TYUIO Keys Not Working

[ThirdMan]

Hi.

I have a 13" mid-2012 Macbook Pro, OSX 10.11.2.

The TYUIO keys are not working. This started about 6 months ago. I found that I had to press each key multiple times to get them working. The problem has gotten worse and the keys are now unusable. I have to press each key 30-40 times to get them to work. I'm not sure if it is a hardware or a software problem.

Any suggestions?

Many thanks!

 

[pm-r]

Try doing a NVRAM and SMC Reset, and also try booting using Safe Boot Mode.

Doing so should clear up or show if the problem is software related:
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201295
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204063

To load your Mac in Safe Mode, press and hold the Shift key while it boots. You can stop holding the Shift key when you see an Apple logo and progress bar. To leave Safe Mode, just reboot your Mac without holding the Shift key.

Any possible spills onto the keyboard recently??? Or any that you know of!!!

 

[ThirdMan]

Thanks for your help. I'm afraid none of those options worked. However, I notice that when I touch all TYUIO keys together then they start working again. However within a few presses they start to feel sluggish and eventually they stop working again. Until I press all five keys again and then they're back working! So I assume I can rule out physical damage at this stage? At least I'm making progress.

Edit: Actually, a lot of these people are saying it's a hardware issue.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5100220?start=30&tstart=0

 

[pm-r]

At least I'm making progress.

Edit: Actually, a lot of these people are saying it's a hardware issue.

Good.

But that discussion link seems to be for pre-OSX 10.11.2 usuers so I wouldn't assume the problems are related.

Have you by any once checked your Keyboard System Preferences for any modified key input or shortcuts etc. or using any sort of type-it 4-me utilities that may have got messes up???




- Patrick
=======

 

[harryb2448]

Any chance there has been a slight spill?

 

[Rod]

Try a plug in USB keyboard. If it works then it's a mechanical problem.


Sent from my iPhone using Mac Forums

 

[ThirdMan]

Thanks for the replies.

No, there was definitely no spillage at any stage. Also, I'm currently using a Bluetooth keyboard and that would suggest a mechanical problem.

However, there's been more 'progress'...

I tried the NVRAM and SMC resets last night, along with the Safe Boot Mode, but afterword my Mac started behaving very oddly to the point where it was practically unusable. It was taking 5 minutes to open a Safari page. So this morning I decided to reset to factory settings. I had very little stored on it so back-up didn't take long and I also thought it might help with a very slight sluggishness I've been experiencing recently.

So I initiated the Recovery Mode process and when I had to input my WiFi password all of the TYUIO keys were working perfectly! I tried them repeatedly, and even came back a few minutes later and kept using them over and over and they worked perfectly throughout. They never skipped or felt slow in any way.

So that suggests it's not a mechanical problem, right?

Anyway, my problems don't end there. I wasn't able to follow the Recovery Mode guide because I was not able to erase the hard drive via Disk Utility. Apple's guide states that I can erase the drive and reinstall the OSX. But when I selected the drive the erase section was greyed out. Why is that?

Finally, because that wasn't working I decided to go back and select the 'reinstall OSX' option. However, I wasn't able to do that. It says that I cannot go back to Snow Leopard because a newer version of OSX is currently installed. My only option then was to restart with Command & R and install El Capitan. But now I'm back where I started. Keys not working and my Mac is a slow as crap!

 

[ThirdMan]

Cannot Reset to Factory Settings - Erase Section Not Available

Hi.

This issue arose while I was trying to address an unrelated matter.

http://www.mac-forums.com/apple-notebooks/336684-tyuio-keys.html?highlight=

Simply put, I want to restore my mid-2012 Macbook Pro to the factory settings. I followed one of Apple's guides and it says to enter Recovery Mode, then erase the hard drive using Disk Utility, then reinstall the original OSX.

However, when I select the drive in Disk Utility the erase functions are greyed out. I cannot erase it.

