New Macbook Pro keyboard and mouse lock up after leaving it idle

Hey Ted, I have a similar sounding issue. I'm using 10.5.3 on a 2.4GHz mbp. I haven't tried an external keyboard yet but I have noticed that it happens most often after I wake it from sleep.

Here's the thread at Apple discussions: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.j...

I'm using OS X 10.4 and a 17" MBP. Occasionally my computer will become completely unresponsive to the keyboard while I'm typing! I have fast user switching turned on so I just switch to the login screen and login again and it's fine. I should note that when it happens neither the laptop keyboard nor my external USB (Apple) keyboard work, but my mouse does work.

I have this problem as well when I'm using a USB keyboard. This has happened with multiple keyboards. I am using a new Macbook pro (2.53 Ghz October-2008). However, I find that if I unplug the keyboard and plug it back in it starts working again. It happens to me 4-5 times a day, and it happens even without my machine going to sleep. It has happened to me while typing.

I'm not 100% certain (because it simply hasn't happened again, but doesn't mean that it won't), but I read elsewhere that this was a result of the Logitech Control Center software that I had loaded to improve performance of my Logitech mouse. Anyway, a lot of others insisted that this was a very bad piece of code and it did lock up (system activity monitor) when I was having keyboard and mouse problems.

I've since removed it and I haven't had further problems (yet).

We may have several distinct problems here. I am relating to those cases in which built-in keyboard and mouse stop working at random. My Macbook started doing this two months ago. Initially I managed to solve the problem by re-booting (actually by "crashing" it--disconnecting the AC adaptor and taking the battery out while the computer is running), but the problem grew worse. A week ago mouse and keyboard stopped working altogether. Since I have Apple Care I took the computer to the Apple Store. They replaced the desktop altogether. I got the machine back yesterday and so far there have been no problems.
I wonder, therefore, if this is not a hardware problem rather than a software problem. I'll keep on monitoring though....

I close my mcbook and wait til the "apple light" goes out and then reopen. This seems to work.

I get my bluetooth wireless mighty mouse to work again by turning off bluetooth, turning off the mouse, then turning them on again in that order. 30 seconds of my day, just gone. Ah well, it works.

I'm having this, too. OS X V 10.5.8, MacBook Pro 2.4 Ghz Intel Core Duo.
Rebooting helps, but I'm seing this several times a day now, and it's very frustrating!

I have had the same problem. Apple replaced the keyboard and the problem went away for a few months. Then it started again, locks up when sitting idle for 5 minutes or longer. I bought a KB Cover for my keyboard and the problem is gone.

i've had a similar problem where my MacBook Pro 13" (10.5.8) keyboard stopped responding to key presses (whilst i was actually typing/working). Tab, Command and Return worked, It was a progressive failure over about 60-90 seconds, thus allowing me to save some work and switch applications and try and shutdown (without pulling out the power).. after numerous restarts, the same problem kept happening about 120 seconds after login.

repeat flustered scenario

racking my brain, i remember i had this problem when i first got the macbook. (only an external keyboard worked). i decided to visit the 'universal access' preference pane. in there, is a strange situation where the 'mouse keys' were activated (with the option to activate after 5 'option' key presses). hmm, not that i recall activating it or pressing the option key 5 times. i should know this as i was writing a paragraph of text in a layout program at the time.

So, Check for Mouse Keys, and disable Enable access for Assistive Devices too. I feel like i become disabled when this problem occurs.

my 2c - dirtymouse

O.k. I had it fixed now. Top case had to be changed. Nearly 300 EUR.

david

I followed the steps in this post which gave me a few months of properly working keyboard and trackpad:

http://theappleblog.com/2009/04/06/th...

But it gave up entirely in the end and needed the top section of the machine replacing by Apple.

I changed a setting in the way my 15" MBP sleeps and the problem went away.

The directions were similar to this:
http://n00.be/archives/300/

I don't recall exactly what setting I used, but I think it was:

sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0

I haven't had an issue since.