Lost keyboard -- follow-up

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Burt Johnson - 27 Jan 2008 00:35 GMT

A couple weeks ago I said that my wired USB Apple branded keyboard
frequently loses connection to my MacPro and asked for ideas. After
some discussion, it was suggested that I run X11.

As luck would have it, I then proceeded to have one of the longest
periods in memory of no keyboard problems... until this afternoon. Of
course, by the time I had the problem X11 was not running (I rebooted
after an Apple software upgrade and forgot to relaunch it), so I could
not test Evt (I could launch the app via mouse, but not type the magic
EVT command). Drat. Went ahead and launched it and got it ready again.

At which point, I proceeded to lose the keyboard again 3 times in 5
minutes. Good or bad karma? I could now test, but I also now kept
going though the unplug/plug cycle, only to have it work for a minute or
so until it got lost again. It seems to be holding now -- for the past
10 minutes anyway.

Results? EVT says nothing is being received. With the Evt window
active, there are no events reported when I press any keyboard key in
this condition. Disconnect / connect they cable and it is back and
working fine (and typing this).

Recap of history -- This happens when going through hub (initial
configuration) or either direct USB port in the back of the MacPro. I
have not tested the front port, but I don't see how it would be
different. This has happened for at least a year, so is not only a 10.5
issue. There was no change in behavior when changing keyboards (I am
now using one from my mothers iMac prior to our upgrading her for
Christmas).

So... The keyboard, OS version and physical port have been eliminated
through tests. The events are really not being recevied according to
X11 Evt. The only item that appears to be consistent is the MacPro
itself.

Of course I can't just take this in to Apple store to repair, since it
may go days or even (in this last rare instance) weeks between losing
the keyboard.

Major bummer... :-(

Signature

- Burt Johnson
MindStorm, Inc.
http://www.mindstorm-inc.com/software.html

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Sharon F - 28 Jan 2008 21:27 GMT

> So... The keyboard, OS version and physical port have been eliminated
> through tests. The events are really not being recevied according to
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Major bummer... :-(

If this was a Windows' machine, I would say your usb controller is being
put to sleep and not waking properly. The solution in Windows, is to
check for new drivers (USB and keyboard) and hope they rectify the
situation. If not, or until then, there's a setting in power management
that lets you configure specific devices (in this case, the USB
controllers) as 'do not allow this device to sleep.'

I have no idea if this behavior ever occurs on Macs (although it would
seem to going by the history of your keyboard problem) or if similar
settings exist. The only reason I've posted is that you've had no luck
with this issue so far. Maybe you could try disabling power management
to an always-on state to test if it's a problem or not?

Also, I have a few Mac games that say the HID drivers in Mac OSX are
difficult for gaming. Whether that's true or not, I don't know - I'm
just relating what I've read from their support documentation. They
recommend USB Overdrive if you run into problems. Perhaps software you
use on a regular basis has similar issues with the HID drivers and that
program might help? I've never used USB Overdrive but have seen this
recommended for various USB issues.

IIRC, you already tried a new user account and again found the same
problem. So maybe it is related to the software (or software combo) that
you commonly use under both accounts?

Will go back to my quiet corner once again, reading and learning...

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Sharon F

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Burt Johnson - 29 Jan 2008 14:19 GMT

> If this was a Windows' machine, I would say your usb controller is being
> put to sleep and not waking properly. The solution in Windows, is to
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> with this issue so far. Maybe you could try disabling power management
> to an always-on state to test if it's a problem or not?

I just double chekced, and the computer is set to sleep "never" because
it acts as a server for other computers in my home network. Also, I
have had the keyboard fail while I am sitting there typing.

> Also, I have a few Mac games that say the HID drivers in Mac OSX are
> difficult for gaming. Whether that's true or not, I don't know - I'm
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> program might help? I've never used USB Overdrive but have seen this
> recommended for various USB issues.

Interesting thought. I do usually have World of Warcraft running on a
separate "spaces" and that game does do some things that sometimes mess
up the display. This problem occured before Leapard though, and thus
before "spaces." I did't keep the window open in 10.4. Can't remember
for sure, but I think the keyboard has died without having WoW running.

> IIRC, you already tried a new user account and again found the same
> problem. So maybe it is related to the software (or software combo) that
> you commonly use under both accounts?

Actually that is the one thing I have not tried. I only have one user
on this machine. Since this problem may go days, or even occasionally
weeks between failures, it would be awkward to try with a different user
account though.

Signature

- Burt Johnson
MindStorm, Inc.
http://www.mindstorm-inc.com/software.html

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Mac Forum / Applications / Mac Applications / January 2008

Lost keyboard -- follow-up