What's gone wrong? Out more likely, what am I doing wrong?

Many thanks.

 

[MacInWin]

Most likely, you are either not actually in the recovery mode, or you selected the entire drive instead of the partition you need. The problem is that you cannot erase the drive from which you are booted. So, if you didn't hold down the keys long enough at boot and just booted into your regular system, you cannot erase that partition because you are booted into it, or if you did get in Recovery and selected the entire drive, you cannot erase it because you are booted from a partition of the drive. Try holding down they keys longer at boot, if you suspect the first problem, or if you KNOW you are in Recovery, select just the partition and not the entire drive.

 

[MacInWin]

But when I selected the drive the erase section was greyed out. Why is that?

Answered in your other post thread.

 

[ThirdMan]

Most likely, you are either not actually in the recovery mode, or you selected the entire drive instead of the partition you need. The problem is that you cannot erase the drive from which you are booted. So, if you didn't hold down the keys long enough at boot and just booted into your regular system, you cannot erase that partition because you are booted into it, or if you did get in Recovery and selected the entire drive, you cannot erase it because you are booted from a partition of the drive. Try holding down they keys longer at boot, if you suspect the first problem, or if you KNOW you are in Recovery, select just the partition and not the entire drive.

You're quite right, I had been selecting the entire drive!

So I managed to reinstall Mountain Lion, my Mac is now running super smooth and my TYUIO keys are all working perfectly. I feel like my birthday and Christmas Day have just arrived at once.

That had been driving me nuts for six months.

Thank you so, so much!!

 

[ThirdMan]

I finally got everything sorted. My Macbook feels like new and all of my keys are working. I think I'll stick with Mountain Lion. My main computer is in work so this is just for casual use and has everything I need.

Thanks to everyone for your advice.

 

[pigoo3]

Congrats on figuring things out Thirdman...and getting the computer "happy"!

And great solution/explanation from Jake.

- Nick

 

[pm-r]

I finally got everything sorted.

OK, whatever the actual problem was.

Anyway, glad to read you got it fixed and working.

 

[chscag]

Both threads have been combined as they relate to the same topic. Multiple threads tend to be confusing and difficult to follow.

 

[pm-r]

I guess we'll just have to wonder what the actual cause of the problem really was and no way of really finding out. But it seems odd that some software could be so specific on the affected keys. Oh well… at least there was a reasonable fix.

 

[Monstar]

Unfortunately, this is happening to me now - YUIO are not working. (The only way I'm able to type now is with dictation.) This started happening randomly since Sierra.

I've tried to repair disk but it only helps for a few minutes. I don't know if that's by coincidence or by action.

Either way if anyone has any suggestions I'm all ears.

and No - I have not spilled anything on my keyboard.

I am on a MacBook Pro running Sierra 10.12.1.

 

[Rod]

Welcome to these forums Monstar, I take it you have read all of the previous posts in this thread so we need the same info from you regarding which MacBook Pro you have, year and model and when this started happening eg just after upgrade of OS or what?
It seems odd that these keys are in a row and only these are affected. As you have no doubt noticed we did not actually find the cause of the other user's problem so we are back to square one with you.
Perhapes ThirdMan may have some additional input here as well if he's still watching this post.
Is this also a 13" mid-2012 Macbook Pro too?
If so would you consider the same solution, ie downgrading to OSX Lion? Obviously you could upgrade again if this doesnt work.

 

[Monstar]

Hi, Yes it is a MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012). I guess it is an option to downgrade back, I'm just bummed about the applications I have installed since, as those of the ones I use more frequently. I assume that some will not work after I downgrade.

I have been searching for answers regarding this issue for a while now. I found similar topics but none have helped me.

Some keys not working intermittently r t y u i o (2014)

MacBook Pro Keys Suddenly Stopped Working (Y, U, I and O) (2014)

 

[Monstar]

No one had any other suggestions?