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MacBook Pro Freezes: Keyboard & Trackpad Unresponsive: Anyone else?

K

KeepAppleHonest

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 8, 2009
3
0
I have a MacBook Pro 2.4GHz from last Fall (not the new Unibody) that has a keyboard and trackpad that freezes, meaning it becomes totally unresponsive, with no warning for no reason. Either I carry an external keyboard and mouse, or, my only recourse is to hold the power button down and restart the machine. When it reboots, sometimes the keyboard works and sometimes it does not.

If other folks have had or are having this problem, would you please step up and say so? I'm tired of Apple support people telling me they have never seen this problem when there are so many others who have written to the forum with the same or similar issues.
 
purchase date?

Under warranty? Perhaps you could purchase applecare from ebay and get it sorted from them...otherwise could be expensive
 
happened to me once, i had to turn off the thing by holding down the power button... but it's never happened again since that.
 
I had the same problem. My keyboard and mouse would freeze but my screen would still be working fine.

What I had to do was take it to the Genius Bar and they removed some files and things in the system that came up corrupted in some test and they also replaced the top case.

If you can, then I'd recommend setting up an appointment with a Genius and getting it fixed that way.

Hope this helps and good luck...
 
I had a similar situation with my old 2.2ghz santa rosa macbook pro. Sometimes it would be unresponsive sometimes it would work fine. Fortunately I was able to recreate the situation in front of an Apple tech while the computer was under warranty. They replaced the keyboard and trackpad.
 
I've had a MacBook for less than 4 weeks after using PCs exclusively since the late seventies. Tonight my MacBook has frozen 3 times in a row with no response from Keyboard or trackpad and the only thing I could do was hold down the power button until it shut itself down. It has also happened four or five times in the last couple of weeks but never 3 in such quick succession.

Each time it has happened I've been doing pretty light tasks, ie, surfing the net (firefox), or view a PDF in Acrobat Pro, or checking/switching a network location, or watching a DVD. Almost all cases were with just one application open.

The only major system 'changes' have been to turn on the FileVault (which I have since turned off to try and fix the freezing problem) and to set the wallpaper to change every 5 seconds which shouldn't impact on the system otherwise Apple wouldn't have allowed that setting, would they?!?!?!??????? Other than that, I have no idea why this is proving to be the worst acquisition of my I.T. life. It seems to be so random in it's occurrence that I dread taking it to the Apple specialist because it's next to impossible to prove unless it happens in front of them.

Any advice would be handy and might stop this MacBook from becoming another item on eBay...
 
MacBook Pro keyboard, trackpad freeze; iPhone trigger?

My MacBook Pro started suffering a frozen keyboard and trackpad when I started synching my iPhone earlier this year.

For a while, just rebooting it would fix the problem.

Then that started not to work, and I had to attach an external keyboard and mouse. Then I found a suggestion to power off the computer, turn it back on and at the same time hold down the option, command, P and R keys while the computer restarted. This worked to thaw the keyboard--until earlier this week when, after synching my iPhone, the freeze hit and would not respond to the four-key approach.

The freeze is real and and it's real annoying. I'd appreciate any suggestions on fixes.
 
I had a similar incident where when i go to shut down my mac, the trackpad and keyboard would quit working, and the os would freeze. I showed it to a genius, and showed him what it did, then he tried to do it with his external hd, and it still continued to do so, so i ended up getting a new macbook pro.
 
I have had the same problem only mine is worst. No track pad or keyboard response whatsoever. Equally no response to external keyboards or mice not even regular USB devices. I've tried almost everything on the internet to no avail. I dying for some help here !
 
Macbook Pro freezes or repeats

I have had a similar problem with my Macbook Pro (2008 version, but purchased in February 2009). My keyboard and trackpad often freezes, but it also sometimes has a key stuck that seems to repeat endlessly, even through a brief sleep. I think that perhaps in all cases it is a key that is stuck, but sometimes not one that inserts a character. Sometimes I have been able to resolve the problem by simply hitting the delete key a couple times but usually it needs to at least put the computer to sleep or restart it. I have a few times had to power down the system completely. I notice that this usually happens when the computer is pretty warm (not a rare phenomenon) and when I am typing fast. Does anyone else have other insights? It seems to me more like a hardware problem, perhaps requiring a new keyboard. An external keyboard and my mouse always continue to work...
 
