My older MacBook Pro has started making a high-pitched whirring or droning sound, and almost none of the keyboard keys respond—the power button still works. The noise stops when I press down on the keyboard or the bottom of the laptop. At first, running my fingers over the keys caused random letters to appear, but now the keyboard does nothing. This happened once before and temporarily fixed itself after a restart, but restarting it repeatedly has not helped this time. The laptop was bought used, so I'm not sure of its exact age or warranty status, and my important files are not fully backed up. What could be causing this, and is it safe to keep using?
1 Answer
A likely cause is a swollen or failing battery pressing upward against the keyboard. That pressure can make keys activate continuously, which may explain both the strange noise and why normal typing no longer works. Stop pressing on the case and avoid continuing to use or charge the MacBook until it has been inspected. The battery should be replaced, and the keyboard may also have been damaged. Since it’s an older used model, repairing both parts may cost more than the computer is worth, so back up any files you can using an external keyboard before taking it in.
It’s an older MacBook Pro that I bought used, and I don’t know the exact year or warranty status. I found an external keyboard, so I can access it for now, but I’ll make sure to back up anything important and have the battery checked rather than ignoring the noise.