I`m in a crisis with Apple and OS X: Since some weeks I have to fight the problem that on my early 2008 MacBook Pro (MacBookPro4,1 Penryn 2.5GHz, 4GB, ) my keyboard and touchpad does not work anymore until I reboot. Often there is no indication of a problem in the systemlog. Today I had the “luck” to get a hint from the /var/log/syslog:
Dec 21 11:00:52 macbook-pro kernel[0]: USBF: 104371.780 [0x77e3600] The IOUSBFamily has successfully enumerated the device.
Dec 21 11:00:52 macbook-pro kernel[0]: USBF: 104371.796 USB Device IOUSBDevice is violating Section 9.3.5 of the USB Specification — Error in GetConfigDescriptor( wLength = 4)
Dec 21 11:00:53 macbook-pro kernel[0]: USBF: 104372.104 IOUSBCompositeDriver[0x106f1e00](IOUSBDevice) GetFullConfigDescriptor(0) returned NULL
Dec 21 11:00:53 macbook-pro kernel[0]: USBF: 104372.109 USB Device IOUSBDevice is violating Section 9.3.5 of the USB Specification — Error in GetConfigDescriptor( wLength = 4)
I posted this problem to Apple support forum. But I wonder about this name because I really never have seen an official apple post there.
There are many other thread for the MacBook, MacBook Pro with the same problem “Keyboard/Mousepad Freezes”, “keyboard does now work” or “touchpad dead”:
discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1210109&tstart=45
discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8567664#8567664
discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1196400
discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1190210&tstart=0
And you will find much more if you search for it…
You can see that some of these threads are very mature. It’s no new problem. And nothing can fix it. This is a huge problem like so many other probems that you might face when you buy apple hardware & software… I wonder why Apple is not able to fix this. A keyboard should never ever stop working. It’s so basic. This is simply not acceptable.
Even with the latest upgrade to OS X 10.5.6 the same problems is annoying me… When I switched from Windows to Mac I was so happy to get away from a never ending series of blue screens and frozen OS. I found a much better and stable OS with OS X with a wonderful GUI. But today I feel in the same situation as same years ago… while friends sticked to Windows for the mainstream desktop claim to have a rock solid windows now… Why is it me? Is it because I ran much more exotic software (heavy IDEs, VMware etc.) than the avarage user? That’s why I`m in a crisis with Apple and OS X now… Switch back to Windows? – never. Maybe a Debian based system for the desktop… I see no real options once you have seen the smartness of OS X but with the problems I have these days; it’s no fun anymore…
To complete and end my frustrated post, I copy in my unanswered help request from the apple forum here:
Same problem here! When I close the lid and open it up again, the keyboard and touchpad do work again. But only as long as I use them frequently. When I let keyboard and touchpad alone for a while (one minute or so) both are frozen again.
When this bug is there, I can repeat the sleep and awake method with the same result again and again. Nothing in the logs.
When touchpad and keyboard are frozen, I can still use the bluetooth keyboard and mouse.
Only a restart (reboot) will help me out.
I think it was not there before 10.5.5.
I have no idea what causes the problem.
I’m using VMware Fusion. Perhaps this might be a problem when running it was a WinXP VM. (when running debian in a VM it seems to be stable).This is AGAIN a big bug from Apple software (this seems to be no hardware bug).
I also suffer LED backlid bug (stripes from time to time).
I also suffer NVidia Softwarebug. (Graphic intense apps lead to crash. Especially when running with extern display on DVI).Seriously disappointed now! (My old G4 powerbook was more stable).
Apple has tons of dollars at the bank. I suggest to spend some money into keeping quality high! Since the iPhone is out, so many feel it’s going the wrong way with computers (let alone the missing option for mate displays).
Thanks Apple for listening and fixen these big problems.
(Steve, do a quick research for Apple freezing keyboards and touchpads – it’s huge…)
#1 by Lars Schenk - Januar 17th, 2009 at 16:41
More frozen touchpad issues and one more error in the logs:
AppleUSBMultitouchDriver::validateChecksum – packet checksum is incorrect (expected 0×1cc, checksum bytes were 0xda4)
According to this:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8728660
it’s hardware related. I’ll talk to apple care for replacement.
