USB keyboard shift keys suddenly not working

For some reason, when I woke up my MacBook Pro this morning, both shift keys on my aluminium USB keyboard were not working. I'm using the keyboard with a Magic Mouse and LED cinema display connected to my MacBook. When I hold either shift key in combination with any other key, either nothing is typed, or there will be random characters typed, occasionally.
I ran AppleJack on auto to see if there were any problems. There were a few preferences it corrected, but nothing major was wrong. I connected the keyboard to a friend's MacBook Pro, and the shift keys did not work on his machine either. Caps Lock does work. I've tried canned air. I don't remember spilling anything on it.
Any idea about what I can try to get it working, or is it broken? Thanks,
-Jeff

Try resetting the PRAM. Info here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

Similar Messages

Underscrore key suddenly not working

Underscrore key suddenly not working.
17" PB 3.5 yrs old. Is it one key? Entire Keyboard? Something else?
How do I replace? One key? Entire KB?
Cheers,
RS

one key can't be replaced, if it's caused by a bad keyboard, then the whole keyboard gets replaced.
sometimes could be caused by bad cable connection, but it's likely a bad keyboard.

Arrow keys suddenly not working!

Two arrow keys, right and up, suddenly stopped working on my black Macbook. I had this problem a week ago, then upgraded from Snow Leopard to Lion and they worked again. Not now. They won't work with modifying keys either! Someone please help me.

If a number of keys are not working, it is probably a defective keyboard. Having a different keyboard setting would cause different characters to show up, not not work. You are going to need to get the keyboard replaced. If the computer is still under warranty, do it as soon as possible. But if they find a spill on the keyboard, expect to be charged. In the meantime, an external USB keyboard does work well on these Toshibas.

Why did my iMac wired keyboard keys 4, 5, 6 (number pad), +, and up-arrow, (right)shift keys suddenly stopped working?

I have already tried restarting my computer and keys will just not work and I have seen many other people have EXACTLY same problem with EXACTLY same keys as I do, but I have found any answer.
Currently I have Mac OS X 10.8.5

You have noticed they are all in a row. This normally happens where a spillage has taken place. Has the keyboard had liquid contact?

Modifier Keys suddenly not working with Numberpads

I favor the use of a numberpad and as such i have been using a third party USB Numberpad. I also have a Apple wired keyboard that comes with the number pad.
All these while, the modifier keys (shift, alt, ctrl) works with the numberpad and the numberpad section of the apple keyboard. Somehow, recently, not sure when, it no longer works.
I've tried to reset default on the modifier key section but it just doesn't work... This is really frustrating. the only thing i remember installing lately is "bettertouchtool" and buying a magic mouse.
Bettertouchtool is not usually running unless i choose to run it, so i'm not sure how that affecs it, not am i sure if totally removing it via a third party app helps.
Appreciate HELP! PLEASE!

i am having the same problem. It just started a few days ago. Im thinkin its a problem with the most recent update. Im goin to contact apple to let them know. I'll post again when i hear something. If anyone figures it out before then please let us know!

I have a hp g61 running windows 7 and suse 11.4. Both of my shift keys are not working..help.

i have tried the following but it didnt help;
                 Hard reset
1. Press and Hold power button till the laptop turns off (5-7 sec approx).
            2. Then unplug the AC adaptor.
            3. Turn the laptop upside down.
            4. Then remove battery.
            5. Then press and hold the power button for 2 minutes (to remove static electricity).
            6. Then, put the battery back in the notebook and plug in AC adaptor and turn on the laptop.
Re-installing battery drivers:
1. Click Start and type device in the search field, then select Device Manager .
2. Click on + sign beside the Keyboard category.
3. Under the Keyboard category, right-click the Microsoft ps1/ps2 driver, and select Uninstall.
Note: Do not remove the Microsoft AC Adapter driver or any other ACPI compliant driver.
4. On the Device Manager taskbar, click Scan for hardware changes.
I tried installing latest Bios software.
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp51501-52000/sp51527.exe

Hi Abu-Bakr,
Thank you for visiting the HP Support Forums and Welcome. I have read your thread on your HP Notebook and the shift keys not working correctly. I find that in most cases a keyboard that stops responding or some keys don't work is generally a keyboard is stuck cleaning might be the only option. Here is a document on how to clean the keyboard.
If a small vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment is available, use it to clear the keyboard of debris. A can of compressed air can be used to blow out particles that get in between the keys. I would be happy to assist if needed. How Do I Find My Model Number or Product Number?
Please respond with which Operating System you are running:
Which Windows Operating System am I running?
Please let me know.
Thanks.
Please click “Accept as Solution ” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom to say “Thanks” for helping!

