Gibberish displayed during typing
Several users have experienced issues regarding input from their keyboards appearing onscreen as gibberish, or symbol language. Users find it difficult to repair the issue because they're unable to enter their passwords properly. Other symptoms may includ
Apple Support Discussions user "Christopher Pad..." describes the issue:
"After updating to 10.5.6, my keyboard stopped functioning properly. It now spouts nothing but gibberish. It seems like the "Symbol" function is stuck on somewhere, and I couldn't get into the OS to fix it because none of my passwords work. I am using the wired aluminum keyboard on a PPC G4 running 10.5.6."
Apple Support Discussions user Joe Wheeler adds:
"It hasn't just been my computer, people call me sometimes for help; it has ranged from old G4s, eMacs through MacBooks (and now my brand new Mini)."
Possible fixes
This issue could be a bug that comes and goes in your user experience. Several users report that a simple "log off, log in" solves the issue, though many report the problem will resurface. Similar, a reset of the computer could be enough to temporarily resolve the issue.
Reset your PMU and PRAM:
1. Shut down your computer and remove the battery.
2. Hold the power button for 5 to 10 seconds.
3. Reinstall the battery.
4. While holding (Command) (Option) (P) (R), power on your computer. Keep holding the keys as the start-up tone and screen appear. The computer will shut down again. When it begins the start-up process the second time, release the keys.
Use Font Book (included in OS X) to validate your font collections. Delete or deactivate fonts that are found to be corrupt. Apple Support Discussions user ~Bee theorizes:
"1. "Gibberish" is 98 percent a font problem or conflict. It's very often a simple fix. It is rarely a keyboard problem--especially if it's a Mac keyboard.
2. Users have often deliberately or accidently added fonts that create the gibberish of which you speak.
3. And yes, this has happened from 8.6 to 10.5. It is not connected to the OS."
Another theory involving font inconsistencies comes from Apple Support Discussions user Tom Gewecke:
"Most gibberish problems found in these forums are caused by font substitution by noncorrupt fonts. Helvetica Fractions, Times Phonetic, and Lucida Grande.ttf are prime examples. Countless people install these one way or another on their machines without knowing it, presumably as part of installing popular apps, and most people do not know that duplicate fonts can cause such issues. Nor does a font causing such a problem always show up as a duplicate. Corrupt font caches can also do it."
If you find you have duplicate fonts simply delete them using Font Book. Before deleting any fonts, but sure they are not system fonts. Apple tries to protect its users from deleting these essential fonts by requiring root passwords, but of course, be careful when changing anything on the system level of your computer.
Experiencing problems? Have feedback? Let us know!
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