Some startup keys not recognized on system boot

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MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011

Early 2011 Model: A1278 / 2.3 GHz i5 or 2.7 GHz i7 processor

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oldsports @oldsports

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Some startup keys not recognized on system boot

I am working on a Macbook Pro Early 2011 laptop for a friend. The logic board was defective so I sent it to a repair shop and installed it when it was returned. I also replaced the keyboard because the laptop would not start when the power button was pressed. I wiped his hard drive and performed a clean install of Sierra.

Everything seemed to be fine until I tried using a couple of startup keys during the boot process. The Option key is not recognized at all; when I press it, the laptop boots without giving me disk options. I tried using the “D” key to get to the diagnostics app but it was also ignored. The Command-R sequence is recognized; it takes me to the Recovery options when pressed. The Shift key also works as it starts the OS in safe mode. I thought that maybe I had a bad keyboard, but the “D” key works after the OS boots.

I tried resetting the PRAM; it does not work because it needs the Option key which is not being recognized. I tried resetting the SMC but it also uses the Option key so I don’t know if that worked. Searching the Internet, I saw that the EFI or SMC firmware might need to be updated. Attached is a picture of the laptop’s system information that shows the EFI and SMC version numbers. Just for comparison, I looked at the version numbers on another Macbook Pro 2011 that I have (second picture). While the SMC versions match, the EFI versions do not.

Any ideas on what could be the issue? Can anyone explain the differences in the EFI firmware numbers of the two laptops?

Thanks!

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Dan @danj

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What you are seeing is the EFI versioning based on the MacOS version each is running with. During the OS install/OS upgrade/security update process the firmware is updated as needed.

For now what does a USB or Bluetooth keyboard do? Lets see if we can isolate out if the keyboard you put in is the issue or something else.

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Thanks for the quick response. The EFI versions were confusing to me because of how different the formats are (82.0.0 and MBP81.004D.B00). Both laptops are running Sierra and both were recently clean-installed, so I thought the versions would look somewhat similar. By the way, when I started up the problem laptop this morning an App Store update was available; after installation, it changed the EFI version from 82.0.0 to 83.0.0.0.0.

I attached a USB keyboard to the laptop and tried the startup keys again. The Option key and "D" key are ignored at boot but the Command-R sequence works. This is exactly how the built-in keyboard behaves so I hope this means I don't have a keyboard problem. Since I just replaced the keyboard (57 tiny screws!!) I am relieved that I don't have to go through that process again. However, the problem still exists so any thoughts on next steps?

Thanks!

7 мая 2019 г. из oldsports

Go into the keyboard control panel delete the US keyboard under Input Sources and add it back in. See iff that fixes things.

7 мая 2019 г. из Dan

Initially, I could not delete the US keyboard because it was the only choice. I had to add in a choice (British), delete the US keyboard and restart the laptop. When the laptop restarted, I went back to Keyboard Preferences, added the US keyboard, deleted the British keyboard and restarted. After it restarted, I shut it down, restarted it and tried using the Option key - it was not recognized and the laptop booted to the login screen.

Is there a way to see if the Option key works after booting up? I am curious to see if the key is recognized at that point. As I said, the "D" key is not recognized at startup but it is recognized afterwards. I start up Word and when I type the "D" key it appears on the screen.

Any other thoughts?

7 мая 2019 г. из oldsports

I found the problem! I figured out that the right arrow key was stuck and was not working properly. I clicked it up and down until it started working. I then restarted the laptop and pressed the Option key - and it worked! I restarted it again and pressed the "D" key and the diagnostics app appeared. I ran the basic diagnostics test and no problem was found. I may run the extended test later.

Hopefully, the right arrow key will not stick again - the keyboard is brand new! Maybe the mechanism got hung up when I replaced it and by operating it I freed it up. Worst case, if it keeps sticking I will return the keyboard.

Thanks!

7 мая 2019 г. из oldsports

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Thanks for the quick response. The EFI versions were confusing to me because of how different the formats are (82.0.0 and MBP81.004D.B00). Both laptops are running Sierra and both were recently clean-installed, so I thought the versions would look somewhat similar. By the way, when I started up the problem laptop this morning an App Store update was available; after installation, it changed the EFI version from 82.0.0 to 83.0.0.0.0.

I attached a USB keyboard to the laptop and tried the startup keys again. The Option key and "D" key are ignored at boot but the Command-R sequence works. This is exactly how the built-in keyboard behaves so I hope this means I don't have a keyboard problem. Since I just replaced the keyboard (57 tiny screws!!) I am relieved that I don't have to go through that process again. However, the problem still exists so any thoughts on next steps?

Thanks! — oldsports
Go into the keyboard control panel delete the US keyboard under Input Sources and add it back in. See iff that fixes things. — Dan
Initially, I could not delete the US keyboard because it was the only choice. I had to add in a choice (British), delete the US keyboard and restart the laptop. When the laptop restarted, I went back to Keyboard Preferences, added the US keyboard, deleted the British keyboard and restarted. After it restarted, I shut it down, restarted it and tried using the Option key - it was not recognized and the laptop booted to the login screen.

Is there a way to see if the Option key works after booting up? I am curious to see if the key is recognized at that point. As I said, the "D" key is not recognized at startup but it is recognized afterwards. I start up Word and when I type the "D" key it appears on the screen.

Any other thoughts? — oldsports
I found the problem! I figured out that the right arrow key was stuck and was not working properly. I clicked it up and down until it started working. I then restarted the laptop and pressed the Option key - and it worked! I restarted it again and pressed the "D" key and the diagnostics app appeared. I ran the basic diagnostics test and no problem was found. I may run the extended test later.

Hopefully, the right arrow key will not stick again - the keyboard is brand new! Maybe the mechanism got hung up when I replaced it and by operating it I freed it up. Worst case, if it keeps sticking I will return the keyboard.

Thanks! — oldsports

arbaman @arbaman Репутация: 102,6к 10 56 291 · Answer 1 · 2019-05-07T13:38:10-07:00

arbaman @arbaman

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“Service” keys such as left control, left option, left command use a partly different circuitry than the ordinary keys. Depending on the damage the macbook suffered there are a couple of QFN serving such keys and some resistors involved that might have been damaged..would be probably needed some further trobleshooting and parts replacement. EFI doesn’t probably have anything to do with it, sounds more like a secondary damage caused by a shorted keyboard (liquid spill?)

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Thanks for responding. A few thoughts:

1. Only some of the service keys are not recognized at boot; the Command key is recognized. Also it does not matter which side (left or right) - the results are the same.

2. The "D" key is not recognized at boot when I try to go to the diagnostics program. I would imagine that the "D" key is not a part of the same circuitry as the service keys. The "D" key is recognized after the laptop boots when I use other programs so it appears to be something wrong at startup.

3. There was liquid damage. This is why I replaced the keyboard and sent the logic board to be serviced. I suppose there could be some damaged parts on the logic board that the repair shop did not catch, but I don't see them affecting both the "D" key and the service keys. If the "D" key is affected by a faulty part, I would expect other alpha keys to have the same issue. However, the "R" key is recognized when Command-R is pressed at boot.

4. I get the same results using a USB keyboard.

Other ideas?

7 мая 2019 г. из oldsports

The internal keyboard is no different than the external both are using USB buses.

7 мая 2019 г. из Dan

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MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011

Some startup keys not recognized on system boot

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