MacBook Pro Mid 2010 Trackpad Issue

[s0m0teitbe]

Hello,

First off, thanks for anyone who can provide assistance and can help.

I have a MacBook Pro Mid 2010 that had a broken trackpad. I purchased a used one locally, installed it, and the cursor would just stay in top left corner of the screen and wouldn’t move but I could click and it would register the click.

I thought it was faulty so I returned it, ordered a different one from online, and even ordered the cable this time thinking maybe a bad cable and same result. I’ve reset SMC, reset PRAM/NRAM, and even a fresh install of OS through internet recovery all to the same result.

One suggestion was to delete the .plist from Library/Preferences. However, when I went to that folder there is no .com.apple.MultiTouch.plist as it advised to delete.

Does anyone have any suggestions or any ideas what this could be? Obviously it’s detecting the trackpad or I wouldn’t be able to click the Apple in top left corner.

Again any help would be appreciated. By the way, I called Apple, I was advised they no longer service this model as I was going to just send it to them and pay to have it fixed.

Thanks again!!

 

[chscag]

Welcome to our forums.

Have you looked very closely at your battery? One of the things that affect the trackpad and cause it to fail is a swollen battery. The swelling pushes up on the trackpad and causes it to not function correctly. If you have a straight line ruler you can use it to see if the battery is swelling. Any amount of swelling can make the trackpad to act erratically or not work at all.

And that's true about Apple not servicing your model MacBook Pro. Apple lists it as obsolete.

 

[s0m0teitbe]

Welcome to our forums.

Have you looked very closely at your battery? One of the things that affect the trackpad and cause it to fail is a swollen battery. The swelling pushes up on the trackpad and causes it to not function correctly. If you have a straight line ruler you can use it to see if the battery is swelling. Any amount of swelling can make the trackpad to act erratically or not work at all.

And that's true about Apple not servicing your model MacBook Pro. Apple lists it as obsolete.

Yes I have checked the battery and even tried it without the battery being in. Same issue. Even tried multiple trackpad and cables

 

[chscag]

One suggestion was to delete the .plist from Library/Preferences. However, when I went to that folder there is no .com.apple.MultiTouch.plist as it advised to delete.

If you're sure the battery is okay, try deleting the file that was recommended.

Why can't you find that file? It's clearly listed on my machine:

/Users/your user name/Library/Preferences/com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad.plist

Make sure you're in the correct library. Your user library is hidden by default and that file is not listed in the System Library Preferences folder. If you don't know how to unhide your user library, do a google search and follow their directions.

 

[s0m0teitbe]

If you're sure the battery is okay, try deleting the file that was recommended.

Why can't you find that file? It's clearly listed on my machine:

/Users/your user name/Library/Preferences/com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad.plist

Make sure you're in the correct library. Your user library is hidden by default and that file is not listed in the System Library Preferences folder. If you don't know how to unhide your user library, do a google search and follow their directions.

Ahhhh I will try that as soon as I get home from work and provide an update! Thank you for your help so far!!

 

[s0m0teitbe]

I was able to find the files and I deleted them. The article
suggested resetting SMC after doing so and I did and still the same issue. It clicks but will not move cursor. However if I plug in USB mouse then it works perfectly fine!!

 

[s0m0teitbe]

No other ideas eh? Am I stuck using a wired or USB mouse?

 

[Audit13]

Have a closer look at the trackpad connection on the logic board. It's possible that is damaged.

Was the MacBook exposed to moisture?

 

[s0m0teitbe]

Sorry for late reply. No was not exposed to moisture. All of the indicators are new looking and have not been set off.

One theory and not sure if there is anyway to test it without a different trackpad. The one I received the little black cable connector that flips up (like on the keyboard ribbon) is missing. When this shuts properly, does this apply a certain amount of pressure to the contacts on the ribbon? With this being missing/broken could this be why its only registering clicks and not moving the cursor?

Reaching for ideas here....

 

[chscag]

With this being missing/broken could this be why its only registering clicks and not moving the cursor?

It's certainly possible. Is there a chance that you can return it and get another?

 

[s0m0teitbe]

Well actually I emailed the guy and asked about returning it and he said no biggy he’d just give me
a refund. So now I’ll just have to order a new one and wait on shipping.

I just wanted to ask if that could be what could be causing the issue before I ordered a new one!!