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davesmith001 · Feb 23, 2007, 07:43 PM

Over the past week, if I leave my Intel Macbook sitting unused for a few minutes, I'll come back and the keyboard and touchpad won't respond. I have to shut down using the power button. I can't think of any settings I've changed or programs I've added, and my firmware is up to date. Any ideas?

fesdds · Feb 25, 2007, 12:25 AM

Never had keyboard issue, but have had touch pad issues. It always was a software problem. Had to reinstall OSX, then it was fine.

Jimbo · Feb 28, 2007, 11:48 AM

Mine does this as well. It seems completely random. I can't relate it to what programs are running, or length of time left alone. However, it does not lock up if I close the lid, so I've gotten in the habit of simply closing the lid whenever I have to leave it alone. And if I forget and find it locked when I return, I have a mouse handy, as it will respond to the mouse, which lets me at least restart gracefully.

davesmith001 · Mar 3, 2007, 04:29 PM

I think I found the problem. Lately there's been a lot of static electricity in our office, and I find that if i "ground" myself before i touch my macbook the problem goes away. I think I was actually shocking my macbook into freezing up! The same thing was happening to another person in the office, and it goes away as long as we don't rub our feet on the carpet before we touch the computer. How weird.

Jimbo · Mar 7, 2007, 03:44 PM

Interesting... I'll have to check that out.

uicandrew · Mar 7, 2007, 06:48 PM

i actually had the problem with my macbook's touchpad going bezerk when i was in windows during bootcamp. the way i solved this was placing my palm flat on the trackpad, and leaving it there for 5 seconds, then drag my palm off of the trackpad (As if wiping a spill off a trackpad with a paper towel.

this motion has been shown to "reset" the trackpad. sounds kooky, i know, but it works. try it. this trick has been documented on apple's website somewhere (i found it via google, of course)

Telusman · Mar 8, 2007, 10:43 AM

My black MacBook has this problem. It's very annoying but intermittent. I have linked it to static electricity as well. It happens sometimes if i inadvertently shock my MacBook. It seems as though the keyboard may not be properly grounded? I'm not sure. I'd ask for it to be fixed but if i take it in to an Apple reseller, they're gonna tell me they couldn't reproduce it, say it must be software related, and then charge me a $80 shop fee for the privledge.