Some keys not working on iMac

By Alana, 4 June, 2014

Forum
Apple Hardware and Compatible Accessories

Hello,
My family owns an iMac which I use on some occasions. All the letters and other keys work except for the left control key and the row of numbers. The keyboard is not broken and I have tried plugging it back in, it is not a Bluetooth keyboard. If I use any diagnostic feature to check if it is software related, will voiceOver work in any special start up mode?
It is possible some settings have been changed, a family member was deleting their emails, but what could those settings be?

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Comments

By KE7ZUM on Thursday, June 5, 2014 - 03:52

I had thqt problem actually. It turne dout the key board pannel was broken on my laptop, again. have you tested wiht antoher bt keyboard if you have one?

No, I do not have another keyboard to test with. This is not a laptop keyboard, it is a USB one.

By KE7ZUM on Thursday, June 5, 2014 - 03:52

It might be the keyboard then. If you can find another key board to test with even a bt one. or try it in windows if you have a boot camp set up installed. If it fails in both chances are the keyboard is broken.

By Jakob Rosin on Thursday, June 5, 2014 - 03:52

Hello.
Most obvious feature I can suggest is to turn on voice over's key describer mode (vo +k) an descape to exit.

If your family members are sighted, do these keys work for them?

Good luck!

By Alana on Thursday, June 5, 2014 - 03:52

Hello,
The keys don't work for everyone else either.

By KE7ZUM on Thursday, June 5, 2014 - 03:52

Then I'm learnign more and more tward the key board is broken. This has happened to me on my laptop keyboard and seems to be comen where the control key just goes. it really sucks.

Take care.

By Jakob Rosin on Thursday, June 5, 2014 - 03:52

I agree, it sounds like a hardware problem or a very strange software bug. I can't recall seeing any setting in osX's system preferences regarding turning off / blocking some keys. Try to find another USB keyboard and test with it.

Thanks for the responses so far. I contacted Apple support but need sighted assistance to see if the keys light up using a feature to test this. I have to go in the setting to remember how to get to it.