#2 by Lars Schenk - Januar 23rd, 2009 at 01:28
More and more report about these problems:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1832477&tstart=0
Someone reported “i think i started having Macbook pro trackpad and keyboard freezes in September last year.” Yes, this I what belive to have seen too. Maybe around that time it started. So I guess is must be a software. And more reporting this. So it’s unlikely to be a hardwareproblem. But on the other hand there are those who bringt their MBP to the Genius bar and let the logical Board replace…. Don’t know if this makes sense if it really is software related… But in my case the garantee is running out in feb.09. I contacted the “Apple Authorized Service Provider” in my local area. But he didn’t resond to my emails! I’ll contac them by phone. tomorrow. Clutching at straws again….
#3 by Hauke - Januar 31st, 2009 at 17:52
Mhhh, same Problem here.
I thinkt i’ve got the same mbp as you have. And after reading your comments and thinkting about my problems again i think it started in september 08. I’ve called the apple service hotline today but the “callcenter-dummies” just told me to reset the PRAM and the VRAM. That doesnt actually work i think. The problem is still there. In my opinion its a hardware problem but i think its no alternative to tape some contacts inside the mbp. I mean… it was an investition over 2000€ and i think i will bring it to some apple reseller here in germany.
If its a software problem and you have fixed it, please tell me how. You can even write me an email if you got some other points i havent looked at yet.
#4 by Eric Harnden - Februar 1st, 2009 at 20:11
I am having the same problem. I use Parallels on my MBP and suspected it but the Apple Genius said that wouldn’t be the problem.
He did a fix permissions and a hardware test on my MBP but didn’t find any problems. The freezing still exists. I just found out the “closing the laptop and reopening it” trick as well as using my bluetooth wireless mouse and keyboard. As those still work when the MBP’s keyboard and trackpad freeze up.
The next step for me, according to my Apple store Genius is to do a “remove and install” or something like that. This would require that I backup my data first and then do a “re-installing” of the OS from the disks that came with the computer.
When you put the disk in to install the OS and you select the drive it is supposed to say, “!” Warning, you cannot install here and then you select the options button and do a “replace and install” (or something like that). That option is supposed to save all your personal preferences and username, etc and give you a clean OS install.
The Apple Genius thinks this will fix my problem. I haven’t done it yet, just because I haven’t had a chance to get an external drive to do the Time Machine backup up yet.
I’ll let you know if this works or not.
#5 by Hauke - Februar 2nd, 2009 at 14:13
Hey Eric,
i’ve just tried to reinstall the whole OS X, but things wont get better. So dont waste ur time.
Take a lookt at this: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1365569
#6 by Lars Schenk - Februar 4th, 2009 at 03:22
AppleCare directed my to a AppleServiceprovider on my local area. They will repair my MBP. Logicboard, LED-Display (I have the LED-Backlight problem with stirpes, too), Topcase with touchpad and keyboard will be replaced. Only the case, battery, HDD and RAM will be the same after the repair. IF it’s hardware related, this should (must) fix the problem. The bad news is that the repair will take 3 days… (yes, I know there are videos on youtube that show how to make it in a couple of minutes… Seems that I have a very accurately working authorised serviceprovider here). Apple will not exchange my MBP against a new or refurbrished one. I asked for that to keep outage short but nothing. They will also not prolong the guarantee – allowing me to push the repair some more weeks/month to see if a softwarefix might help. Buy 2 more years of garantuess costs 350€ – to much. So I am forced to let repair… According to AppleCare on phone today they KNOW IT’S HARDWARE RELATED… So I come to the conclusion that all the folks out there having this problem may have MBPs with this fault caused by a bad hardware-design… Poor Apple. I can never tell anybody again how great, stable and rock solid the apple (hardware) world is… but It fells like Apple does not care.
#7 by Eric Harnden - Februar 4th, 2009 at 19:52
Thanks Hauke,
You’re right the “Archive and Install” did not solve the problem.
I appreciate the link too.
I have called AppleCare and the first thing they wanted to do was reset something or other but I immediately told them that I have been to the Apple store already and that there is an Apple forum covering this issue and that Apple knows it is hardware related and that it’ll take parts replacements.
The AppleCare tech put me on hold to look it up, but my phone disconnected.
Let’s see if they call back or not.
–Eric
#8 by Eric Harnden - Februar 4th, 2009 at 20:24
Well, they didn’t call back soon enough for my tastes, so I called them back. They’re sending a box for me to mail my MBP in.
#9 by Hauke - Februar 6th, 2009 at 18:32
hey eric,
funny thing, I’ve tried to get a box to send my MBP in, but they told me that it would be too dangerous. Do you still have apple care or somethin like that?
#10 by Eric Harnden - Februar 7th, 2009 at 04:06
Yes, the MBP is only 4 months old! I just bought another one in January too, so I’m trying that one out to make sure it doesn’t have the same problem!
