MacBook Trackpad button (& left mouse button) not working

Die Fledermaus · Die Fledermaus #1 (**permalink**)

03-27-2010, 01:07 PM

I have a MacBook (OS X, 10.4.11) and the trackpad button just stopped working last week. I've rebooted multiple times (with and without the battery) but nothing. I attached a mouse and I can right click...but the left button does nothing. However I can click 'some' things by clicking the scroll button on the mouse. For instance, I can click the system preferences button using the scroll. I can click on one of the options (ex. Keyboard & Mouse) using the scroll button but when the Keyboard & Mouse window pops up I can't click anything in the window. The trackpad is not set up to click unfortunately. I also could scroll click to pull up the 'About this Mac' info but now I can't close the window. Any ideas what I can do?

Jamie-Jamie · Jamie-Jamie #2 (**permalink**)

03-27-2010, 01:22 PM

Uhm... somehow remove the mouse preferences file. I guess it wouldn't be that hard. If you can navigate to Home > Library > Preferences, you can use the arrows on the keyboard to highlight something like com.apple.mouse.plist (I think.) Then use Command+Delete to send it to the Trash.

Restart. All of your mouse preferences will be blasted.

Die Fledermaus · Die Fledermaus #3 (**permalink**)

03-27-2010, 02:29 PM

I was able to get to preferences but I didn't see any file by that name.

Jamie-Jamie · Jamie-Jamie #4 (**permalink**)

03-27-2010, 02:32 PM

Yeah. I went and looked. Not there... >sigh<

I'm not sure. Anybody else have some thoughts?

ebeckert · ebeckert #5 (**permalink**)

03-27-2010, 10:55 PM

Does it have AppleCare? I know my MacBook's mouse button wasn't working on the righthand side, and I took it in, and they replaced the whole keyboard mouse piece - if you know what I'm talking about.

Die Fledermaus · Die Fledermaus #6 (**permalink**)

03-28-2010, 08:31 AM

Unfortunately it doesn't have Applecare.

Die Fledermaus · Die Fledermaus #7 (**permalink**)

03-29-2010, 10:20 PM

Bump. Any other ideas?

ebeckert · ebeckert #8 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 04:42 PM

How old is it? It could still be covered under the limited warranty.

Die Fledermaus · Die Fledermaus #9 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 07:28 PM

It's over 3 years old so not covered.

ebeckert · ebeckert #10 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 08:58 PM

I personally don't know what to do then. Sorry.

Die Fledermaus · Die Fledermaus #11 (**permalink**)

04-02-2010, 09:12 AM

Ok I checked on Apple forums and found someone else with the same problem. They noticed that if they used a mouse *without* touching the trackpad that the mouse would work fine. I restarted my macbook and only used the mouse and could click with no problem. But (like the other person) the moment I touched the trackpad the mouse would have the same problem not clicking again. I restarted again and clicked 'ignore trackpad when mouse is attached'. Unfortunately there was no resolution on the other forum for the trackpad--I'll have to use the mouse for now.

LelandJLK · LelandJLK #12 (**permalink**)

04-02-2010, 09:48 AM

The only advice I have is to take it to a local, certified, mac store and have them check it out.

speed00 · speed00 #13 (**permalink**)

09-30-2010, 07:07 AM

Did you ever find a solution? I am having the same problem now with a new MBP

Die Fledermaus · Die Fledermaus #14 (**permalink**)

10-03-2010, 03:47 PM

Never heard anything. Still have to use a mouse.

intransit · intransit #15 (**permalink**)

10-29-2010, 07:34 PM

I had a problem where my track pad button stopped working. I took it to Genius bar and they actually were geniuses. The battery in the macbook pro had expanded substantially and pressed on the rest of the case such that the track pad no longer clicked. The battery was replaced for free even though it was 4 years old and the trackpad clicks now perfectly and I have a new battery.

