Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Notebooks > MacBook Pro keyboard problem

MacBook Pro keyboard problem
Thread Tools
audiophilia
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Jul 2005
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 9, 2008, 03:33 PM
 
Hi Guys:

Nothing in a search.

2.2 with 2 gigs of RAM

The problem. When I begin typing, the first letter does not show. This is random and getting quite annoying. This also happened on my previous G4. I thought it maybe my typing (lack of) technique, but it's just weird. Any ideas?

Cheers.
www.audiophilia.com
The Online Journal for the Serious Audiophile

www.e46toronto.ca
Canada's premier BMW forum
     
ibook_steve
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Jose, CA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 9, 2008, 05:51 PM
 
This is a known problem that has been discussed at length here and on Apple's boards. The recent updates help a bit, but it still happens to some, such as myself.

Steve
Celebrating 10 years and 4000 posts on MacNN!
     
pcryan5
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 10, 2008, 01:35 AM
 
     
Chuckit
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 10, 2008, 04:28 AM
 
I'm going to make this thread sticky for a while since people seem to be running into the problem fairly often and it's kind of hard to search for.
Chuck
___
"Instead of either 'multi-talented' or 'multitalented' use 'bisexual'."
     
audiophilia  (op)
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Jul 2005
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 10, 2008, 09:17 AM
 
Many thanks, guys.

Cheers!
www.audiophilia.com
The Online Journal for the Serious Audiophile

www.e46toronto.ca
Canada's premier BMW forum
     
audiophilia  (op)
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Jul 2005
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 11, 2008, 02:37 PM
 
Downloaded the update.

Damn, Expose still freezes!!! Keyboard problem is less frequent, but still happens.
www.audiophilia.com
The Online Journal for the Serious Audiophile

www.e46toronto.ca
Canada's premier BMW forum
     
Simon
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: in front of my Mac
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 20, 2008, 09:18 AM
 
Same here. The update didn't make it go away entirely.
     
ElementR
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Nov 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 6, 2008, 10:48 PM
 
same here, still have the problem...
     
Appleman
Mac Elite
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: France
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 10, 2008, 01:37 PM
 
same here, specially the letter T is almost always missing.

MacBook Pro 17" 2.4 GHz 4 GB RAM, Mac OSX 10.5.1

Hopefully 10.5.2 will make a difference?!
     
Simon
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: in front of my Mac
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 10, 2008, 04:38 PM
 
Originally Posted by Appleman View Post
Hopefully 10.5.2 will make a difference?!
Here's hoping.
     
anogee
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Oct 2007
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 11, 2008, 04:27 PM
 
I had the same problem under 10.5 so I did a complete fresh install to 10.4 and the problem still occurs.
     
ElementR
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Nov 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 11, 2008, 09:23 PM
 
Originally Posted by anogee View Post
I had the same problem under 10.5 so I did a complete fresh install to 10.4 and the problem still occurs.
i had the problem with the 10.4 that was installed on my MB, I did a clean install of 10.5 and still have the problem...
     
schk
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jan 2003
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 11, 2008, 10:03 PM
 
Going back to 10.4 will be a waste of time. When I got my 17" 2.33 C2D in Jan 07, I've had the problem since day one. I still haven't upgraded to Leopard on this machine and with 10.4.11 the problem still persists.

No one seemed to make a big fuss of it until the Santa Rosa machines were released, but this problem has annoyed me since I got the machine. Here's to hoping things are improved in 10.5.2
     
c41
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: May 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 17, 2008, 06:22 PM
 
Did 10.5.2 fix the issue for anyone?

My MB Pro had the missing first character prob (although i thought it was just my bad typing till reading this) but also freezes completely and frequently, requiring a power-button-for-5-secs restart. (and i've recently up'd to 10.5.2)

i'm reinstalling just in case i have some other prob... frustrating....
     
ElementR
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Nov 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 17, 2008, 11:00 PM
 
Originally Posted by c41 View Post
Did 10.5.2 fix the issue for anyone?

My MB Pro had the missing first character prob (although i thought it was just my bad typing till reading this) but also freezes completely and frequently, requiring a power-button-for-5-secs restart. (and i've recently up'd to 10.5.2)

i'm reinstalling just in case i have some other prob... frustrating....
didnt fix it for me still have the problem...
     
Simon
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: in front of my Mac
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 18, 2008, 04:14 AM
 
On my 15" 2.4 GHz MBP I still have the missing first letter issue after installing 10.5.2.
     
badidea
Professional Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Hamburg
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 19, 2008, 06:13 PM
 
***
     
ElementR
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Nov 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 19, 2008, 10:23 PM
 
hope that update works ill see in the next few days...
( Last edited by ElementR; Feb 19, 2008 at 10:29 PM. Reason: bleh)
     
Simon
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: in front of my Mac
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 20, 2008, 03:56 AM
 
The update fixed the missing first key issue on my 2.4 GHz MBP but now unfortunately closed-lid mode is broken.

