Caps Lock Key Won't Work / System Prefs

Al X Zander · Al X Zander #1 (**permalink**)

03-31-2010, 07:58 PM

I have a MacBook Pro (2008) OS 10.5.8 and the Caps lock key does not light or work.
It has been suggested that I have a bad Pref file and to try and figure out which one it is.
Do I just throw out the whole folder and let it rebuild, or just how to tackle this?
Thanks
Al X

6string · 6string #2 (**permalink**)

03-31-2010, 09:38 PM

Welccome to Mac Forums
Just to be sure that you haven't disabled it somehow.... go to system preferences>keyboard>modifier keys>caps lock, and make sure that "no action" isn't selected. Even if caps lock is selected, select no action and save, and then go back and select caps lock again.
Otherwise, have you spilled anything on your keyboard?
If not, do you have AppleCare?

bobtomay · bobtomay #3 (**permalink**)

03-31-2010, 09:41 PM

Not sure what 'folder' you would be talking about, but don't do it.

Think 6sting is probly on the right track there.

Al X Zander · Al X Zander #4 (**permalink**)

03-31-2010, 10:50 PM

No. No spills and I have disabled modifiers for Caps Lock.
If it is a preference file, I how do I safely delete and rebuild?

osxx · osxx #5 (**permalink**)

03-31-2010, 11:06 PM

Try restore defaults under keyboard shortcuts in System Preferences.

6string · 6string #6 (**permalink**)

03-31-2010, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al X Zander

I have disabled modifiers for Caps Lock.
If it is a preference file, I how do I safely delete and rebuild?

That doesn't really answer whether or not you tried what I suggested, so I'll just have to assume that you did (or maybe didn't).
Also doesn't answer the warranty question... hmmm, oh well

Al X Zander · Al X Zander #7 (**permalink**)

04-01-2010, 12:31 PM

Yes, Sorry. I did try your suggestion to no avail and I do have Apple Care. Had keyboard replaced as well as top. No dice. Their opinion is a Preference file but did not offer how to throw them out and rebuild in a reasonable manner

bobtomay · bobtomay #8 (**permalink**)

04-01-2010, 01:41 PM

Try logging in as another user, create a new user account if you need to... and let us know if it happens in that account also or only yours.

Al X Zander · Al X Zander #9 (**permalink**)

04-01-2010, 01:59 PM

It worked on a different User. What does that tell me and how to correct on my log-on?
Thanks for that!

bobtomay · bobtomay #10 (**permalink**)

04-01-2010, 02:25 PM

It means it is a software issue in your users settings and not the system settings and not a hardware issue.

Am at work currently, no Mac here, am not sure which plist file has the settings for the keyboard. If no one comes up with it during the day, I'll do some digging after work.

bobtomay · bobtomay #11 (**permalink**)

04-01-2010, 02:33 PM

I don't think there is a separate preference file for the keyboard. Think you're going to have to delete the System Preferences pref file. This is going to mean resetting all your preferences there.

See if this works:

Open up Finder - Users / your user / Library / Preferences
move com.apple.systempreferences.plist to the desktop
log out and back in

If it works you can trash the file.
Then you'll have to set up the rest of your System Preferences again.
If it doesn't, you can move the file back to the same location replacing the new one you'll find there.

Al X Zander · Al X Zander #12 (**permalink**)

04-01-2010, 11:31 PM

Let me ask this.. I moved all the prefs except dock.plist and mail.plist to a desktop folder and rebooted and of course, it works now. So this tells me it's a pref file. But in the interim, the first thing that popped up was Software Update looking to update many items long since updated, no more screen saver and the inability to log into a banking account.
Is it just a matter of replacing a group of prefs 20 or so at a time, reboot, repeat, etc till I find the offending pref file?

bobtomay · bobtomay #13 (**permalink**)

04-02-2010, 04:26 AM

I would put all of them back except the single file I have listed in the post above.

Al X Zander · Al X Zander #14 (**permalink**)

04-02-2010, 02:24 PM

OK, Thanks I'll try that file but let me ask this, what prefs will I have to reset when replacing this com.apple.systempreferences.plist file?