#11 by Eric Harnden - Februar 13th, 2009 at 20:23
MBP back from AppleCare. Invoice says they replaced:
658-0346 Keyboard and 605-1617 Top Case.
My background was changed, that was weird. Memory still there, that’s good. OSX is back to 10.5.2 but now that I think about it, that’s probably because of my “Archive and Install” I tried.
Since I just got it back, I don’t know if the problem is totally fixed but seems good so far.
BTW, the newer MBP I’ve been testing out hasn’t had the same problem but it is a 2.5GHz, OS X 10.5.4, 2G RAM. (There’s that added RAM theory out there, so it may not have a problem until I add RAM and there’s that 10.5.5 update theory out there so we’ll see when I update the OS too.)
But I’ll be back to stress testing this first MBP and give you updates. But so far, I’m happy with AppleCare’s response time.
#12 by Lars Schenk - Februar 17th, 2009 at 01:39
Got my MBP back from repair with new logic board, new top case (=touchpad, keyboard) and new LED TFT. This should have fixed the touchpad and keyboard freeze.
It took several days to repair. They told me that the first top case replacement showed the same problems and they needed to order another top case…
If this is true, it sounds like a serious problem with the top case.
The first hours riding my MBP are free from any problems in the syslog. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it’s away for ever… and I’ll let you know if there is a freeze again.
#13 by Eric Harnden - Februar 23rd, 2009 at 08:06
9 days and still going strong! I’ve done an update today so hopefully all will stay the same.
#14 by Colin Y - März 1st, 2009 at 15:19
It seems to be an overheating problem specific only to laptops.
Check if the Trackpad preference file is there in your system prefs folder? (for some reason it may disappear.
Remove the battery. Hold the power button down for 5 secs. Replace battery. Restart with reset PRAM buttons held down and this will slve it temporarily.
Dont use our laptop on your lap unless its well ventialted!
Plug in a USB keyboard and mouse and it will work again anyway.
ApplemanyY
#15 by Lars Schenk - März 1st, 2009 at 19:22
For me all these “tricks” did not work. Since the repair it’s working without errors. I’m convinced now it’s hardware related.
#16 by Niek Peeters - März 10th, 2009 at 16:39
I’ve had similar problems with my MBP.
My was only 1 day from it’s expiration date,
so i didn’t hesitate and immediately took it to my nearest Applestore.
They’ve replaced the topcase.
So far so good.
#17 by Chris - März 20th, 2009 at 15:18
I have bootcamp installed. The keybaord and trackpad work fine in Windows but stopped working in OSX after the last update.
If it works in Windows it is not a hardware problem.
#18 by Niek Peeters - März 23rd, 2009 at 18:53
Still no problems since the topcase replacement.
In my case it was a hardware problem.
#19 by Attila - April 19th, 2009 at 04:31
Hi guys,
Mine had the same problem. Now it is in the local service (Canada) and they are replacing the topcase as heard.
I hope the best. Just I do not know why they do not post this serious problem anywhere on the apple site.
#20 by Louis-martin - April 30th, 2009 at 18:18
Same here, when I close and reopen the lid, the KB and mouse pad often freeze… Rebooting is often not even solving the problem.
I also have vmware fusion, and if I think back, maybe this started with the last vmware upgrade…
#21 by Attila - April 30th, 2009 at 19:41
Hi, I just got back mine, it is fixed now, at least I hope.
#22 by Gast - Mai 13th, 2009 at 02:11
Hallo!
Du hast ein neues Logicboard bekommen? Sind deine Probleme weg bzgl Tastatur und Trackpad Aussetzer? Bei mir wurde bis jetzt die Tastatur und das Topcase getauscht, es ist nicht mehr so schlimm, aber die Aussetzer tauchen ab und zu mal wieder auf. Seltsam.
Jo, schreib mal zurück! Das wär nett.
#23 by Lars Schenk - Mai 13th, 2009 at 02:19
Ja, Logicboard ,Topcase mit Tastatur und Touchpad wurden ausgetauscht. Ausserdem noch das Display, aber das hatte einen anderen Grund. Seither sind die Probleme dauerhaft behoben und ich bin überzeugt dass es doch kein Softwareproblem war, wie ich zunächst gehofft hatte. Ich drücke die Daumen, dass der Austausch des Topcase auch zum Erfolg führt.
