mouse and keyboard only work in linux

[pcpete]

We have a mid 2013 macbook air in which both the keyboard and mouse do not work after either the OS or recovery partition is loaded, but they do work in the beginning before the OS loads, for example the option key and arrows work when choosing a different boot device. It also does not work when we boot a usb version of OSX. When we boot linux everything works well. I am guessing a failing logic board, but we are still testing it a bit more.

 

[NviGate Systems]

Your SPI data path to the CPU has a problem. Louis Rossman did a video about this recently.

When you hold option down the EFI portion of Mac OS uses the USB data line. When you enter OS mode it uses SPI data. You can force the track pad into USB mode but Mac OS doesn't have drivers for it.

 

[pcpete]

Thanks @NviGate Systems . Then it is safe to assume a logic board will solve the issue

 

[NviGate Systems]

 

[BestMacs]

Before going down the expensive logic board replacement path, have you reset the SMC and/or NVRAM just to make sure they are ruled out?

 

[pcpete]

we purchased a used logicboard from powerbookmedic.com and it is having the exact same issue. It is possible we did get a second bad unit. We are going to return it and try a second one. Based on everything working fine in linux, no water damage, I think the logic board we got is also bad.

 

[NviGate Systems]

The one problem with used boards is that you don't know the history. It's easy for damaged to be cleaned and hidden.

Now, having said that, have you checked your connectors? When you order your replacement perhaps you can have them test for Trackpad & Keyboard functions before they ship. If they tested and it works then it fails at the shop there must be something else going on.

Remember that all auxiliary LED's, ports and test points are part of a circuit. So a faulty component can cause an issue downstream or even upstream.

That aside, MacBook Air logic boards aren't known for quality. So it is a lottery.

 

[pcpete]

two logic boards later, I decided to send it to the authorized mac repair man in town, very professional guy. Turns out the issue was a bad cable for either the mouse or keyboard(I need to verify). He said he needed to replace the cable and remap it using his special software.$90 for the whole repair.(I tipped him another $10). On a side note, we have switched out 2015 macbook pro touchpads in the past with after market parts without having to do anything special like remapping them.

 

[pcpete]

as to the SPI data path it appears that the cable has both usb and the SPI path integrated in it, which seems logical(plausible)