Member Avatar for Ariffin

I am a mac user for quiet sometime now. My problem is sometime the Power Book that i am using keep displaying backslash while i typing something

Eg:

i am\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

it will only stop when i press a few time the backslash button on the keyboard. The above problem appear on login screen and sometime in word application. I really annoying especially when typing a long document.

My question is:

What is the possible problem? So far my apple pwr book never get wet by spill etc.

Thanks for your view & solution

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by markscape

Dani AI

Generated

described random backslashes appearing even at the login screen. noted the problem could start and stop by itself, and ’s workaround with another keyboard points toward an intermittent hardware-level signal rather than a Word-only or document-specific bug. When the behaviour shows up before any user session starts, treat it as a low-level keyboard/HID issue first.

Quick, safe diagnostics (do these in order):

  • Enable the on‑screen keyboard (System Preferences → Keyboard → show keyboard viewer; older OS X: System Preferences → International → Input Menu → enable Keyboard & Character Viewer). Watch which key is highlighted when backslashes appear — if the backslash key shows as “pressed” while untouched, that’s a hardware event.
  • Disconnect all USB and Bluetooth input devices and reproduce. If it stops, an external device or dongle is the culprit.
  • Boot in Safe Mode (hold Shift during startup) and try again; Safe Mode removes third‑party drivers and login items.
  • Test from a fresh user account or Guest; persistent behavior across accounts and at the login screen strongly implicates hardware or low‑level firmware.
  • Check Console logs for repeated HID/kext messages while the event happens; run Apple Hardware Test/AHT or diagnostics appropriate for PowerBook G4.

Practical hardware checks and remedies:

  • Blow compressed air across the keyboard and around key edges. Dirt or a tiny crumb can cause matrix shorts.
  • Carefully clean sticky keys with a small amount of high‑strength isopropyl on a swab; removing keycaps on older PowerBooks is possible but fragile—consult a tear‑down guide before attempting.
  • Intermittent ribbon/cable contact or corrosion on the keyboard flex cable is common for older PowerBooks; reseating the connector or replacing the keyboard/topcase will often cure the issue, but this requires opening the machine or a repair shop.

Because this happened at the login screen, replacement of the keyboard assembly or topcase is a frequent long‑term fix for G4 machines. Capture a short video of the symptom and the on‑screen keyboard showing the phantom press — that helps a technician confirm the fault.

Recommended Answers

All 6 Replies

Member Avatar for markscape

Just came across your post. Am having the same problem with random backslashes being inserted into text. Did you find a solution?

Member Avatar for greenpower

I got the same problem,sometimes i have to use a external keyboard for my powerbook g4 laptop.

Member Avatar for markscape

I got the same problem,sometimes i have to use a external keyboard for my powerbook g4 laptop.

My keyboard problem disappeared, but I have no idea how or why. I did reinstall the OS, and tried a few other workarounds, but still had one or two recurrences afterwards. I have used my PB a lot less in the last few months, so it may have to do with the fact that it's not running 24:7. Odd.

Member Avatar for macfrik

Try to reinstall the OS> It is prolly just a software glitch. If problem still persists, you better contact your local APple Store and fins some answers there. Hope it helps.

Member Avatar for mesamb1

I had a powerbook that I loved to death, literally, and eventually some of the keys did start to stick. Check and see if you are not hitting something like enter or backspace and acidently not causing the backslash to stick

Member Avatar for markscape

In my case the backslash would just begin by itself even with no keyboard activity - i.e. while staring at my document in Word waiting for inspiration, suddenly the backslash would start racing across my screen. Like I mentioned, the problem has disappeared as mysteriously as it appeared.

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