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View Full Version : Trackpad and button fail



NinjaHERO
Jun 1, 2009, 02:08 PM
Hello all. I consider this the best place to ask apple questions. So hopefully someone will know what is wrong with my mac and tell me if there is a way to fix it. I have an Ibook g4.

About a year ago my trackpad and button would occasionally not work when the computer was initially turned on. I can click the button and run my finger over the pad but the cursor does not respond. Also if I put the computer to sleep I have a one in ten chance of causing this problem. I bought a USB mouse and plugged it in and with that I can control the cursor just fine.

This non functioning trackpad problem used to crop up once a week or so. Now it is happening almost daily. I have recently discovered that if I close the lid and reopen and end sleep mode, I can sometimes restore the trackpad. Normally this takes a dozen or so attempts.

Any idea if this is a software issue or a hardware issue. Last September I paid apple for a complete repair of my mac. It was some deal for 220 at the genius bar and they promised to fix everything they find wrong. I got a new harddrive and logic board out of the deal.(great deal for me I think) But they didn't find anything wrong with the pad. So I am thinking software.

Any help or ideas are appreciated.


Insulin Junkie
Jun 1, 2009, 02:29 PM
Do you update your firmware to the current version regularly? If you do, I doubt it's a software problem. Haven't heard of software causing this bug yet, anyway. If you really think so you can try a clean re-install, but I think it's the hardware, take it into apple and have them do something about it soon.
NinjaHERO
Jun 1, 2009, 03:01 PM
yeah, I always keep my OS up to date. Apple said they have no idea what it is. And of course I can never get it to replicate at the genius bar. :(


Also I did a complete wipe and reinstall because they changed out my harddrive. Still have the same problem.
Insulin Junkie
Jun 1, 2009, 10:49 PM
yeah, I always keep my OS up to date. Apple said they have no idea what it is. And of course I can never get it to replicate at the genius bar. :(


Also I did a complete wipe and reinstall because they changed out my harddrive. Still have the same problem.

I'm so disillusioned with the service at the genius bars that I wouldn't put it past them to suspect the trackpad, but not tell you about it in order to save themselves some trouble. Might sound a bit like a conspiracy theory, but I've been told utter bullsh!! by 'geniuses' once too often.
bozz2006
Jun 1, 2009, 11:00 PM
yeah i hate the geniuses too. they're a little too self-righteous for my tastes.
NinjaHERO
Jun 2, 2009, 10:00 AM
yeah i hate the geniuses too. they're a little too self-righteous for my tastes.

To be fair their job title is Genius....imagine what that does to a young psyche..:D