Keyboard & Mouse stopped working after Mojave (MBP Early 2015)

[monk64]

Updated to Mojave yesterday on my Macbook Pro (early 2015 model). Used it lightly and then went to bed.

When I woke up this morning, I could not login because the keyboard and mouse did not work. Powered off and powered on and they worked for a few minutes...and then froze again. Since then, regardless of reboot, the keyboard and mouse won't work.

When I plug in a USB keyboard and mouse, the external keyboard and mouse work fine, but not the onboard.

I'm baffled. Any ideas!?

Found this thread which seems to imply I now have a very shiny paperweight...

Macbook Pro Keyboard and Trackpad stopped working [Solved] - Macbook Pro - MacBooks

 

[harryb2448]

For mine I always do a clean install of a new operating system and this works well. From the sounds of things you upgraded. Make sure you have a reliable backup always.

 

[lclev]

I just replied on Facebook to this. As I said there if it is not a swollen battery try running Onyx. I had the same issue with my MP and in desperation I ran it and all was good again. I think it is a mess up in the pref files. But I am guessing and was very glad it worked. The link is in my signature. Be sure to get the correct version for Mojave.

Onyx may do nothing but it can't hurt. Also resetting the PRAM would be good to try too.

Lisa

 

[MacInWin]

+1 for the swollen battery thinking. You can see the swelling on the case if you put a straightedge or ruler across the trackpad. It should touch all along the length of the ruler, but if it doesn't and the case is bowed up in the center, the battery is swollen and pressing on the keyboard and trackpad.

 

[ferrarr]

I would start with NVRAM and SMC resets.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

If they didn't work, I would try Safe mode boot up, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262.

 

[monk64]

I just replied on Facebook to this. As I said there if it is not a swollen battery try running Onyx. I had the same issue with my MP and in desperation I ran it and all was good again. I think it is a mess up in the pref files. But I am guessing and was very glad it worked. The link is in my signature. Be sure to get the correct version for Mojave.

Onyx may do nothing but it can't hurt. Also resetting the PRAM would be good to try too.

Lisa

OnyX nailed it. No idea what the issue was but it immediately started working again after Onyx was done, so either that is an amazing coincidence or there was something OnyX found to clean up. This MBP has been upgraded from El Cap -> Sierra - >High Sierra -> Mojave without an issue until now.

I'll check out the swollen battery idea next just in case.

Thanks again. Love this forum

 

[pm-r]

I just replied on Facebook to this.

Glad to read the success, but not meaning to sidetrack this thread, how does one "reply on Facebook" to a question posted to this forum???

Am I am missing something that should be or is obvious???





- Patrick
======

 

[MacInWin]

No there is a facebook page that got started before we knew how it was going to turn out with the website. The OP posted the problem there and here, and Lisa answered there and here. The FB page is not as active as the website.

 

[pm-r]

The FB page is not as active as the website.

Thanks Jake.





- Patrick
======

 

[monk64]

Spoke too soon...problem reemerged this morning. Sigh. Off to apple...

 

[pm-r]

Spoke too soon...problem reemerged this morning. Sigh. Off to apple...

OnyX nailed it. No idea what the issue was but it immediately started working again after Onyx was done, so either that is an amazing coincidence or there was something OnyX found to clean up.

I would somehow doubt that Onyx actually had anything to do with the temporary fix.

But it sure seems like Mojave might have had something to do with the problem or just an amazing coincidence. But it sure seems as if it was caught with its hand in the cookie jar.

Hopefully Apple can fix things properly for you.






- Patrick
======

 

[lclev]

If it is not a hardware issue I will not be surprised if it is Mojave. I had High Sierra on one SSD and Mojave on another SSD in my MP. When I would startup from the Mojave SSD everything was okay. When I switched back to High Sierra I would have to plug in a keyboard and mouse, run Onyx and then I could use my wireless mouse and keyboard (both of which are Apple products).

I kept both versions of OS because of the issue with Nvidia drivers in Mojave. But after Apple released a "security update" for High Sierra that made it incompatible with my GTX1080, I put my trusty GTX780 back in and switched to Mojave. It seems Apple won't approve Mojave web drivers for Nvidia. I really wish Apple would quit playing games with vendors that affect us lowly users.

Lisa

 

[pm-r]

I really wish Apple would quit playing games with vendors that affect us lowly users.

I guess that adds another black mark in the book for some users and maybe just forgot about updating to or using Mojave.

That's quite amazing how you managed to figure out how to get around the problem. Well done.

It seems Apple won't approve Mojave web drivers for Nvidia.

That seems to be a bit of a super paranoid and stupid move, but then again, Apple seems to be going in that direction lately. Maybe some dementia setting in perhaps???





- Patrick
======

 

[lclev]

I really think that Apple wants the big silver box MP to go away. They do not like all the mods people have done to them and they do not want to support them. They want all hardware to be under their control and users will have to configure when they buy and that is it. They are pushing hard to allow for no changes after the consumer takes possession. When it breaks just recycle with apple and buy new!

For most users that is fine as they will never change anything. But there is the user who likes to tweak and tinker - like me!

Sorry - really off topic!

