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December 9, 2008 6:30 AM PST

MacBooks crashing with aluminum keyboards

by CNET staff

Some users are having problems with the Apple Aluminum keyboards causing crashes when attached to their MacBook computers.

Apple Discussions poster KimonoW:

"Plugin USB Aluminium Keyboard and the MB instantly hangs with the "you must restart error". It was working a treat with Tiger. The same keyboard works perfectly in a Macbook Pro."

Affected users have tried updating the firmware on the keyboard to ensure the software is the latest, but this has not fixed the problem. This issue is the result of a software incompatibility because the keyboards worked fine on the systems in the past, and currently work properly when attached to other systems. This relatively long-standing problem has been tracked to users having the "DoubleCommand" software installed. This software is a kernel extension which offers useful key remapping functionality, but seems to have bugs in some configurations.

It is recommended to first try updating the DoubleCommand software to the latest version, even going to a prerelease beta version if the functionality of the software is required. If that does not work, users should uninstall the software until a software fix is issued by the developer. To uninstall the software, locate and delete the "DoubleCommand" folder in the /Library/StartupItems/ directory, and remove the "DoubleCommand" preference pane located in the /Library/PreferencePanes/ directory.

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    Add a Comment (Log in or register) (20 Comments)
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    by Rick Auricchio December 9, 2008 9:10 AM PST
    Further reading of that discussion thread shows it was a fault in a third-party program.
    Reply to this comment
    by Vinita Boy December 9, 2008 9:10 AM PST
    <class="merchant"><span>&#62;</span><div class="datestamp"><i>This is a reply to a previous comment by Rick Auricchio</i></div></class><br />
    "MacBooks crashing with aluminum keyboards"

    This is the same kind of headline and reporting that caused so much concern about the recent Safari update. Apple ALWAYS seems to be at fault in these cases, doesn't it, ladies and gentlemen of the press and internet?

    Upon further investigation, however, these problems almost always are the result of crappy, ill-constructed, outdated add-ons! And it is in this case as well.

    How I do wish you folks would wait a minute or two to find out who's REALLY to blame here before posting another headline implying . . . "APPLE SCREWS UP AGAIN."

    Is that really too much to ask?
    Reply to this comment
    by Rick Auricchio December 9, 2008 9:15 AM PST
    Further reading of the discussion thread shows it was a fault in a third-party program.

    Jumping the gun a little bit on this topic too, I see.

    I'm beginning to wonder whether MacFixit just chooses an Apple Discussions topic at random to repeat, in the guise of news. Get a better algorithm.
    Reply to this comment
    by tkessler December 9, 2008 9:15 AM PST
    <class="merchant"><span>&#62;</span><div class="datestamp"><i>This is a reply to a previous comment by Rick Auricchio</i></div></class><br />
    I find this to be quite informative at times. I read the discussion boards but miss some topics that might be relevant and its good that MacFixIt brings out ones that outline problems multiple users are experiencing.
    Reply to this comment
    by Vinita Boy December 9, 2008 9:24 AM PST
    "MacBooks crashing with aluminum keyboards"

    This is the same kind of headline and reporting that caused so much concern about the recent Safari update. Apple ALWAYS seems to be at fault in these cases, doesn't it, ladies and gentlemen of the press and internet?

    Upon further investigation, however, these problems almost always are the result of crappy, ill-constructed, outdated add-ons! And it is in this case as well.

    How I do wish you folks would wait a minute or two to find out who's REALLY to blame here before posting another headline implying . . . "APPLE SCREWS UP AGAIN."

    Is that really too much to ask?
    Reply to this comment
    by jellophoto December 9, 2008 9:24 AM PST
    <class="merchant"><span>&#62;</span><div class="datestamp"><i>This is a reply to a previous comment by Vinita Boy</i></div></class><br />
    So the lesson here is "Don't put old crap software on your brand new Mac.". Seriously, do some research before installing any software on your new Mac. I like to get it up and running first before Migrating or adding software. This is very true when going from a PPC Mac to a new Intel Mac.
    Reply to this comment
    by Hillstones December 9, 2008 11:31 AM PST
    Perhaps "CrapFixit" should re-think their headlines. A headline more appropriate would be "Third-Party add-ons cause incompatiblities with the aluminum keyboard" and then explain the problem. Instead, they make up some ******** headline alleging the MacBook doesn't work with the Aluminum keyboard, when in fact, it really does work.
    Reply to this comment
    by tkessler December 9, 2008 11:31 AM PST
    <class="merchant"><span>&#62;</span><div class="datestamp"><i>This is a reply to a previous comment by Hillstones</i></div></class><br />
    In all honesty, some macbooks are crashing with aluminum macbooks...you read the story, it's accurate...
    Reply to this comment
    by Vinita Boy December 9, 2008 11:31 AM PST
    <class="merchant"><span>&#62;&#62;</span><div class="datestamp"><i>This is a reply to a previous comment by tkessler</i></div></class><br />
    'This relatively long-standing problem has been tracked to users having the "DoubleCommand" software installed. This software is a kernel extension which offers useful key remapping functionality, but seems to have bugs in some configurations.'

    Topher, in even more honesty, the crashes described above are the users' fault! They are NOT, I must necessarily repeat N-O-T, the fault of Apple or the aluminum keyboards or the MacBooks! Is that clear enough?

    Crap-Ons are the culprit here, as they almost always are! The problem in this supposed article is premature ejaculation (read that "reporting") of incomplete, inaccurate, ill-informed, ill-researched, bogus information.
    Reply to this comment
    by tkessler December 9, 2008 11:31 AM PST
    <class="merchant"><span>&#62;&#62;&#62;</span><div class="datestamp"><i>This is a reply to a previous comment by Vinita Boy</i></div></class><br />
    You are a relatively crude and foul-mouthed individual.

