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New Aluminium Keyboard Problems.

I have the same problem with the dock becoming non-responsive. I also believe this is a software problem and not a malfunctioning keyboard. I don't think that they worked out all the issues with previous model Macs.

As a note I and many other have installed the update (1.1) and played with all the setting for both Expose/Dashboard and Keyboard/Mouse. Nothing will get the buttons to work as they have been designed; (without the use of the fn key). I also still have the problem with NO keyboard response at the rEFIT boot screen, which means that it's more than just an inactive "option" key. It's a completely not functioning keyboard.

Update: Ok, to prove my point I just disabled my rEFIT boot and rebooted my computer. I held down the Menu button on my apple remote and I was presented with the standard "boot camp" drive selection screen; Windows XP or OS X. I then tried selecting the drive with the keyboard arrows as I would normally do; nothing happened. I then tried switching the selection between XP and OS X with the arrow buttons on the remote and it worked fine. I then tried accepting my selection using the "return" key on the keyboard and nothing happened. I then accepted the selection of the OS using the "play" button on the remote and it worked. So it's more than just a non functioning "option" key.
 
aswitcher said:
My MBP recognises the music keys (F7-F9) and audio (F10-F12) on the different keyboards have different functions but does not recognise the F3 and F4 on thewired alu Keyboard.

Anyone tried this?

(Yes I have the firmware update.)
Click to expand...


i have the same problem... my F4 and F3 keys is not workinf even after the update..
 
millerrh said:
That is unchecked. It is only the dashboard and expose buttons that don't work. The volume and brightness work fine. Others have reported this too.
Click to expand...

Ah, ok, I didn't get that. I thought all buttons you had to use fn. Sorry that was no help.
 
The funny thing is....

...those buttons (F3 and F4) work for dashboard and expose when I assign those functions to them with every other Apple keyboard I have (original Bluetooth wireless) and previous White wired keyboard (which the new aluminum keyboard is replacing...bad shift key on the old one). But I have discovered no way to make them function properly on the new keyboard. Very interesting.

I just bought the darn thing, installed two updates, spent time on the phone with AppleCare (got the same suggestion: take it back to the store).

They have to know that this is happening, but the guy didn't let on that he was aware.

Like others, I have tried those two buttons on the new iMacs in the store and they don't work there either.

I'm curious to see how long this takes to fix.
 
I just picked up one of these new keyboards today and I am having some of the same issues.

F1, F2, F3, and F4 don't do a darn thing, even after the software update. I ended up setting F13 to show desktop and F14 to do dashboard, but that messes me up when I use my 12" PB without the keyboard.

Hope they fix this issue soon!
 
Good to know I'm not the only one...will keep an eye on this thread to follow the issue.
 
Update:

I went to the Apple store the other day and tried out the expose and dashboard keys on the new iMacs in the store and they worked there. Wonder what could be so different about older Macs...
 
millerrh said:
Update:

I went to the Apple store the other day and tried out the expose and dashboard keys on the new iMacs in the store and they worked there. Wonder what could be so different about older Macs...
Click to expand...

I use the new wired keyboard with my 17" PB G4 1.67GHz DL (and 23" ACD) w/o any problems. The only downside is that Transparent Dock stopped working after the keyboard software update.
 
So was anyone else able to confirm that the entire keyboard does not work while booting, not just the option key? It's easy to do if you have an apple remote handy. Just reboot the computer push "menu" on the apple remote and hold it. The drive selection screen will come up. Now try to use the keyboard to select the drive that you want (XP or OS X) using the arrows keys on the keyboard and then try to hit "enter" key to confirm. I'm getting the impression that previous versions of the intel iMac/mini are the ones really affected not the PPC versions.
 
rdp5008 said:
I just picked up one of these new keyboards today and I am having some of the same issues.

F1, F2, F3, and F4 don't do a darn thing, even after the software update. I ended up setting F13 to show desktop and F14 to do dashboard, but that messes me up when I use my 12" PB without the keyboard.

Hope they fix this issue soon!
Click to expand...

Hmmm, I have a MBP SR 2.2 and all the keys work fine with the check box cleared in system preferences that says use all f11, f12 keys as standard functions.

F1-F4 and F7-F12 work as they should.

It took two reboots after installing the keyboard update. Perhaps since most folks sleep their Macs they just need a couple of reboots. :rolleyes:

Cheers,
Tim
 
panzer06 said:
Hmmm, I have a MBP SR 2.2 and all the keys work fine with the check box cleared in system preferences that says use all f11, f12 keys as standard functions.

F1-F4 and F7-F12 work as they should.

It took two reboots after installing the keyboard update. Perhaps since most folks sleep their Macs they just need a couple of reboots. :rolleyes:

Cheers,
Tim
Click to expand...

I rebooted 12 times. I really hope this issue is solved soon. :p
 
RANDOM, I repeated your Remote test and the same thing happened for me. I could boot to the choice screen of Mac or Windows, but the keyboard keys still didn't work. Using the remote, I was able to select either OS. Nice going Apple....
 
Shotgun OS said:
I rebooted 12 times. I really hope this issue is solved soon. :p
Click to expand...

We need to determine the commonalities for those who have it working and those who do not.

There must be something (OS version, onboard video vs. discrete, amount of RAM, CD vs. C2D, etc.)!
 
just got myself one of these keyboards (the wired one)....and my f3 and f4 (expose and dashboard) does not work...

:(
 
katy said:
just got myself one of these keyboards (the wired one)....and my f3 and f4 (expose and dashboard) does not work...

:(
Click to expand...

Welcome to the party pal... ;) Yeah, it is pretty annoying...given no update in the 2 weeks or so they have been out. Hopefully Apple will update this soon.
 
Found this over at macfixit yesterday...

One additional benefit, my brand new aluminum keyboard which was exhibiting the non-functioning dashboard and exposé keys (F4, F3) even after the apple keyboard update, now works!

Fascinating, Captain! We've already seen a suggestion that the non-functioning Dashboard and Exposé keys in aluminum Apple Keyboards can be fixed in software by reinstalling part of the system (the Dock, in the article linked to); now here comes Dave and confirms this from another direction, discovering that his keyboard is working properly as an unexpected side-effect of a complete system reinstallation!
 
jczubach said:
Found this over at macfixit yesterday...

One additional benefit, my brand new aluminum keyboard which was exhibiting the non-functioning dashboard and exposé keys (F4, F3) even after the apple keyboard update, now works!

Fascinating, Captain! We've already seen a suggestion that the non-functioning Dashboard and Exposé keys in aluminum Apple Keyboards can be fixed in software by reinstalling part of the system (the Dock, in the article linked to); now here comes Dave and confirms this from another direction, discovering that his keyboard is working properly as an unexpected side-effect of a complete system reinstallation!
Click to expand...

im confused :confused: So what do i have to do...
 
katy, the key is 'archive and reinstall'. Doesn't cost you anything but some time.(vs. purchasing Pacifist) just an idea...
 
I just followed the Macfixit instructions using a trial download of Pacifist and it works fine :) I don't dual boot so can't comment on the boot up issues some were having, but all my pushy-buttons now work :)

For what it's worth, I really like the keyboard even though when I first saw it I thought it'd be a bit uncomfy and too flat...After a few minutes I was pretty much typing at my normal speed - about 45WPM.
 
I had the same problem here as well (on a may 2006, first batch, macbook). Got it accidentaly fied last night when I installed a new - bigger - harddrive and had to reinstall OSX.. it's indeed gotta be some problem with the system libraries.
 
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