I Fixed My Freezing Mbp

I had to download the Combo Update 10.5.8

I guess there is a bad update by letting the mac just update itself. A Manual download and application of the update fixed my Macbook Pro!!!!

Happy camper again! I am glad to have my trooper back!!!
 
Safari Beta did for me

I tried the Safari 4 beta a while ago and had this happen - scary!!!:eek:

Did the uninstall and never had it since.

So, it does seem to be a software issue - but heavens know what.
 
I've had this ongoing issue for about a year now. Frustrating to say the least. I just reinstalled SL hoping it would resolve the issue, but sure enough, it still happens. I asked the genius bar folks, and they suggested I leave my MBP in the store for a few days to see if they can replicate it. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen all the time, so my concern is that the issue won't present itself during the time they have it.

These are the error codes i was getting in console a few months back:

Code: 
Apr  8 08:03:35 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::message - kIOUSBMessagePortHasBeenReset.
Apr  8 08:03:44: --- last message repeated 3 times ---
Apr  8 08:03:44 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::_deviceSetReport - DeviceRequest for reportID 0xac returned with result 0xe000404f - retryingAppleUSBMultitouchDriver::_deviceSetReport - DeviceRequest for reportID 0xac returned with result 0xe000404f - retryingAppleUSBMultitouchDriver::_deviceSetReport - DeviceRequest returned error 0xe000404f (interface 1, reportID 0xac, payload 2 
Apr  8 08:03:44 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDebug: _deviceSetReport returned an error in configureDataMode
Apr  8 08:03:44 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::message - kIOUSBMessagePortHasBeenReset.
Apr  8 08:25:58 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::validateChecksum - packet checksum is incorrect (expected 0x2a7, checksum bytes were 0xdfb)
Apr  8 08:26:16 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::validateChecksum - packet checksum is incorrect (expected 0x28c, checksum bytes were 0x14a5)
Apr  8 08:26:40 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::validateChecksum - packet checksum is incorrect (expected 0x281, checksum bytes were 0xed9)
Apr  8 08:27:52 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::message - kIOUSBMessagePortHasBeenReset.
Apr  8 08:28:22: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Code: 
Apr  8 22:33:17 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::validateChecksum - packet checksum is incorrect (expected 0xe78, checksum bytes were 0xea3)
Apr  8 22:33:25 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::validateChecksum - packet checksum is incorrect (expected 0xcb, checksum bytes were 0x1628)
Apr  8 22:33:26 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::validateChecksum - packet checksum is incorrect (expected 0xb81, checksum bytes were 0x16cb)
Apr  8 22:33:26 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::message - kIOUSBMessagePortHasBeenReset.
Apr  8 22:33:27 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::validateChecksum - packet checksum is incorrect (expected 0x192, checksum bytes were 0xa2a)
Apr  8 22:33:27 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::validateChecksum - packet checksum is incorrect (expected 0x2c3, checksum bytes were 0x148f)
Apr  8 22:33:28 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::validateChecksum - packet checksum is incorrect (expected 0x28c, checksum bytes were 0x1646)
Apr  8 22:33:28 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::validateChecksum - packet checksum is incorrect (expected 0x2c9, checksum bytes were 0xe0d)
Apr  8 22:33:28 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::validateChecksum - packet checksum is incorrect (expected 0x246, checksum bytes were 0xd5d)
Apr  8 22:33:29 jason-lees-macbook-pro kernel[0]: AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::validateChecksum - packet checksum is incorrect (expected 0x2a0, checksum bytes were 0x1601)
 
KeepAppleHonest said:
I have a MacBook Pro 2.4GHz from last Fall (not the new Unibody) that has a keyboard and trackpad that freezes, meaning it becomes totally unresponsive, with no warning for no reason. Either I carry an external keyboard and mouse, or, my only recourse is to hold the power button down and restart the machine. When it reboots, sometimes the keyboard works and sometimes it does not.