When I wake my MBP in closed-lid mode it shows the desktop picture on the external screen and then goes right back to sleep. If I then wake it again and, the same thing will happen all over again. Resetting PRAM didn't help.
( Last edited by Simon; Feb 20, 2008 at 04:15 AM. )
     
Lava Lamp Freak
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 22, 2008, 08:44 PM
 
The update changed nothing for me. My MBP keyboard still misses the first key just as often, plus my trackpad still locks up quite often.
     
roksob
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Nov 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 25, 2008, 03:47 AM
 
Withdrawn
( Last edited by roksob; Feb 25, 2008 at 03:50 AM. Reason: Redundant)
     
Appleman
Mac Elite
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: France
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 25, 2008, 03:55 AM
 
Originally Posted by c41 View Post
My MB Pro had the missing first character prob (although i thought it was just my bad typing till reading this) but also freezes completely and frequently, requiring a power-button-for-5-secs restart. (and i've recently up'd to 10.5.2)... frustrating....
Same here: sometimes I encounter the sleep problem, my letter T is very often missing (might just bring back the Mac as I have Apple Care on it, but cannot / do not want to loose it for some weeks, have the freezes now and then as well.

Was hoping the keyboard update would solve, but apparently not
     
anogee
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Oct 2007
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 25, 2008, 07:36 PM
 
Apple's recent Firmware (NOT driver) upgrade 1.0 fixed the problem for me. Its certainly about time Apple. Some people have had this problem for almost two years.
     
azhelkov
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Mar 2008
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 2, 2008, 10:07 AM
 
Originally Posted by anogee View Post
Apple's recent Firmware (NOT driver) upgrade 1.0 fixed the problem for me. Its certainly about time Apple. Some people have had this problem for almost two years.
I thought that too... for five days after patching/updating. New keyboard firmware version .18 but "ELP" slowly coming back. How is it possible is beyond me. Looks like Apple adjusted tolerance to something, but did not fix the original trouble. I reported it again to Apple FeedBack. Frustrating...
     
ElementR
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Nov 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 2, 2008, 01:49 PM
 
Originally Posted by Lava Lamp Freak View Post
The update changed nothing for me. My MBP keyboard still misses the first key just as often, plus my trackpad still locks up quite often.
same here this is getting quite anoying.
     
030108
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Mar 2008
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 3, 2008, 08:53 PM
 
I guess I should not install the "Keyboard Firmware Update 1.0 669kb" for my macbook, should I?

------------
------------
Do I need this FIRMWARE update?

Should I install it just because it is available?

The primary issue that its description says it addresses is mb/mb Pro not responding to the first keyboard key pressed if the machine has been idle for an extended period of time.

I actually have not noticed that issue and I am not sure I would notice anyway, but I guess they mean all machines are affected by it. Is that right or is it possible my machine may not be affected?

Incidentally, I have installed all of the SOFTWARE updates.

macbook | 4GB | 250GB | shipped with Leopard
     
anogee
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Oct 2007
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 4, 2008, 11:33 AM
 
Originally Posted by 030108 View Post
I guess I should not install the "Keyboard Firmware Update 1.0 669kb" for my macbook, should I?

------------
------------
Do I need this FIRMWARE update?

Should I install it just because it is available?

The primary issue that its description says it addresses is mb/mb Pro not responding to the first keyboard key pressed if the machine has been idle for an extended period of time.

I actually have not noticed that issue and I am not sure I would notice anyway, but I guess they mean all machines are affected by it. Is that right or is it possible my machine may not be affected?
You'd notice the problem if you had it.
     
Donvi
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Mar 2008
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 9, 2008, 10:36 PM
 
It was the Battery.

I took the battery out and connected only with the power cable and problem solved. Then I boght a new battery and works great.

Best!
     
iampivot
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 16, 2008, 03:14 PM
 
The update worked sort of for me, since now the dropped letter frequency is down to what it was with Tiger, before I upgraded to Leopard.

It is still a problem. So I'm wondering, does anyone with the new MBs or MBP that came out in February this year have the problem? I'm specifically interested in those with a MB, since my keyboard loses a lot of key presses unless i press really hard and at the middle of the button, and I'm wondering if the MB keyboard is better in that regard. (I have a MBP.)

And yes, it still mostly occur when I plug in USB devices (USB mouse). Are you listening Apple?
     
iampivot
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 18, 2008, 03:05 PM
 
This problem is still hotly debated on the apple support forums;

Apple - Support - Discussions - Anyone with a MBP that doesn't skip ...
     
berdinkerdickle
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2008
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 11, 2008, 03:20 PM
 
     
Snicklefritz
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2008
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 20, 2008, 05:48 PM
 
I bought a MacBook Pro back in May and it has 10.5 on it. I'm having similar trouble except that my entire keyboard locks up. After pressing random keys 10-20 times, the keyboard activates again.

In reading these posts, I'm completely mystified as to what I should do to correct the problem. It doesn't seem like anyone's troubles have completely gone away by changing to something other than 10.5??
     
2greythounds
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Sep 2008
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 4, 2008, 06:21 PM
 
Originally Posted by Donvi View Post
It was the Battery.

I took the battery out and connected only with the power cable and problem solved. Then I boght a new battery and works great.

Best!
I just tried this and it worked for me also. I knew the battery was dead, but had not removed it since I had not bought a replacement. Thanks for the suggestion.
     
   
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:05 PM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,