tried doing a clean install of Yosemite or El Capitan (which may re-update firmware) which may possibly fix something?  Did you ever create a bootable install USB stick for Yosemite or El Capitan?  There is a very easy way to create a USB install stick?  I am just wondering if a complete clean install of Yosemite or El Capitan might help (as suggested by My Ginger).

~Scott