Some keys stopped working for one user account

Question

Dear all,
since a while (I can't say since when exactly) some of the keys stopped working: left control, left shift, and the tab key. In the beginning the caps lock didn't work as well, but it was my own setting. All other then the three listed work OK. As described in some KB articles I checked all settings for universal access, localisation, keyboard, mouse, and keyboard-shortcuts (all standard). I completely disassembled the keyboard (aprox. 50 screws!) cleaned it and checked the connections between the keys on the printed circuit. Everything looks good. Then my wife told me that she does not have the problem and indeed, in other user accounts it is all working OK. It means that it should be a setup problem in my profile. The keyboard viewer is showing every activated (pressed) key, but not the three that are not working - which is only consequent. When I disable the caps-lock then the keyboard viewer doesn't show this key being pressed either. My conclusion is that there must be a keyboard filter below the application level. Now I'm stuck.
Help appreciated!
Cheers,
Kurt.
Message was edited by: killtheclock

Answer 1

Yup, odds were against me choosing the right item on the first go
Log back into your problem account.
Here's the whole litany for thoroughly checking your home folder. It's not as daunting as it looks.
1. Go to Users/yourname//Library/Fonts - drag this folder to the desktop.
• Restart and test your applications.
• If they work start adding the fonts back few at a time.
( Likely suspects are Times RO, Helvetica Fractions and Times Phonetic, also if you do not use Classic you can trash the classic fonts.) If not, put your Fonts folder back.
2. Check Preferences Thoroughly;
• Go to ~(YourHome/Library/Preferences drag this folder to the desktop.
• Restart and test your applications.
• If this works, save the old preferences folder somewhere else or on disk, name it "old prefs" .
** Note: A very important file is the "com.apple.Mail.plist" preference file located in the Preferences folder which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences (hold this one and replace if your problem is not with Mail).
You'll have to go through some of your System Preferences and apps to set the preferences back to how you like them. (Or if you have the time and inclination, "cherry pick" through until you find the problem one or two.)
3. Check Permissions Inside Home Folder
• Navigate to YourHome/Library.
• Get Info (Command - i) on folders for apps you are having problems with.
• Open the "Ownership & permissions" disclosure triangle.
• Make sure you are the owner, with "read and write" access.
• Click on "apply to all"
• If this is correct, open the "Applications Support" folder and do the same procedure (Command+I) for the folders with the names of the applications you are having trouble with.
(Note:The reason to check this is because repairing permissions with Disk Utility doesn't touch permissions inside your home folder.)
4. Navigate to YourHome/Library/Caches and drag this folder to the trash, then log out and back or restart. There is no need to replace this folder.
-mj