Macbook apple/cmd button broke so can't use keyboard or login!

[RunnyCustard]

Hi

I managed to update my macbook from 1gb RAM to 4gb which I was rather pleased with performance and I thought I'd see if I could solve the keys that were not working... 0 and cmd and a few others but those two are the most useful to me.

I gently lifted it up (I already have a lose A so I knew what to expect) and I gently used a cotton tip to clean any dust up.. couldn't see anything wrong so I just popped the top of the cmd back on.. now it's acting like the cmd is depressed all the time so I can't enter my password on the screen lock (I was just updating to lion as well).

I know that I could buy a new keyboard (which will take ages to arrive if I buy on ebay now... weekend etc and I work on Monday ... I use my macbook for that) so was hoping if anyone knew of any alternative solutions?


thanks

 

[simsaladimbamba]

You have two CMD keys, one on the left side of the SPACEBAR and one on the right.

Or you could get a cheap external keyboard and connect it via USB, it will work.

But how do you use the CMD key during login? I never needed to use that key during any of my many logins since 2004.

 

[RunnyCustard]

You have two CMD keys, one on the left side of the SPACEBAR and one on the right.

Or you could get a cheap external keyboard and connect it via USB, it will work.

But how do you use the CMD key during login? I never needed to use that key during any of my many logins since 2004.

I don't use the cmd key during login - I just can't use the keyboard as 'it thinks' the cmd key is being used - basically I'm not getting any keystrokes when I press a key.

hmm... I just realised I have an old mac keyboard... I'll give it a go.

UPDATE: yep the old keyboard got me through the screen lock - guess I'll pair up my wireless keyboard (smaller so can take to work with me) to use with it until I can get the key working or a new keyboard... what a pain.

thank you!

how would the second cmd key stop the other one being 'depressed' if that one is damaged?

thanks for your help

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I don't use the cmd key during login - I just can't use the keyboard as 'it thinks' the cmd key is being used - basically I'm not getting any keystrokes when I press a key.

how would the second cmd key stop the other one being 'depressed' if that one is damaged?

thanks for your help

Sorry, didn't get that from the OP, but as that is the case with the CMD key, the second one wouldn't help either.

 

[RunnyCustard]

Sorry, didn't get that from the OP, but as that is the case with the CMD key, the second one wouldn't help either.

oops sorry wasn't clear

thanks for the reminder about using another keyboard... I did think about my wireless one but how do you set it up without using the macbook first?! lol... but my old imac keyboard was in a storage box.. .out of sight, out of mind!