MacBook Air 13" Late 2010 - Right and Down Arrow Keys not working

[MacClauss]

Hi all

My son's laptop has suddenly lost the use of the right and down arrow keys.

I have done all I can think of - NVRAM/SMC / PRAM Reset, new installation of OS, safe mode ... nothing seems to work to bring them back.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Cheers,
Claus.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

The keyboard switches might be failing. Nothing lasts forever and a ten-year-old notebook computer isn't exactly young.

Another distinct possibility is that proper keyboard functionality is being interfered by a bloated battery. Old batteries often start to bloat as they near the end of their service life and the physical expansion can press on the keyboard and trackpad components. This is not specific to Mac notebooks.

Heck, it's not even specific to computer batteries. I had to throw away a couple of flashlights because the alkaline batteries did the same thing and I couldn't get the old ones out to replace them.

You could bring your son's computer to an Apple Authorized Service provider, one who will do a diagnostic and provide a repair quote free of charge. At that point, you can decide whether or not it is worth proceeding with the repair.