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Low tech FTW!
Feb. 26th, 2010 09:27 pmMonday night: While in Word, mouse cursor disappears, and keyboard becomes unresponsive*. Had to hard boot by pressing and holding down power button. Never a good way to power a computer down.
Tuesday: more and more erratic behaviour. Keystrokes repeating and mouse focus disappearing. I am freaking out, because the solution to the problem (which is not entirely uncommon with this model of MacBook Pro) described seems to universally be a new top case. As in, the top half of the computer. As in, $300 or so. I am 6 months out of warranty, and pretty damned broke at the moment.
(Mind you, Avery the Mac wizard said he has a top case that's a bit beat up, and that would have made a dandy test... and while I would have gratefully accepted the help, that would have meant a trackpad with the edges curling up...)
Wednesday morning: More really wonky behaviour, culminating in a Finder window opening when I click on the Mail icon in the Dock. That was not okay. I leave for work; upon further reflection, I become concerned that this might be exacerbated by the heat, so I send a message once at work to ask someone to shut down my computer, which![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
janabard does for me. I'm feeling despondent and generally upset that I might have to resort to an external keyboard and mouse when I've become completely addicted to trackpad gestures.
And then, while researching during lunch at work?
I find this.
<cue choirs of angels>
Solution is to wedge a piece of paper between the trackpad cable and the battery to increase the pressure on the cable that's bowing up. The ultimate in low-tech.
After I took out the battery (which is situated right beneath the trackpad), I ran my finger along the cable and I swear I heard a tiny little click. That might have been enough to solve the problem, but I stuck the paper in there anyway just to be safe. And put a tiny piece of tape on it so it doesn't move.
Keyboard and trackpad are working like a charm now without a lick of trouble. And I am relieved beyond measure! \o/
(* = If I'd been thinking I would have tried the pen tablet i.e. externally connected by USB.)
Tuesday: more and more erratic behaviour. Keystrokes repeating and mouse focus disappearing. I am freaking out, because the solution to the problem (which is not entirely uncommon with this model of MacBook Pro) described seems to universally be a new top case. As in, the top half of the computer. As in, $300 or so. I am 6 months out of warranty, and pretty damned broke at the moment.
(Mind you, Avery the Mac wizard said he has a top case that's a bit beat up, and that would have made a dandy test... and while I would have gratefully accepted the help, that would have meant a trackpad with the edges curling up...)
Wednesday morning: More really wonky behaviour, culminating in a Finder window opening when I click on the Mail icon in the Dock. That was not okay. I leave for work; upon further reflection, I become concerned that this might be exacerbated by the heat, so I send a message once at work to ask someone to shut down my computer, which
janabard does for me. I'm feeling despondent and generally upset that I might have to resort to an external keyboard and mouse when I've become completely addicted to trackpad gestures.And then, while researching during lunch at work?
I find this.
<cue choirs of angels>
Solution is to wedge a piece of paper between the trackpad cable and the battery to increase the pressure on the cable that's bowing up. The ultimate in low-tech.
After I took out the battery (which is situated right beneath the trackpad), I ran my finger along the cable and I swear I heard a tiny little click. That might have been enough to solve the problem, but I stuck the paper in there anyway just to be safe. And put a tiny piece of tape on it so it doesn't move.
Keyboard and trackpad are working like a charm now without a lick of trouble. And I am relieved beyond measure! \o/
(* = If I'd been thinking I would have tried the pen tablet i.e. externally connected by USB.)