ThinkPad USB Keyboard with TrackPoint -- Buttons not working (SK-8833)

The buttons on my trusty Thinkpad USB external keyboard (SK-8855) have suddenly stopped working properly. The right-hand button has ceased functioning most of the time, and now the middle button both scrolls windows (as it is supposed to) but also acts as the right-hand button (showing context menus, etc.). Also, occasionally, the left button stops working too, until I click on the center button, and then it will work fine for a while. There is no real consistency except that they are inconsistent.
The rest of the keyboard, including the trackpoint, works fine, but the fault happens when the keyboard is plugged into two different machines--my Thinkpad T430 and my Thinkpad x100e (the very first time it was ever plugged into this one).
I would be happy to see if some dirt has clogged up the button mechanism, but the keyboard is still under warranty and one of the screws is under a label (I think). It looks like some kind of hardware issue since I haven't changed any software on my system, but I guess it could be a driver problem, but Lenovo has made it all but impossible to find the drivers of this keyboard.
Does anyone have any ideas, or should I just be contacting support for a warranty repair?

You should get the keyboard changed under warranty.
Regards,
Jin Li
May this year, be the year of 'DO'!
I am a volunteer, and not a paid staff of Lenovo or Microsoft

Shift keys are not working

I just bought this Slatebook and after a week of having it the shift keys stopped working. Not sure if its somthing in the settings, or the key is broken. If anyone knows PLEASE HELP
Spoiler (Highlight to read)
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hey @Dylanbilo01 ,
Welcome to the HP forums.
I understand you're having issues with the keyboard on your Slatebook.
Clear all cache on the PC: Settings > Storage > Cached Data. You should have the option to erase all the cached data here.
Hard reset: While the PC is on, press and hold the power button for 8+ seconds to force shut down. Turn it back on and see if that helps.
Factory reset: Make sure you backup any important files or information first and then when ready got to Settings > Backup & reset > Factory data reset.
If this does not resolve the issue please call our technical support at 800-474-6836. If you live outside the US/Canada Region, please click the following link to get the support number for your region: Phone Assist Worldwide.
Thanks.
Please click the "Kudos, Thumbs Up" at the bottom of this post if you want to say "Thanks" for helping!
Please click "Accept as Solution" if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
The Great Deku Tree
I work on behalf of HP.

Both Shift keys are not working

Hi,
My laptop both the shift keys stopped working suddenly,I tried few possibilities like holding shift keys alternately and at a time for few minutes, and along with Ctl key,Alt key, but not solved my problem.Please suggest me.......as soon as possible.

I have being experiencing this frightening problem since this afternoon. And from reading this forum, I am only seeing the challenges that we are facing, but no one to offer a solution or an explanation as to why this is happening. HP support we need some answers thank you.
Just let us know what is causing this problem and how can we fix it so we can get on with our lives.

Mac USB Keyboard Cntrl + F# commands not working properly

Hello folks,
I have a mac keyboard connected to my MBA through USB, the issue is that the control + F# shortkeys don't work properly.
E.g pressing ctrl + F3 should take me to the desktop ( the sliding movement of the windows ), but instead it switches between windows or something..
Even though it says in the system setting that pressing ctrl + F3 should take me there.
The keyboard in question is a Mac keyboard also. The commands works just fine when I click only the F# buttons on the MBA's keyboard.
Anyone has stumbled upon this previously or know any solution? You gotta love the Mac keycommands.
Thanks

Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Keyboard (and Mouse depending on Mac OS X revision) -> Keyboard
change the use all F1, F2 etc... keys as standard function keys setup.
Command + key usually works for control commands you are used to on Windows, when working with Mac OS X applications.

