keYs don't work anYmore :(

hey people, is there a way to fix the keys on my macbook pro?

some of them just inexplicably stopped functioning.

 

Which ones? letter keys, number keys, f keys, spacebar...
Have you tried a reset?

 

You probably just need to reseat the keyboard ribbon cable.

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility if you damage your computer while doing this...
1) Remove the screws on the bottom of the notebook that has the little keyboard icon on them. There are probably 2-4 of them. Do this with the laptop fully closed an OFF with NO battery or AC attached.
2) Open the laptop up, and gently see if you can lift the keyboard up. If you cannot, there are probably more screws or something else holding it down.
3) If you cannot get the keyboard off easily, might want to consider using the warranty and call Apple.
4) If/when the keyboard comes off... carefully place it upside down over the palmrests to avoid tearing the ribbon cable.
5) The ribbon cable will easily be found on the keyboard. Find the other end.
6) The latch that holds down the other end can easily be broken so do not force the cable out. Get a pair of tweezers and GENTLY lift up on both sides of the latch. Now you should be able to move the cable.
7) Put the cable back in, push gently on each side of latch to fix it down.
8) Reverse steps to put it all together again.

 

2 months ago the -> arrow went

last night F6, 6,y,h, and / died.

are you talking about a software reset?

i've messed around alot with my notebook's innards. shouldn't the entire keyboard not work if any part of the latch is not connected?

 

Use that warranty of yours and call Apple.

 

I meant just a normal reset but thats only if it just happened. Obviously that wont work. Have you tried re-installing, or calling apple?
And, uh, I assume your using an external now?

 

Proven by experience. I had a similar problem happen with my old HP nc8430. The ribbon is wide enough, or there could be a "crack" or other damage, that some of the traces in there just don't have good enough contact to work.

 

Reseating the ribbon cable didnt work :/

well i went to the apple service place and placed an order for a new keyboard. i also picked up a wireless keyboard.

anyways is there a script or an app that switches keyboard mapping?
for example, when i go outside i dont want to have to redo my F keys so that expose and volume controls match up with the internal macbook pro keyboard... and vice versa when i use my bluetooth keyboard, i dont want to reset my dashboard and expose stuff to f3 and f4 again.

i hope what i'm trying to say makes sense.

 

I think I know what you're saying. And yes, I think it is included with Leopard, and maybe Tiger? Some one that uses an external keyboard can verify for me...