Al X Zander · Al X Zander #15 (**permalink**)

04-04-2010, 01:24 PM

I removed the systempref file to no avail. i see that a new systempref file was not created on re-start. should it have?
Should I have trashed the old file or just move it to Desktop?
Guess it's time to start living with this issue.
Thanks

bobtomay #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 25,530 Mac Specs: 15" MBP '06 2.33 C2D 4GB 10.7; 13" MBA '11 1.8 i7 4GB 10.10; 21" iMac '13 2.9 i5 8GB 10.10; 5s & 5c	04-01-2010, 01:41 PM Try logging in as another user, create a new user account if you need to... and let us know if it happens in that account also or only yours. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus.
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 25,530 Mac Specs: 15" MBP '06 2.33 C2D 4GB 10.7; 13" MBA '11 1.8 i7 4GB 10.10; 21" iMac '13 2.9 i5 8GB 10.10; 5s & 5c	04-01-2010, 02:25 PM It means it is a software issue in your users settings and not the system settings and not a hardware issue. Am at work currently, no Mac here, am not sure which plist file has the settings for the keyboard. If no one comes up with it during the day, I'll do some digging after work. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus.
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 25,530 Mac Specs: 15" MBP '06 2.33 C2D 4GB 10.7; 13" MBA '11 1.8 i7 4GB 10.10; 21" iMac '13 2.9 i5 8GB 10.10; 5s & 5c	04-01-2010, 02:33 PM I don't think there is a separate preference file for the keyboard. Think you're going to have to delete the System Preferences pref file. This is going to mean resetting all your preferences there. See if this works: Open up Finder - Users / your user / Library / Preferences move com.apple.systempreferences.plist to the desktop log out and back in If it works you can trash the file. Then you'll have to set up the rest of your System Preferences again. If it doesn't, you can move the file back to the same location replacing the new one you'll find there. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus.
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 25,530 Mac Specs: 15" MBP '06 2.33 C2D 4GB 10.7; 13" MBA '11 1.8 i7 4GB 10.10; 21" iMac '13 2.9 i5 8GB 10.10; 5s & 5c	04-02-2010, 04:26 AM I would put all of them back except the single file I have listed in the post above. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus.
	QUOTE Thanks

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Al X Zander #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 31, 2010 Posts: 7	03-31-2010, 07:58 PM I have a MacBook Pro (2008) OS 10.5.8 and the Caps lock key does not light or work. It has been suggested that I have a bad Pref file and to try and figure out which one it is. Do I just throw out the whole folder and let it rebuild, or just how to tackle this? Thanks Al X
	QUOTE Thanks

6string #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 09, 2009 Location: Down Under :D Posts: 5,484 Mac Specs: Back to my old 2.2GHz C2D MB after selling my MBP and wondering what my next Mac will be :)	03-31-2010, 09:38 PM Welccome to Mac Forums Just to be sure that you haven't disabled it somehow.... go to system preferences>keyboard>modifier keys>caps lock, and make sure that "no action" isn't selected. Even if caps lock is selected, select no action and save, and then go back and select caps lock again. Otherwise, have you spilled anything on your keyboard? If not, do you have AppleCare?
	QUOTE Thanks

Al X Zander #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 31, 2010 Posts: 7	03-31-2010, 10:50 PM No. No spills and I have disabled modifiers for Caps Lock. If it is a preference file, I how do I safely delete and rebuild?
	QUOTE Thanks

osxx #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 19, 2008 Location: houston texas Posts: 4,686 Mac Specs: 09 MBP 8GB ram 500GB HD OS 10.9 32B iPad 4 32GB iPhone 5 iOs7 2TB TC Apple TV3	03-31-2010, 11:06 PM Try restore defaults under keyboard shortcuts in System Preferences.
	QUOTE Thanks

Al X Zander #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 31, 2010 Posts: 7	04-01-2010, 12:31 PM Yes, Sorry. I did try your suggestion to no avail and I do have Apple Care. Had keyboard replaced as well as top. No dice. Their opinion is a Preference file but did not offer how to throw them out and rebuild in a reasonable manner
	QUOTE Thanks

Al X Zander #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 31, 2010 Posts: 7	04-01-2010, 01:59 PM It worked on a different User. What does that tell me and how to correct on my log-on? Thanks for that!
	QUOTE Thanks

Al X Zander #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 31, 2010 Posts: 7	04-01-2010, 11:31 PM Let me ask this.. I moved all the prefs except dock.plist and mail.plist to a desktop folder and rebooted and of course, it works now. So this tells me it's a pref file. But in the interim, the first thing that popped up was Software Update looking to update many items long since updated, no more screen saver and the inability to log into a banking account. Is it just a matter of replacing a group of prefs 20 or so at a time, reboot, repeat, etc till I find the offending pref file?
	QUOTE Thanks

Al X Zander #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 31, 2010 Posts: 7	04-02-2010, 02:24 PM OK, Thanks I'll try that file but let me ask this, what prefs will I have to reset when replacing this com.apple.systempreferences.plist file?
	QUOTE Thanks

Al X Zander #15 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 31, 2010 Posts: 7	04-04-2010, 01:24 PM I removed the systempref file to no avail. i see that a new systempref file was not created on re-start. should it have? Should I have trashed the old file or just move it to Desktop? Guess it's time to start living with this issue. Thanks
	QUOTE Thanks

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