Lisa

 

[MacInWin]

I don't think it's that Apple does not "like" the mods people do as much as it is that Apple sells hardware and gives away software to support it. So when someone mods an Apple product and then turns to Apple to ask for an update to support their mod, Apple just says "No, we're not going to invest our time and talent into something that will cost us with no possibility of return on that a investment." I can certainly see that as a reasonable business position. Otherwise they would be where Microsoft is, having to sustain all the variants of hardware combinations that might be put together out there. But then, MS is a software company, not hardware, so that's what they do for a living. It's more reasonable for MS to support x, y and z because they want to sell MS products to run on x, y and z.

I wonder what the people who are complaining about Apple not supporting "x" would think if Apple said that "x" would cost $X? I would think the howls would be deafening. Remember, Apple sells hardware, gives away software, so if you mod what Apple makes, it's not unreasonable for it to be on you to pay for the software changes you created a need for.

Basically computers are headed into being appliances. You don't tinker with your stovetop, or refrigerator, or dishwasher, and I suspect 99% of PC/Apple users don't tinker with their computer, either. Apple is just a bit ahead of the trend, as usual. Eventually the computer will be even more of a sealed box, doing what it does and not being accessible to the user at all. Kinda like your microwave.

 

[pm-r]

Basically computers are headed into being appliances. You don't tinker with your stovetop, or refrigerator, or dishwasher, and I suspect 99% of PC/Apple users don't tinker with their computer, either.

That may be the same with cars and trucks industry, but the auto after market is sure thriving and often supported by the major auto companies as they often gain a lot of free R&D from the modders.

Apple could well benefit with using the same attitude. They did before remember, like — Think Different.

A lot of new OS innovations came from the users, and Apple listened. Ahh those were the days… ;D





- Patrick
======

 

[MacInWin]

That may be the same with cars and trucks industry, but the auto after market is sure thriving and often supported by the major auto companies as they often gain a lot of free R&D from the modders.

Pipe dream, Patrick. I can't think of one after-market mod that has made it into a major auto model today. In fact, if you open the hood of today's cars, there isn't much to be modded under there. Maybe a computer program minor mod to the ECU to eke out a bit more power or torque, but the company has to satisfy the governmental directives on emissions and an after-market modder doesn't (legally, maybe, but hey, who's looking?). Other than that, what I see as mods to mainstream vehicles are more cosmetic--more lights, additional cameras, different audio setups, etc. And what's new in the auto industry is definitely not modder territory--self driving, autonomous operations with high-tech sensors and AI support. Nope, the days of Think Different are gone. Back in those days the differences between Mac and Wintel boxes was significant, but with both running Intel chips, not so much these days. Now, if Apple moves away from Intel to the chips they are using in the iPhone, iPad devices (and their derivatives) maybe that Think Different will come back, but I suspect there will be howls of dismay when all that Intel-based third party software becomes unusable. Apple's ability to Think Different isn't really gone, but the openings for that different thinking are. Consider how every design Apple has come up with in the last 20 years has been cloned by the likes of Samsung or HP. And the clone cycle is now so fast that Apple's changes (think iPhone X and facial recognition) are quickly copied, albeit not as well implemented.

Not that Apple is not somewhat off stride today. I do think that the current management doesn't have the greater vision that Steve Jobs had, or drove others to have. But really, where else can Apple go? Hardware is becoming commoditized, computers are becoming appliances and the differences between Apple and Wintel are now down to just macOS. I think Apple has to move away from the Wintel, if they want to Think Different. And that will be painful for all of us as we get forced to move to products that are developed for that environment. Just think about having to give up the current crippled versions of Microsoft Office to use the iOS versions instead. That's a major step backwards in functionality and maybe too far to ask fr some.

 

[chscag]

I think Apple has to move away from the Wintel, if they want to Think Different. And that will be painful for all of us as we get forced to move to products that are developed for that environment. Just think about having to give up the current crippled versions of Microsoft Office to use the iOS versions instead. That's a major step backwards in functionality and maybe too far to ask fr some.

Apple has done it twice already, why not a third time? My guess is we will see Apple evolve into using their own chips within the next 3 or 4 years down the road. And the next version of Rosetta.

 

[monk64]

Not that the entire Internet is hanging on the edge of their seats wondering what's happening with my MBP, but this took an interesting twist.

After rebooting with an SMC reset, the issue went away...but it has come and gone. I took it to the GB and the tech noticed that the screen's anti-reflective coating is flaking off. I knew the screen looked messed up but I thought it was just from wear. So we're sending it in for free repair on the defective screen (Apple had a recall). Once it comes back from that in a week, it'll have a 90 day warranty. If the issue reoccurs then, it'll be under warranty

I kept both versions of OS because of the issue with Nvidia drivers in Mojave. But after Apple released a "security update" for High Sierra that made it incompatible with my GTX1080, I put my trusty GTX780 back in and switched to Mojave. It seems Apple won't approve Mojave web drivers for Nvidia. I really wish Apple would quit playing games with vendors that affect us lowly users.

I also use OpenBSD (a different operating system which only uses free software, much more strict than Linux) and from what developers say, Nvidia is one of the worst to deal with. They are highly protective of their code and don't release open drivers (even Linux uses binary blobs). It's tough even getting proper specs out of them. I can certainly list many Apple faults but Nvidia is horrible to deal with and is pretty much the Microsoft of the graphics video world.

 

[pm-r]

So we're sending it in for free repair on the defective screen (Apple had a recall). Once it comes back from that in a week, it'll have a 90 day warranty. If the issue reoccurs then, it'll be under warranty

Here's hoping everything works, or it all eventually works out for you at the end, even if it maybe a roundabout way of getting the problem resolved.





- Patrick
======