#24 by Gast - Mai 13th, 2009 at 02:44
Öhm, das Topcase wurde getauscht allerdings ist das Problem noch nicht ganz beseitigt. Die Apple Techniker haben auch ein Softwareproblem ausgeschlossen.
#25 by bo;;y - Mai 27th, 2009 at 04:04
Hi! I’ve been having the same problems as you. I have the newest generation MBP before the unibody came out (Feb 2008 IIRC).
I could be away, or even using it and the keyboard and trackpad will completely stop working, but I can see activity on my screen. The only button that works is the power button. In order to fix it, I simply close the lid and reopen and it will work again, I assume a reboot would also do it.
Unfortunately for me, when I went to try to renew my warranty, it was expired by 4-5 days and they wouldn’t let me renew it.
It’s a shame that it seems to be a hardware problem since now I can’t do anything to fix this annoying issue.
#26 by Nick Fraser - Juni 28th, 2009 at 12:05
Experiencing the same problem since my MBP 2.5Ghz was about 4 months old, had the problem for five months now (have to wait until I leave Central Africa and go back to Europe to get a fix).
Reset the SMC, reset the PRAM, rebuilt the OS, nothing works. Strongly suspect it is hardware fault and that replacing the topcase is the only option. Luckily I’m going to be able to get a fix before my warrantly runs out.
Very disappointed that Apple hasn’t formally acknowledged there are serious problems with the MBP with regard to this.
#27 by austrianeuling - August 17th, 2009 at 00:00
Hallo,
ich werde demnaechst nach Wien ziehen. Weiss von euch jemand was ein guter DSL Anbieter in Oeserreich ist? Vielen Dank erst mal für die Hilfe.
#28 by Lars Schenk - September 3rd, 2009 at 02:39
Troubles from the syslog again: “AppleUSBMultitouchDriver kIOUSBMessagePortHasBeenReset ” Had let repaired my MBP because of this! Sad.
Anybody upgraded to Snow Leopard? Does it fix the problem?
#29 by colette - September 3rd, 2009 at 20:28
I have been having the same problem for months, exactly as described in this thread.
Btw, upgrading to 10.6 did not fix the problem.
Question to those who have had their computer fixed by Apple, how did you document the problem? For me the keyboard and trackpad only freeze only once every few days, if I am lucky, that’s why I have been living with it. So… if I sent the computer in for repair, it will certainly never happen for them to witness it.
Thanks!
#30 by Arvid - Oktober 21st, 2009 at 10:29
I’m sure this is not a universal trick to solve this issue – but when I get these freezes pressing the power button always seem to get things started again. I get the shutdown dialog and the controls are responding again.
#31 by Elinor Clark - Oktober 27th, 2009 at 04:39
I have a problem related (I think) to the frequent keyboard freezes. QWERTY is no longer. It has become AZERTY. The period is shift comma, numbers must be preceded by the shift key, m is comma, z is w, and on and on. This problem persists even though I can bypass the freeze with a mouse and external keyboard. My typing has slowed to a crawl and I’m beginning to experience anger management “issues.” Any suggestions?
#32 by garbage band man - November 5th, 2009 at 20:06
macs sucks face it
and the service even more
shitty expensive monopoly
#33 by Mr Shorts - Dezember 10th, 2009 at 12:08
I have the same problem with the trackpad – Pressing command-tab and switching between applications makes it responsive again. ALSO it only ever happens on one of the user accounts on my MacBook Pro!!! It has never ever happened on the other user account and we use both accounts equally. I reckon it is software, and I reckon it may be itunes or iPhoto because those programs are never open on the other user account.
#34 by patrick - Februar 17th, 2010 at 20:12
I got the same problem since 1 month or so. Keyboard freezes, Trackpad freezes… after a while (5 minutes?) it works again…it also makes odd things sometimes while typing (jumps to another row, deletes whole sentences)
it really really sucks and is hardly disturbing while working
i think i have to pay another 2000$ for a new Macbook Pro.
Apple – why? Every other (quality)manufacturer would order his computers back. It clearly seems to be a HARDWARE fault, caused by Apple. Like a time bomb – you use ur macbook for 3 years and it will fall apart…just in time to buy a new one.
I think I’ll switch back to Windows 7
#35 by erz - Februar 18th, 2010 at 18:47
Having run into the problem while editing an important document (and being interrupted while writing crucial thoughts in scientific papers is a huge bucket of fail!) I searched around and found one solution for all the pre-unibody users:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1365569
The problem with the random registering of keys was also mentioned in a thread on macrumors, but can apparently only be remedied by some hardware replacement.