My macbook's keyboard wont type

[wolfie1213]

My macbook is relatively new and, for some reason, the numbers and letters won't type. It seems like I've looked up every shortcut and I haven't found one that works. I found a post somewhere else like this but there wasn't an answer. The track pad and mouse work perfectly, and when I startup my keys will type in my password, but after logging in they stop typing. The F keys and the command and control and option keys also work along with delete and the arrows but enter and neither shifts work. I'm not sure if this is in the correct spot so if it isn't I apologize.

[iFizz]

You should call Apple since your computer is probably still under warranty (1 year).

[mcdavis]

I have the same problem.

santa rosa MB

I've tried:

0. safe mode + repair permissions
1. PVRAM reset
2. SMC reset
3. archive & reinstall of leopard

Oddly, a boot from another disk shows the kb working, so it seems like a SW issue.


Other ideas?? this has to be more widespread...

[Matari]

This happened to my MacBook - not only wouldn't the keyboard work, but I couldn't drag and drop either.

I found out that I had put Mouse keys on (under Universal access) so turning them off sorted out my keyboard, but the drag and drop seemed to be a permissions problem.

I clean installed Leopard and now everything is fine.

Hope this helped.

[crees!]

Make sure Num-Lock is not on

[mcdavis]

Certainly not numlock, but thanks! :-)

The caplock doesn't even light up.

The problem was fixed with me when I added a new user account, so it's account-specific.

Last thing I installed was VMware 1.1.2.

Very odd.

[cruelmemory]

I bought a new MBP when the Early 08 models hit stores. I restored from a TimeMachine backup of my Core Duo MacBook and the same thing happened to me. It is a problem in the /user/(shortname)/library folder. Basically you have to replace it with a fresh copy. Here's how:
- Enable the root user from the password reset utility on the Leopard install disc.
- Boot to your normal OS. Login as root.
- Create a new test user and enable fast user switching.
- Switch to the test user. Ensure keyboard is working.
- Switch to the root user again. Remove /users/(shortname)/library by trashing it or moving it to the root desktop if you want to salvage anything from it.
- Copy /users/(test user shortname)/library to /users/(shortname)/
- Reset.
- Login to your normal user and test out your keyboard. This should work.
- OPTIONAL: rebuild library from library folder you copied to the root desktop.
- Logout all users. Login to root.
- Open Directory Utility in /Applications/Utilities.
- use this to disable the root user. This is for system safety.
- Reset.

This should get you up and going much faster.
(shortname)=user you wish to fix

Hope this helps. Remember to backup early and often!!!

[madlito9]

The key board pad keeps dying when I am typing passwords. I would be able to click out before and it would work again now i have to re boot the computer. I am running 10.4.1, the only new hardware added was the iphone components. I have not found real answers.

[webbina11]

our right it couldnt be a virus problem if i cannot even enter bios settings, should have thought of that. No, caps lock does cause its LED to light up (only one lite up is just to say laptop is 'On'). I definitley didnt spill any liquid on the keyboard but I agree with you that it may be a bad connection or something. Here is the strange thing do...about 20 minutes after I posted this thread using my pc (I had left my laptop running nodules nodules nodules nodules nodules awating entry of bios password) I tapped a key and it 'worked'. . My nodule Touchpad also stopped symptoms working I logged in ok and saw checked the status of the keyboard, which said it was working properly. I went into the system and application logs nodules nodules nodules nodules nodules (after right clicking my computer -> manage -> system tools ->event viewer) and there was a lot (i mean a lot!) of warnings and blackheads remover . nodules nodules nodules nodules nodules The error and warning sources came mainly from : 'W32Time' 'Service control manager' 'dhcp' 'dnsapi' 'netlogon' (???)

[maclane]

Originally Posted by cruelmemory

I bought a new MBP when the Early 08 models hit stores. I restored from a TimeMachine backup of my Core Duo MacBook and the same thing happened to me. It is a problem in the /user/(shortname)/library folder. Basically you have to replace it with a fresh copy. Here's how:
- Enable the root user from the password reset utility on the Leopard install disc.
- Boot to your normal OS. Login as root.
- Create a new test user and enable fast user switching.
- Switch to the test user. Ensure keyboard is working.
- Switch to the root user again. Remove /users/(shortname)/library by trashing it or moving it to the root desktop if you want to salvage anything from it.
- Copy /users/(test user shortname)/library to /users/(shortname)/
- Reset.
- Login to your normal user and test out your keyboard. This should work.
- OPTIONAL: rebuild library from library folder you copied to the root desktop.
- Logout all users. Login to root.
- Open Directory Utility in /Applications/Utilities.
- use this to disable the root user. This is for system safety.
- Reset.

This should get you up and going much faster.
(shortname)=user you wish to fix

Hope this helps. Remember to backup early and often!!!

Hi, I seriously suspect my mac to have same symptoms since some of my keys don´t work, I´m just not sure of how to do the above solution, since my english isn´t that good.... can someone please spell it out of some kind. I can also tell that my mac did this after using Alien Skin in Photoshop.

hope someone can help me out...

Maclane

[kvforum]

I had a similar problem.

If you're looking for a fix try this...

Solution: press alt/option key 5 times to disable mouse keys.


See relevant article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1381