Keyboard becomes unresponsive on various Apple portables (#2): Fixes
Keyboard becomes unresponsive on various Apple portables (#2): Fixes
We continue to report on an issue where the keyboard and trackpad suddenly become unresponsive on various Apple portables (MacBook Pros, MacBooks and PowerBooks included) forcing the user to reboot (after first shutting down by holding the power key) in order to regain control.
While hardware repairs or replacements may be necessary in some cases, a few clear fixes when software issues are implicated have now revealed themselves, and are as follows:
Fixes
Remove all keyboard shortcuts Some users have found that disabling all keyboard shortcuts -- in the Keyboard and Mouse pane of System Preferences -- prevents this issue from re-occurring.
MacFixIt reader Thomas Kitts writes:
"After trying many of the things recommended in your recent articles (disk repair, purging caches, zapping the PRAM, and a hardware reset) I found that simply opening the 'Keyboard & Mouse' preference pane in the System preference panels and unchecking all 'Keyboard Shortcuts' has fixed the problem. It's been two weeks since I have experienced the issue. Of course, I now have no system keyboard shortcuts asa result."
Re-install the system if you performed a system migration It appears that, in at least some cases, this problem is caused by a problematic holdover transferred during a System Migration process -- especially when the migration is from a PowerPC-based Mac to an Intel-based Macs.
This is not the first issue that has been caused by a problematic system migration -- we previously noted iSub, iLife and Help Viewer issues resultant from such a process.
The only solution in this case, unfortunately, appears to be the performance of an Archive and Install from the original Mac OS X disc included with your Mac without a System Migration.
Check Universal Access settings Open the Universal Access pane of System Preferences and try turning off all options -- specifically the option that allows activation of "mouse keys" (allows use of keyboard keys in place of the mouse) after the option key is pressed three times. This option is located under the Mouse and Trackpad tab.
Use an external mouse and keyboard In many instances of this issue, only the built-in keyboard and trackpad become non-functional. External (USB-based) keyboards and mice will generally remain operational.
Use USB Prober The tool USB Prober (part of Apple's USB debugging kit for developers) has been successful in reviving keyboard/trackpad responsiveness in some cases. Unfortunately, launching the application requires connection of an external keyboard (via USB).
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
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