Odd wired USB keyboard problem

[baward]

I have run into a peculiar problem, which may or may not be simply explained. My original 10-year old Apple A1243 (sold with my PPC iMac) wired keyboard seems to have failed, so I purchased a second-hand Apple A1243 keyboard from eBay. It also doesn’t work, so I automatically assumed that it is broken, and that I'd been sold a broken one.

But, seeing as my original one also doesn’t work, I thought that it might actually be my computer as that it seems reasonable to think that its fantastically unlikely that two different keyboards from two totally different sources both don’t work. The seller, whist assuring me that it was fine when he sent the new-old one to me, has kindly said that I can return the keyboard to him if I need to.

I have also tested both keyboards out on my laptop, and again neither of them work so to be trebley sure, I asked my friend to try them on her own iMac. She tells me that they also both don't work for her either.

So now I'm foxed; I have done all the likely things, like removed all other USB devices and run Disc Utility. Maybe they both really don’t work, after all, and Apple A1243's have something of a shelf-life. The fact that both keyboards don't work on either of our computers leads me to believe that they both indeed don't work.

Many thanks if you have any suggestions.

 

[nambuccaheadsau]

First up a few questions.

Have you upgraded the operating system lately, and if so to what?

Is the keyboard plugged directly into a USB port on the computer and not through as hub?

Have you tried an SMC reset and if no joy a NVRAM reset?


http://osxdaily.com/2010/03/24/when-and-how-to-reset-your-mac-system-management-controller-smc/

https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT204063

 

[baward]

Thanks for replying.

I am on what I believe is the newest version of Mac OS, 10.13.3 (17D47). Since updates are notified automatically, I just went ahead and downloaded it, so I upgraded whenever it was released. I think it was about 2 days ago, but I've had the problem for longer.

The keyboard is plugged in directly to one of the USB ports on the back of the iMac.

I will certainly check out the SMC & NVRAM resets, and report back to the thread.

 

[J.Gallardo]

Mine (spanish variant) works perfectly well with 2017 iMac in 10.13.3 since I unpacked the computer. A friend of mine is using even an older Apple keyboard with same High Sierra version (the transparent plastic with old style white caps one).
I didn't fiddle in Preferences... it just worked, but you should check the Keyboard Panel.
My Bluetooth keyboard is still in the box... (although it appears as remembered in Bluetooth panel; so it was paired at factory).
USB going crazy isn't rare. Of course, try those resets and have a look at those links @nambuccaheadsau gave...

 

[kretek]

Had a similar problem with a late 2015 iMac 27.

Only solution was to hook the keyboard via a USB hub or a USB extension cable.