Has my ten year old MacBook finally died?

[Blink982]

My Mac air is misbehaving. Certain keys don’t work and the only way to login was to hook up an external Bluetooth Keyboard. This worked fine, which led me to believe that the hardware was at fault. However about 24 hours later, I had the same issue with the external keyboard. I then assumed it was software related. I have backed up using Time Machine but cannot enter Recovery mode as obviously when I hold down the required keys, it isn’t working. Do you think it has finally given up the ghost or is there any way to at least attempt a recovery? I would at least like to try it before committing to a grand for an M1 replacement.

[richatnort]

USB Keyboard?

[LunarOne]

Are you sure certain keys don't work on both keyboards? I'm guessing that one of the modifier keys like shift, ctrl, option or cmd is stuck pressed on the internal keyboard, and so it's affecting what's happening on the other keyboard. For example shift stuck on the internal keyboard will make the keys on the bluetooth keyboard come out wrong. But it might be any key and not just a modifier key.

Use a microfibre cloth (or anything lint free) over your hand and rub over the entire keyboard several times vigorously, making sure the each and every key is pressed hard several times to try to get any stuck keys to unlatch. You won't see it physically but you might find that things start working again.

[Blink982]

Unfortunately the only duff keys are on the internal keyboard. I’ve probably got an old USB keyboard somewhere I could try. I would at least like to try a full reinstall before spending £1k!!

[stewies_minion]

I've had the same on one that the kids use. So it's seen plenty of water & abuse.

I thought it was a goner but a reinstall of osx and all was good. I was sure it was hardware but apparently not. Kids used it for bath time viewing tonight. Tough little things.

HTH

[LunarOne]

Blink982 said:

Unfortunately the only duff keys are on the internal keyboard. I’ve probably got an old USB keyboard somewhere I could try. I would at least like to try a full reinstall before spending £1k!!

Yes but my point is that stuck keys on the internal keyboard will affect your ability to use any external keyboards, whether USB or Bluetooth. If the internal keyboard is sending rapid or continuous keystrokes, it won't stop just because you've added another keyboard. If you can find a way to disable the internal keyboard you might have a chance.

Karabiner Elements is one way to do it, if you can get it installed somehow!

https://superuser.com/questions/185819/how-to-disa...

[sutoka]

I think 10 years on a modern MacBook Air is good going. I 'm running a retina 2013 MBP and it's served me well. If it died tomorrow I've got a 2017 4K iMac but I wouldn't be too disappointed got everything triple backed up inc iCloud.

Only thing is a similar spec MBP would cost £2650 to replace at current prices.

[Blink982]

The problem that manifested on the external Bluetooth keyboard went away as quickly as it appeared. I can’t do a reinstall with it though as Command R on the Bluetooth keyboard isn’t recognised, presumably as the Bluetooth (usb) is activated too far into the boot-up sequence. I’m going to try a wired keyboard today, otherwise it will be a new one.