MacBook trackpad has died. What are the best options?

sgould

sgould

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I have a 2007 MacBook 2.2 with an upgraded HD to 260GB SSD & 4Gb SDRAM.

The trackpad seems to have died. Every so often it takes a single finger as a two finger gesture and goes into "right click" mode. Then after a while it goes back to normal for a time. I think that it's the trackpad because a USB mouse works with no problem.

I use the MacBook for general use and also with Parallels for running three old Windows only programmes. It also goes on holiday with us

So, is a repair viable? I think it's a whole new top and keyboard. Not that cheap.

Do I persuade my wife that we need a new laptop? If so, which one?

Or do I just buy a cheap Windows Netbook?
 
When I hear about intermittent clicks, etc, on an older MacBook, I always check the battery for swelling. That can push up against the trackpad from underneath - causing a variety of intermittent issues on the trackpad.
Easiest way to tell (even without looking at the battery) is to remove the battery, and see if that fixes the trackpad issues. If those problems continue without the battery installed, then my suggestion is just another item to cross off the list of possibilities...
 
Thanks.

I took the battery out, but the intermittent fault is there and the battery looks OK. I poked the underside of the trackpad and looked to see if there was any visible damage, but it looks OK. The fault seems to happen as the laptop warms up.

After a bit of consideration, maybe it's time to get a new Macbook. This one is now so old that I cannot upgrade to Mountain Lion, it's life is limited, so, therefore probably not worth spending money on. Pity really as this one is not our main machine and it's a lot of money to lay out on something not used all the time.
 
You can get a replacement top case for around $100, maybe less if you search around.
example - http://www.welovemacs.com/9228264r1.html

Have you verified the problem is not in your software?

I would boot to an external, with a fresh OS X install, or at least a boot system that you don't usually use with your MacBook. Try the trackpad for long enough to see if the problem continues even with that external boot.
 
I'll have a look at the software install. Certainly a few things to try before I throw the laptop out.

A new top case is an option, but we suffer greatly in the UK from the $1 = £1 when things come over here. So, what you get for $100 we get for £100. Which is £188 :( The new motto of for the UK is "Rip-off Britain".


...... and half way through posting this it went wrong again. So I finished using the mouse. Mouse is fine. Keyboard is fine - I think. I have my suspicions of the CTRL key. The fault is similar to having the CTRL key pressed while you click.
 
You could keep your keyboard viewer open, while you are using the macbook. You would be able to easily see if the Control key (for example) is sticking, or simply intermittently operating. You COULD even inspect closely around that particular key to check for any foreign/sticky materials. (you might find something that a careful cleaning will fix :D )

If you really decide that the issue is the trackpad - then how about just using a bluetooth mouse. You may or may not like Apple's Magic Mouse (I do...), but there's other bluetooth mice available - and you could mostly ignore the trackpad.
 
Ah! I forgot about the keyboard viewer.... Good idea. :)

I've been playing with the laptop for and hour or two with the battery removed, just mains power. Trackpad still fails from time to time. The battery is not swollen. It's the same thickness all over. I checked with a micrometer!!

I'm pretty certain now that it's the trackpad itself. With the battery removed, I can touch the top and underside of the trackpad (it's very thin, isn't it!). Each time it's failed, pressing down hard(ish) on the pad, or up from underneath, instantly restores the trackpad to normal operation - until the next time.

I'm using the old USB wired Microsoft Intellimouse as well now. No problems with that. I have a Magic Mouse on the desktop, which I like. But My wife prefers the older wired Mighty Mouse and won't use the bluetooth one.....

I also had a half hour in the local Apple Store this afternoon, playing with the MacBook Pro :)

Thanks for your help and ideas. I'll sort something out soon.
 
Trackpad still revives if "stressed".

But, this evening the trackpad was working properly, but froze suddenly when an iCal alert appeared on the screen. So, is it software related after all?

The other symptom is that when the trackpad freezes, a single one finger tap brings up th contextual menu. And one finger will scroll window up and down.

The Keypad Viewer shows no other key in use.
 
Just to wind this up...

I checked the Time Machine backup was up to date. Then erased and reformatted the hard disc. Loaded the minimum OS. No other applications. No Parallels emulator, etc.

Trackpad still the same. Erratic, but mostly inert.

Taken into account that this MacBook cannot be upgraded and the cost of repair, etc. We decided to order a new 13 inch MacBook Pro 2.5GHz Dual core 500GB etc. Apple UK are doing refurbs with a 12 month guarantee and a 15% discount. Arrives Tuesday or Wednesday.

Thanks for your help. At least I'm confident that this MacBook is past economic repair now.
 
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