Apple Aluminum keyboards (#4): More on function keys not working, potential fix
We continue to report on an issue with Apple's new aluminum keyboards where the F3 and F4 keys, which should trigger Dashboard and Expose, do not normally trigger these functions unless the function (fn) key is held down while they are pressed. If you navigate to the keyboard pane of System Preferences and check the "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys," the Dashboard and Expose functions are triggered by the F3 and F4 keys, but the rest of the special function keys no longer work (brightness toggling, etc.).
Some users are apparently being told by Apple that the function keys do not work on any machines other than the Mid-2007 iMacs, with which the keyboards ship (they are also available for separate purchase). One reader writes:
"I also encountered the new function keys not working. I contacted Apple support and I was informed that they only work with the new iMacs. "
Meanwhile, we have received word of a potential fix for the non-functioning keys that involves use of one of our favorite troubleshooting tools, Pacfisit.
MacFixIt reader Joe Mullins writes: "I fixed the dashboard and expose keys on my keyboard. The problem is apparently that Dock.app isn't getting updated properly. I fixed it using my original install disks, 10.4.10 combo updater, keyboard update and Pacifist."
Joe's process is as follows:
- Insert Install disk for 10.4.x and open /System/Installation/Packages/Essentials.pkg/ with pacifist.
- Within Pacifist, navigate to /System/Library/Core Services. Click on Dock.app and click install. When it's uncompressed, it will ask if you would like to update or replace. Click replace.
- When that's finished, open the 10.4.10 combo update package with pacifist and navigate to the dock.app again. Click install, and this time when it asks, make sure to click update.. not replace.
- When that's finished, open the keyboard software 1.1 mpackage, click the arrow to reveal the contents of AppleKeyboardSoftware_Cmn.pkg, navigate to dock.app one more time, click install and then update once again. Not replace.
- Once this procedure is finished, you can force quit dock.app and the keys should work.
Previous coverage:
- Apple Aluminum keyboards (#3): Function keys do not work
- Apple Aluminum keyboards: Problems with startup commands
- Apple's new keyboards require Keyboard Software Update 1.1, available in Software Update
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Whoops!
Users who have different localizations that they use will need to add a step between 1 and 2. Their new second step should be:
1.1 On your original installation disk, open /System/Installation/Packages/*language*.pkg (German.pkg in your case) with Pacifist. Locate /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app. Click install and select update when asked.
I believe that you can do this step last, since the package only includes localizations, but you may have to do them in order. As far as I can tell, there are no changes to localization made in either the keyboard update or the 10.4.10 combo update.
For users with the F3/F4 problem, you may only need steps 3 and 4. So you might want to start there. I'm not sure where along the update line that Dock.app isn't updated properly, and this just takes out all the guess work.
The other way to fix this is to find a machine (Not sure if you need intel for intel and PPC for PPC) on which the keys work and has all the software updates, and just copy their Dock.app to your machine. That should fix it as well.
They do not allow iPods, cameras,etc. They won't allow even a usb flash drive to mount. Everything other than a mouse gets the "Not enough power" warning. It sure doesn't explain that on the Apple ad site for the new keyboard. I'm disappointed about this "oversite". Everything that worked on the white keyboards do not work on these new ones. ( connected to G5 PPC) running 10.4.10.
Same as with the old keyboard. As keyboards don't come with power bricks they are passive USB hubs. They can only give to the free USB port what is left from the keyboard itself (100 mAh) and your mouse (mine is 100 mAh). So in this cas 300 mAh.
The old keyboard had the exact specifications. You propably never wanted to connect a USB Stick or iPod to a USB1.1 keyboard :-)
I followed the instructions from step 3 through 5.
It works! Now my new aluminum keyboard F keys function as they should.
Thanks!
This information is confusing and wrong. I ordered a new keyboard for my G5 iMac and all keys including all the special function keys are working as advertised.
On the other hand, I have a different problem: using the function keys together with the new "fn" key only works periodically. i.e. in the flight sim "X-Plane" one can use F1 and F2 for throttle up/down. However, since I have the new keyboard "fn"+F1 etc. only works maybe half of time (the other half nothing happens). Very strange...
This problem shouldn't happen if you make sure that you choose replace on the first step, and then update on all subsequent steps.
When I first discovered this, I had the same problem trying from steps 3-5, which is why I went back to the original install disks.
The replacement Dock.app created by these steps should give you should be complete and working fine, as it would be the same thing created by a complete re-install of the OS with all the updates applied. If you try again and it still doesn't work, drop me a line on my <a href="http://joemullins.com">blog</a> and I'll try to help you out.
Just as an aside, it looks like the Safari 3 beta makes some changes to the dock that will need to be re-added as well. If you uninstall and then reinstall the beta it will probably fix the button issues that people are seeing.
- the Dock no longer recognises right-clicks or Ctrl-clicks (although other applications do)
- the Dashboard icon disappears from the dock and is an empty white square if dragged back into the dock
Paul
Ignore the above post - I just redid the installation, following the steps exactly, and both Dock and keyboard now work fine. The only residual issue is the odd one that the "Done" button in some widgets is displaced. I can live with that.
- by aPelican August 27, 2007 12:57 PM PDT
- Function keys don't work on my macbook pro either (current model). I don't know why they sell the keyboard separately (from the machines it is made for), unless they plan to fix the issue.
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