    The article is fine. Get over yourself.
    Reply to this comment
    by Vinita Boy December 9, 2008 11:31 AM PST
    <class="merchant"><span>&#62;&#62;&#62;&#62;</span><div class="datestamp"><i>This is a reply to a previous comment by tkessler</i></div></class><br />
    What the heck is wrong with you? Foul-mouthed? What, oh WHAT, is the source of your "foul-mouthed" comment? Could it be the term "ejaculation"? Well, sir, let us examine the contextual definition for that word:

    "Something said quickly and suddenly" (which obviously applies to this hastily-published, erroneous, and misleading screed)

    Are you single-mindedly focusing on the sexual context of the term, sir? If so, please remove your mind from the gutter and use the definition of the word as used in the sentence.

    Now, as for the rest of your posting: Absolutely nothing about this article is "fine," and you know it. Nothing else in your "keyboard ejaculation" is cause for discussion. (You might want to look up "puerile" in your next adventure into lexicography; you should find it enlightening.)
    Reply to this comment
    by Meat Fist December 9, 2008 11:31 AM PST
    <class="merchant"><span>&#62;&#62;&#62;&#62;</span><div class="datestamp"><i>This is a reply to a previous comment by tkessler</i></div></class><br />
    tkessler,

    Vinita Boy cannot be taken seriously as he has given himself over to the MDN mass mob mentality. In the future, do not acknowledge people such as this. There is no hope for rational discussion.
    Reply to this comment
    by Hillstones December 9, 2008 11:31 AM PST
    <class="merchant"><span>&#62;&#62;&#62;&#62;</span><div class="datestamp"><i>This is a reply to a previous comment by tkessler</i></div></class><br />
    Apparently you are a fool for believing the article is valid. The MacBook IS compatible with the Al Keyboard. Third-party hacks are not compatible. The headline is screwed up, just like the jackasses running this site, called CNET.
    Reply to this comment
    by bothaus December 9, 2008 11:31 AM PST
    <class="merchant"><span>&#62;</span><div class="datestamp"><i>This is a reply to a previous comment by Hillstones</i></div></class><br />
    Yes. This site, once a bastion for level headed discourse is headed downhill fast. It's like political mud slinging. Slick, catchy, end of the world headlines for everything. Also Cnet has always hated Mac's. Cnet for me was like Fox to the GOP. Everyone else will pick up the headline and it's water cooler time over the 4-10 people (in the world) this is affecting. This is the 4th or 5th crap headline I have seen. My favorite is the headline they started right after the iPhone 2.2 firmware. No one had even commented. It was there purely waiting for some ****** to say "Yeah, me too". All the comments were positive and confused as to the validity of the headline. Bye Bye macfixit. All yous links are out my toolbar.
    Reply to this comment
    by lcpguy December 9, 2008 11:31 AM PST
    <class="merchant"><span>&#62;&#62;</span><div class="datestamp"><i>This is a reply to a previous comment by bothaus</i></div></class><br />
    I must agree. My subscription expired a week ago and I did not renew it, nor do I intend to unless someone more competent than CNET takes it over. Ted and Ben, you are really missed!
    Reply to this comment
    by WhiteDog December 9, 2008 12:29 PM PST
    Granted, some MacFixIt headlines are misleading. And sometimes their articles are incomplete. But it you think the site is "crap", why do you bother reading it? Methinks thou doest protest too much.

    In regard to MacFixIt's habit of excerpting from the Apple discussion forums, it has traditionally been a troubleshooting news collection site. In fact, they use fewer sources and print less news than they did in the "old" days before Ted passed on management of the site to others. They have, unfortunately in my opinion, abandoned most of the features he pioneered. Thus, the more commercial the site has become, the less value it offers users. Even so, I wouldn't call MacFixIt "crap." It's less than it once was, which is unfortunate, but I still find it useful.

    ---
    Don't anthropomorphize computers.
    They hate that.
    Reply to this comment
    by Hillstones December 9, 2008 12:29 PM PST
    <class="merchant"><span>&#62;</span><div class="datestamp"><i>This is a reply to a previous comment by WhiteDog</i></div></class><br />
    I just stop by once in awhile to see the ******** headlines posted by the Anti-Mac owners, CNET. CNET hates Apple and they have always hated the Mac. When Ted ran the site, the information posted was dead-on accurate, it wasn't based on a single ******** posting in Apple Discussion forums and claiming problems are widespread, and then making up a headline that isn't even accurate!

    Third-party hacks caused the problem, not the MacBook!
    Reply to this comment
    by Vykor December 9, 2008 6:17 PM PST
    Rules of thumb: when applications crashes persistently, start removing InputManagers/"plugins". When kernel panics happen persistently, start removing 3rd party kernel extensions. Since Apple controls most of the hardware on the Mac, the kernel can be expected to have been well-tested against all the hardware it usually interfaces with. Foreign code should always be the first suspect.

    And honestly, install software with kernel extensions sparingly. By installing a kext, you're modifying the core of the OS and implicitly trusting the kext developer to have tested it well against any hardware you're using. An error in kernel space is usually unrecoverable, so that trust better not be misplaced.
    Reply to this comment
    by tonysilva December 9, 2008 11:05 PM PST
    Yes, this is an extremely misleading headline. Tsk tsk. This is a very good site, but this headline is inexcusable. Pull it, fix it, do something.

    ---
    tonyinosaka
    Reply to this comment
    by rihanna27 December 30, 2008 10:38 PM PST
    great article mate.. I agree with you that mac book suits for Business people..Recently i bought a Macbook for my personal purpose :)
    regards,
    Biggest Loser Fan
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