Qosmio F60 - USB ports & touch keys are not working

Hi,
After a clean install (win 7 home prem), i found most of the drivers, but still have following problems.
1) when i hook up my external hdd or any device to any usb port, although it powers and tries to read, but does not show in my computer and does not work
2) the touch keys (eco, wireless, media buttons) dont work. After installing value added pack, it opens up a button assignment tool and asks me for input for button assignment
3) The reason for clean install was new 250gig SDD to replace my 750gb toshiba hdd. this is the 3rd time hdd has corrupted in 2 years (not happy), however, the ssd halts the laptop as well, and i have to restart
Your help is much appreciated.
[email protected]

Do you have the latest firmware on the SSD?
Have you installed all the drivers and software listed on the Toshiba website? Make sure you install the Intel Chipset utility first, then TVAP second.
Also make sure you have Win7 Service Pack 1 before installing drivers, and update the BIOS to the latest revision.
If you still can't get it working, you can order the Recovery Discs from Toshiba and install the factory image on the SSD so everything works properly.

SHIFT key does not work - one the first letter gets capitalized

When typing a word in ALL CAPS by pressing the SHIFT key, only the first character appears in CAPS. All subsequent characters appear in lower case even though the SHIFT key is continually pressed.
The workaround is to backspace over the lower case character(s) one at a time as they are typed and type them again in CAPS, or use the CAPS LOCK key.
This problem surfaced after a string of updates (Combo 10.5.2 update; Graphics update; keyboard firmware update) and I cannot be certain which one (if any) is responsible for the snafu.
As someone who types a lot, I urgently need to have this fixed. Thanks.
Andreas

I solved the SHIFT key problem. As it turns out, it was not the result of any update or buggy piece of software code, but a conscious (albeit erroneous) decision on my part.
A few days ago, I installed a new version of TypeIt4Me and in perusing the various settings, I selected the “No DOuble CAps” option. I misinterpreted what this option would do. It modifies the behavior of the SHIFT key which I then thought was a bug in my system.
TypeIt4Me, btw, by Riccardo Ettore, is a wonderful application. I have used it for more than a decade, and I can honestly say it is the most valuable shareware utility I have ever installed on my macs. I strongly and unconditionally recommend it to all mac users.
Andreas

Keyboard volume keys are not working

I had to buy a new keyboard for my imac, and the volume keys won't work. At first they were bringing up things like the dashboard, but I figured out how to disable that in the keyboard shortcut settings -- now when I press them nothing happens at all. I read somewhere else that if you bought a new keyboard for your old mac you have to update to lion to get the volume keys to work?! Is that right? My parents both have lion OS and I really don't like it, so I don't want to update.. is there any way around this so I can stick with snow leopard?

According to the spec sheets for the Apple keyboards currently available in the Apple Store, "Minimum System Requirements" state OS X 10.6.8 or later -
Wireless - Apple Wireless Keyboard - Apple Store (U.S.)
Wired - Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad - English (USA) - Apple Store (U.S.)
So, if you update to OS X 10.6.8 you should be OK. You can do it in one step via the Combo update -
Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1

Shift key functions not working

Hi,
Occasionally, shift key functions, such as proportionate element scaling and content scaling stop working in InDesign CC. I don't know what causes it, and so far the only solution I've found is to restart my machine. Does anyone know the cause or a better solution? We've spoken with support and they had us reset our preferences in the cloud, which didn't work.
Thanks!

It can be caused by third-party software grabbing keystrokes. Some have reported it's related to using a particular web browser so you could try another.
You could also try creating a separate user on your computer. If it works, it could because of some corruption in your system.

F6 keyboard lighting key is not working

When I push the F6 key on the keyboard to light up my keyboard, the light graphic comes up on the screen but it does not light my keyboard up and the graphic has the circle with the forward slash through as if it prohibited. Did I unintentionally disable that key in some way?

What happens if you try it in a dark place?

USB keyboard shift keys suddenly not working

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for