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MacBook Trackpad button (& left mouse button) not working

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Die Fledermaus #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 26, 2010 Posts: 7	03-27-2010, 01:07 PM I have a MacBook (OS X, 10.4.11) and the trackpad button just stopped working last week. I've rebooted multiple times (with and without the battery) but nothing. I attached a mouse and I can right click...but the left button does nothing. However I can click 'some' things by clicking the scroll button on the mouse. For instance, I can click the system preferences button using the scroll. I can click on one of the options (ex. Keyboard & Mouse) using the scroll button but when the Keyboard & Mouse window pops up I can't click anything in the window. The trackpad is not set up to click unfortunately. I also could scroll click to pull up the 'About this Mac' info but now I can't close the window. Any ideas what I can do?
	QUOTE Thanks

Jamie-Jamie #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 25, 2010 Posts: 481 Mac Specs: Mac Pro, Power Mac G4, iMac G3, iPhone 3GS	03-27-2010, 01:22 PM Uhm... somehow remove the mouse preferences file. I guess it wouldn't be that hard. If you can navigate to Home > Library > Preferences, you can use the arrows on the keyboard to highlight something like com.apple.mouse.plist (I think.) Then use Command+Delete to send it to the Trash. Restart. All of your mouse preferences will be blasted.
	QUOTE Thanks

Jamie-Jamie #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 25, 2010 Posts: 481 Mac Specs: Mac Pro, Power Mac G4, iMac G3, iPhone 3GS	03-27-2010, 02:32 PM Yeah. I went and looked. Not there... >sigh< I'm not sure. Anybody else have some thoughts?
	QUOTE Thanks

ebeckert #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 21, 2010 Location: Lake Elmo, Minnesota Posts: 26 Mac Specs: MacBook - 320 GB HD, 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB Ram, + Magic Mouse	03-27-2010, 10:55 PM Does it have AppleCare? I know my MacBook's mouse button wasn't working on the righthand side, and I took it in, and they replaced the whole keyboard mouse piece - if you know what I'm talking about.
	QUOTE Thanks

Die Fledermaus #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 26, 2010 Posts: 7	03-28-2010, 08:31 AM Unfortunately it doesn't have Applecare.
	QUOTE Thanks

Die Fledermaus #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 26, 2010 Posts: 7	03-29-2010, 10:20 PM Bump. Any other ideas?
	QUOTE Thanks

ebeckert #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 21, 2010 Location: Lake Elmo, Minnesota Posts: 26 Mac Specs: MacBook - 320 GB HD, 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB Ram, + Magic Mouse	03-30-2010, 04:42 PM How old is it? It could still be covered under the limited warranty.
	QUOTE Thanks

Die Fledermaus #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 26, 2010 Posts: 7	03-30-2010, 07:28 PM It's over 3 years old so not covered.
	QUOTE Thanks

ebeckert #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 21, 2010 Location: Lake Elmo, Minnesota Posts: 26 Mac Specs: MacBook - 320 GB HD, 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB Ram, + Magic Mouse	03-30-2010, 08:58 PM I personally don't know what to do then. Sorry.
	QUOTE Thanks

Die Fledermaus #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 26, 2010 Posts: 7	04-02-2010, 09:12 AM Ok I checked on Apple forums and found someone else with the same problem. They noticed that if they used a mouse without touching the trackpad that the mouse would work fine. I restarted my macbook and only used the mouse and could click with no problem. But (like the other person) the moment I touched the trackpad the mouse would have the same problem not clicking again. I restarted again and clicked 'ignore trackpad when mouse is attached'. Unfortunately there was no resolution on the other forum for the trackpad--I'll have to use the mouse for now.
	QUOTE Thanks

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LelandJLK #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 11, 2009 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 174 Mac Specs: MBP 15 inch 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 4 Gigs of ram	04-02-2010, 09:48 AM The only advice I have is to take it to a local, certified, mac store and have them check it out.
	QUOTE Thanks

speed00 #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 29, 2010 Posts: 2	09-30-2010, 07:07 AM Did you ever find a solution? I am having the same problem now with a new MBP
	QUOTE Thanks

Die Fledermaus #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 26, 2010 Posts: 7	10-03-2010, 03:47 PM Never heard anything. Still have to use a mouse.
	QUOTE Thanks

intransit #15 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 29, 2010 Posts: 1	10-29-2010, 07:34 PM I had a problem where my track pad button stopped working. I took it to Genius bar and they actually were geniuses. The battery in the macbook pro had expanded substantially and pressed on the rest of the case such that the track pad no longer clicked. The battery was replaced for free even though it was 4 years old and the trackpad clicks now perfectly and I have a new battery.
	QUOTE Thanks