MacBook suddenly won't allow me to type in password

[Violet_Antelope]

Hi,

I'm really hoping someone here can advise me. My main computer is my 12" MacBook (I believe 2015) which has been nearing the end of its life for some time now, but I've managed to keep it limping along. But suddenly tonight when I try to log in, nothing happens when I type, even though there is a blinking cursor in the password box.

I have had problems with the keyboard for a long time but nothing like this - just the usual butterfly issues - stuck keys, letters typed in the wrong order etc. I really need this computer to work a little longer as it has some key files etc on it. I have some backed up in iCloud but not everything because I have a very slow internet connection, and the battery life has been so bad for some years now that making an external backup has been out of the question because of being unable to plug in the power and the drive at the same time! Also being under lockdown here in the SE UK means I can't take it anywhere.

Can any kind soul guide me as to what might be the problem and whether it's likely to be something I can fix? I'm waiting on an M1 Air to replace it but it probably won't be here for some weeks yet. Fortunately I have access to another computer I can use, and I knew the Macbook was going so I'm not worried about the Mac itself, but I do want to recover my files if I possibly can!

Many thanks!

 

[Erehy Dobon]

I suggest you plug in an external keyboard into your current machine to avoid using the failing butterfly keyboard.

 

[Violet_Antelope]

Thank you, I will try that!

 

[Apple_Robert]

While you are waiting on your new Mac, you might consider doing a back-up of the troubled Mac using Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper with a spare external drive. That way, you will have a backup of your important files without having to struggle with the slow internet connection.

https://bombich.com - paid app but offers a trial and you can make a free backup.

SuperDuper!

 

[mwidjaya]

But suddenly tonight when I try to log in, nothing happens when I type, even though there is a blinking cursor in the password box.

My first reaction would be - huh, keyboard not active, try restart.

 

[Violet_Antelope]

Thank you so much, it worked! I was really worried! Do you have any idea what might have caused it, so that hopefully I can avoid it happening again? And does it likely mean that my mac is failing?

 

[satcomer]

It says to me the chip battery inside older Macs is died! Is this an older Mac?

 

[Violet_Antelope]

Just checked 'about this mac' and it's early 2016. Very very heavily used and worn, but I wouldn't have thought that's old enough to have that problem? Thanks so much for your help

 

[satcomer]

I work about this and guy named g/re/p did a great trick to trick your computer to act as if it was a new account here that will work if it’s an Intel Mac!