iMac and keyboard

[Derek]

I am using a corded Apple keyboard and whenever the computer is switched off and then on a panel appears on the screen saying that the computer is searching for a 'bluetooth keyboard'.
The spinning beach ball goes on forever and the keyboard will not work.
I unplug, plug in the USB cable and a couple of days later it will work.
In the meantime I switch on my cordless Apple keyboard and it works. So, if the cordless one is 'bluetooth' why isn't the corded one the same?
Is they are not 'bluetooth' how can I tell the computer to stop searching for 'bluetooth'
I know that I can solve this problem by using the cordless one but I hate charging and changing batteries all the time plus I need to use the USB ports on the wired one.
Any suggestion?

 

[honestone]

OK, a couple of things:

1. Which Mac OS are you using?

2. Secondly, here is a link that explains how to setup a Bluetooth (wireless) keyboard for use on a Mac:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201178

Note that the keyboard must be "on" before use with your Mac.

3. This link explains how to use/"add" a wired (USB) keyboard to an iMac:

http://science.opposingviews.com/can-add-regular-keyboard-imac-12402.html

I'm wondering if you have a conflict here. Here is one link from a google search I just did on "Can both a Bluetooth keyboard and a wired USB keyboard be used simultaneously on an iMac?":

http://www.apple.com/shop/question/...usly-with-wireless-keyboard/QAH9CKFYKTYCF9JYC

Then, there is this from another link:

http://www.apple.com/shop/question/...red-keyboard-simultaneously/QUPHXX4FU72DXTTCK

I would avoid trying to use both of them at the same time.

 

[Derek]

I am using OSX 10.9.5. I went into system preferences and switched off Bluetooth for the keyboard and switched off the cordless keyboard (removed batteries). I then plugged in the wired one and nothing happened. I then hit the Change Keyboard Type button and nothing happened. I do not use both of them at the same time.

 

[honestone]

Sorry to hear that. Tried to find more info via a google search, but nothing definitive. One possibility is to do a PRAM and SMC reset. This link explains how:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/reset-macs-smc-pram/

I also saw this on another forum, but the specific topic being discussed had to do with Yosemite (OS 10.10.x):

"Delete everything in /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration and reboot. This solved the issue for me. I tried many of the other "workarounds" and this was the only one that worked for me, at least for now anyhow."

Finally, if you have been making backups (hopefully that is the case), you could try a clean installation of the OS, and then use Migration Assistant to "migrate"/copy all the non-Apple stuff from the backup. (It might be better if you have a bootable clone/backup of your current system (SuperDuper! and Carbon Copy Cloner are both excellent products that can do that. I use SuperDuper!, and it has "saved my bacon" a few times!).

Also, have you considered upgrading to OS 10.10.5, the last (and most stable) version of Yosemite? Not sure if it will help. but might be worth a try.

 

[Derek]

Thanks for replying honestone and your help. I got it working by switching off Bluetooth, unplugging the USB cord, switched off and removed batteries from cordless keypad and then unplugged the computer from the power source.
Restored power and the wired keypad worked.
Hopefully by switching off Bluetooth I won't have this problem again and if I do I know how to fix it.
Thanks again for your replies and help.