Stuck

[Fortinbras]

After suffering a crash on iMac I downloaded new version of Catalina via internet .
I am now stuck and unable to proceed on the set up page .
Wireless keyboard not functioning so unable to enter passwords etc
Keyboard not faulty works perfectly on friend's machine.
Wireless mouse works fine.
Any ideas of a fix ?

[megaphone]

Connect a wired mouse/keyboard.

[Fortinbras]

I feared as much...took loads to computer stuff inc keyboards to the tip a couple of years ago .
Regards

[Fortinbras]

Alas , Mac keyboard I have has no ports or ways of attaching a cable .

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Fortinbras said:

Alas , Mac keyboard I have has no ports or ways of attaching a cable .

Really? is this a wind up?

Every Mac keyboard (and every wireless keyboard) I have owned / used needs to be charged, All Apple keyboards have a lightning port on the back I the middle.

As the poster above said use a lightning cable and plug it into the back of your iMac

[Dracoro]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

Fortinbras said:

Alas , Mac keyboard I have has no ports or ways of attaching a cable .

Really? is this a wind up?

Every Mac keyboard (and every wireless keyboard) I have owned / used needs to be charged, All Apple keyboards have a lightning port on the back I the middle.

As the poster above said use a lightning cable and plug it into the back of your iMac

Up until just a few tears ago, all mac wireless keyboards used batteries, there is no cable connector.

[neilski]

Seeing as your mouse works you can bring up the on-screen keyboard to enter passwords / type etc.

https://support.apple.com/en-om/guide/mac-help/mch...

Turn the Accessibility Keyboard on or off

Turn it on: On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Accessibility, click Keyboard, click Accessibility Keyboard, then select Enable Accessibility Keyboard.

You can also turn it on by clicking the Show Emoji & Symbols menu in the menu bar, then choosing Show Keyboard Viewer.

If you don’t see the menu in the menu bar, set the option to show it.

Turn it off: In the top-left corner of the keyboard, click the Close button . Or in Keyboard preferences, click Accessibility Keyboard, then deselect Enable Accessibility Keyboard.

[Fortinbras]

Thank you for your reply and suggestions .
The screen I am presented with is as shown ..no apple into left no menu bar ..just a plain black screen.

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Fortinbras said:

Thank you for your reply and suggestions .
The screen I am presented with is as shown ..no apple into left no menu bar ..just a plain black screen.

He’s on the boot up / setup screen and probably needs the machine to be properly booted to setup the keyboard...

Looks like you will need to borrow it buy a keyboard to set things up

This is a cheap solution providing you don’t mind waiting a day or so:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Business-Keyboar...

[Fortinbras]

Thanks for all the advice will get hold of a usb keyboard .

[neilski]

Could you plug an ethernet cable in and click on Other Network Options?

Or temporarily remove the security from your router so there's no password to enter?

[stemll]

Or just click Continue and set up networking later

[sgrimshaw]

Heresey , he's suggesting a Mac can have a problem.

[Fortinbras]

Hi no criticism of Macs intended.
If I ignore router password next stage asks me to set up apple password !
Looks as if wired keyboard is the only answer.
Thanks for the suggestions .

[alorotom]

stemll said:

Or just click Continue and set up networking later

This is the simplest logical solution

[ArsE82]

Have you tried putting they keyboard in to discovery mode then rebooting the Mac?

[Fortinbras]

alas no Apple logo System Preferences etc available ...just a blank screen .

[alorotom]

there is also yet a further option - log into your router with your phone, turn the security off on the router, get the Mac connected and setup ... then turn the security back on once the keyboard is connected.