Aluminum Apple keyboards: Possible fix for single-user mode problems; more

We previously reported on an issue where the aluminum keyboard cannot generate input in single-user mode (entered by holding down the Command and S keys simultaneously at startup). It now appears that this issue, in some cases, can be resolved by clearing caches. This is one of the fixes listed in our tutorial on troubleshooting problematic USB devices.

Use a tool like Cocktail, OnyX, MacPilot, or Tiger Cache Cleaner to perform a cache cleaning on your Mac. Start at the shallow levels (offered by some of the programs) and move onto the deeper routines.

MacFixIt reader Ronald Lanham writes:

"I have had this occur more than once, and by using Tiger Cache Cleaner to clean/delete both User and System caches at the 'medium' level it has solved my problem. Prior to this I could get to the command line (Command-S) but also could not enter any text."

Arrow key delay Meanwhile, users continue to report problems with the units' arrow keys.

MacFixIt reader Scott writes:

"I agree that there seems to be a problem with the arrow keys on the new Aluminum keyboards. In some programs, the arrow keys seem to 'stick,' i.e. you need to hold the key down for about a second before it responds. Once you get one key to respond, it seems to work normally, at least for a while."

Function keys no longer switch usage It appears that many older applications -- particularly games -- cannot automatically switch the actions invoked by the function keys on aluminum keyboards. In other words: with previous keyboards, certain games would change the actions that occured when function keys were pressed when the game was launched, switching them from, say, toggling screen brightness to triggering a game menu.

One MacFixIt reader writes:

"They just changed the operation of how the old keyboard could smartly switch between normal function key use like in games, and ability to control hardware/expose/volume etc with them when in finder etc. I could use f keys to change volume, brightness, expose, dashboard etc. Yet if i fired up DIablo 2 with old keyboard, automatically the system released those keys to the game, so if i hit F key for expose, it wouldn't expose the windows on screen but instead automatically work in game for whatever function that game was using it for..

"But with new keyboard, I have to toggle that pref in keyboard and mouse every time i want to play diablo 2 or I can't use the function keys within game. In other words, the software for new keyboard is dumber than it was previously with older keyboard in sense that now it doesn't simplify this process for the user anymore."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

• Aluminum Apple keyboards: No single-user mode entry; Keys accidentally repeating
• Apple Keyboard Update 1.2 (#2): A mixed bag
• Keyboard Software 1.2 released: May resolve various issues
• Apple Aluminum keyboards (#5): Problems with sleep
• Apple Aluminum keyboards (#4): More on function keys not working, potential fix
• Apple Aluminum keyboards (#3): Function keys do not work
• Apple Aluminum keyboards: Problems with startup commands
• Apple's new keyboards require Keyboard Software Update 1.1, available in Software Update

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