If other folks have had or are having this problem, would you please step up and say so? I'm tired of Apple support people telling me they have never seen this problem when there are so many others who have written to the forum with the same or similar issues.
Click to expand...

i have had customers with this issue, it resulted in reinstalling the os and replacing the logic board.
 
Update

Just thought I'd post a follow up to my issue. Apple replaced the keyboard assembly and top cover, everything is working fine again. Thank goodness for Applecare. :D
 
Same MacBook Pro, same problems plus ....

KeepAppleHonest said:
If other folks have had or are having this problem, would you please step up and say so?
Click to expand...


I have had my MacBook Pro for several years and it worked fine up until several months ago when the trackpad started freezing occasionally. Now the trackpad and the keyboard freeze within 20 minutes of my turning the machine on and, at first, I had to shut down with the on/off button and start up again to get it working. After a while of that the keyboard began substituting the 'a' for a 'q', and the 'm' for a comma etc. And all the numbers must be preceded by the shift key. The percent key, asterisk, ampersand, parens, etc are scattered around the keyboard. Now I'm using an external mouse and keyboard, which has the same letter, number, etc. problems of the built in keyboard. Do a google search and see how many people (tens of thousands it seems) are having the trackpad/keyboard freeze and are not getting answers or even acknowledgment from Apple.
 
you are not alone

I have exactly the same problem with my Macbook Pro (2008 version, not unibody). My keyboard and trackpad often freezes, and it also often has a key stuck that repeats endlessly.
I keep having "AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::message - kIOUSBMessagePortHasBeenReset" in the system log. The only way to get rid of this (sometimes) is to restart the laptop ot put it to sleep.

I have used my Mac for around 16 months, and I never had any problem for about a year. I wonder if this annoying issue has anything to do with some Leopard update (10.5.7 or 10.5.8). Has anyone upgraded to Snow Leopard and got rid of the issue with it?
 
¿solution?

I started having the problem like one month ago. I updated my system from Tiger to Leopard and the freezing trouble began.
At first I thought it was the system update what caused it. I re-installed the previous version and did everything with the software.
Then I found on the web that the source of the problem was on where the battery stands. When you take it out you can look the keyboard and trackpad "connections".
The only thing I did was to clean up the area with a little bit of air and magically the problem ceased.
Hope this can help others, I really dont know if it was the solution but for me it worked very well.
 
HELP MacBook Pro 15 Keyboard/Trackpad freeze

HELP!!!

The freezing of my trackpad and keyboard is continuos. Tried resetting the PRAM and placing a piece of plastic in the battery compartment, with NO resolve. Forced power reboot is the only solution.
Has anyone received a satisfactory response or fix from Apple?
I am also experience uncontrollable keyboard entries. Randomly keys will continue to populate.

Apple MUST acknowledge this issue.
Thanks for any and all feedback.

MacBook Pro 15 2.5GHZ Core 2 DUO Mac OS X (10.6.2) 4GG RAM
 
JFKBoston said:
HELP!!!

The freezing of my trackpad and keyboard is continuos. Tried resetting the PRAM and placing a piece of plastic in the battery compartment, with NO resolve. Forced power reboot is the only solution.
Has anyone received a satisfactory response or fix from Apple?
I am also experience uncontrollable keyboard entries. Randomly keys will continue to populate.

Apple MUST acknowledge this issue.
Thanks for any and all feedback.

MacBook Pro 15 2.5GHZ Core 2 DUO Mac OS X (10.6.2) 4GG RAM
Click to expand...
i acknowledge it- it's a hardware issue. any reports of this problem after an update are purely coincidental.

SYMPTOMS:
intermittent keyboard response
intermittent mouse response
keys repeat continuously.
power button still works

SOLUTION:
replace the ribbon flex cable. part #821-0585-A or #632-0617. You need a Torx screwdriver and a Philips.
If problem still exists: you did it wrong and you might be better off replacing the entire top case part #657-0290.
Address this problem immediately, it could lead to additional problems.
 
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