Macbook running TIGER randomly stops accepting keyboard input

[Cratha]

My 1.5 yr old Macbook, running OS 10.4.11, has worked flawlessly
until last week. Now, several times a day unpredictably, the computer
will stop receiving most keyboard input. The trackpad will still move
the cursor, but no clicks will register. Function keys are the only
things that register. The clock still works. If I press the power
button to shut-down, the computer then will accept any presses of the
return-key to save open windows during shut down. I have read about a
similar-sounding problem affecting Leopard, but users make it clear
that it is specific to Leopard. Plus, in those descriptions of
keyboard freezing, the computers often unfreeze after a few minutes,
or after quitting excel. For my problem, the only solution appears to
be restart.

 

[Cratha]

please, I really need advice -- and have a new piece of data about the problem

I think it is not a problem wit the keyboard, but maybe the Finder is crashing.

For example, if the malfunction happens if I'm using the Terminal program, I can keep typing in it --- i perform any and all actions within this program, but I can't click out to any other part of the screen or access any other programs.

If I move the cursor out of the terminal program, to say, try to reach the dock, the cursor moves but the macbook will not switch to another application. I have to restart.

Has anyone experienced if this? Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[eman]

Do you have all your Apple updates, including the keyboard update?

 

[BittenApple]

Have you reinstalled the OS? If so this might be a hardware problem. Apple has been very generous in replacing out of warranty top covers.

 

[arbales]

Locked WindowServer?

I think it is not a problem wit the keyboard, but maybe the Finder is crashing.

For example, if the malfunction happens if I'm using the Terminal program, I can keep typing in it --- i perform any and all actions within this program, but I can't click out to any other part of the screen or access any other programs.

If I move the cursor out of the terminal program, to say, try to reach the dock, the cursor moves but the macbook will not switch to another application. I have to restart.

Has anyone experienced if this? Thanks for any suggestions.

My MBP is doing the exact same thing. Exactly, except on Leopard. This is really frustrating, they just replaced my case and keyboard in time for the warrantee to expire — I hope it's not a hardware issue. 10.5.6 combo update has no effect!! I wonder if I installed something that damaged my finder?

There's also weird errors in windowserver.log

 

[BlueRevolution]

If you restart Finder, does the problem go away? To do so, open a Terminal window and type:

sudo killall Finder

Your desktop icons will disappear briefly. (Don't worry, they'll come back.) You may need to click on the Finder icon in your Dock to relaunch it, although it often restarts on its own.

By the way, killall is a very questionable sounding command, one which should definitely be taken with a fair bit of suspicion when given as advice on an open forum. When someone tells you to type something in Terminal, always make sure you have a rough idea of what it will do before you follow the instruction. I want to back this up with an explanation if you do care. Killall quits all processes with a given name, in this case, Finder. It does not permanently affect your computer.

 

[FireArse]

hhhmm

Have you reset the PMU & PRAM?

F