[MacBookPro8,2] Laptop keyboard activity and touchpad movements often interpreted as clicks

[Lars Noodén]

On a MacBookPro8,2, the track pad often fires off a click even when it is not pressed. This can happen when typing on the keyboard (not touching the trackpad) or when actually using the mouse but not clicking. Such events make it fairly unsafe to use GUI applications that do not have an "undo" function for each possible action. Nothing seems to make the false clicks more or less likely to happen.

WORKAROUND: Use external keyboard and mouse.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10
Package: linux-image-3.11.0-12-generic 3.11.0-12.19
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.11.0-12.19-generic 3.11.3
Uname: Linux 3.11.0-12-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.12.5-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'iw'
CurrentDmesg: Error: command ['sh', '-c', 'dmesg | comm -13 --nocheck-order /var/log/dmesg -'] failed with exit code 1: comm: /var/log/dmesg: Permission denied
Date: Sun Oct 27 12:51:50 2013
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-10-17 (10 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Release amd64+mac (20131016)
IwConfig:
 eth0 no wireless extensions.

 lo no wireless extensions.
MachineType: Apple Inc. MacBookPro8,2
MarkForUpload: True
ProcFB: 0 radeondrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.11.0-12-generic root=UUID=140e28f3-4795-466b-9ea0-3264746c9186 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RfKill:
 0: hci0: Bluetooth
  Soft blocked: no
  Hard blocked: no
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
WifiSyslog:

dmi.bios.date: 01/24/12
dmi.bios.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.bios.version: MBP81.88Z.0047.B27.1201241646
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag#
dmi.board.name: Mac-94245A3940C91C80
dmi.board.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.board.version: MacBookPro8,2
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: Mac-94245A3940C91C80
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAppleInc.:bvrMBP81.88Z.0047.B27.1201241646:bd01/24/12:svnAppleInc.:pnMacBookPro8,2:pvr1.0:rvnAppleInc.:rnMac-94245A3940C91C80:rvrMacBookPro8,2:cvnAppleInc.:ct10:cvrMac-94245A3940C91C80:
dmi.product.name: MacBookPro8,2
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: Apple Inc.
---
ApportVersion: 2.12.5-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
CurrentDmesg:
 Error: command ['sh', '-c', 'dmesg | comm -13 --nocheck-order /var/log/dmesg -'] failed with exit code 1: comm: /var/log/dmesg: Permission denied
 dmesg: write failed: Broken pipe
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-10-17 (10 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Release amd64+mac (20131016)
IwConfig:
 eth0 no wireless extensions.

 lo no wireless extensions.
MachineType: Apple Inc. MacBookPro8,2
MarkForUpload: True
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcFB: 0 radeondrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.11.0-12-generic root=UUID=140e28f3-4795-466b-9ea0-3264746c9186 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.11.0-12.19-generic 3.11.3
RfKill:
 0: hci0: Bluetooth
  Soft blocked: no
  Hard blocked: no
Tags: saucy
Uname: Linux 3.11.0-12-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups:

WifiSyslog:

dmi.bios.date: 01/24/12
dmi.bios.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.bios.version: MBP81.88Z.0047.B27.1201241646
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag#
dmi.board.name: Mac-94245A3940C91C80
dmi.board.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.board.version: MacBookPro8,2
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: Mac-94245A3940C91C80
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAppleInc.:bvrMBP81.88Z.0047.B27.1201241646:bd01/24/12:svnAppleInc.:pnMacBookPro8,2:pvr1.0:rvnAppleInc.:rnMac-94245A3940C91C80:rvrMacBookPro8,2:cvnAppleInc.:ct10:cvrMac-94245A3940C91C80:
dmi.product.name: MacBookPro8,2
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: Apple Inc.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 1245159

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

apport information

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

apport information

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

apport information

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

apport information

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

apport information

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

apport information

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

apport information

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

apport information

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

apport information

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

apport information

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

apport information

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

apport information

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v3.12 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.
Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12-rc7-saucy/

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

Still present in Linux ubuntu 3.12.0-031200rc7-generic #201310271935 SMP Sun Oct 27 23:37:06 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Lars Noodén, did this problem not occur in a release prior to Saucy?

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

Maybe. There was a similar bug with everything being double-clicks. Here the mouse will click once on its own, not twice. Though if they piggyback on a click they turn that into a double click. In that the system was unusable for any purpose beyond testing the bug. In this, the system is almost usable but for the risk of accidents. There's nothing I can find to cause it to happen on purpose, no special movements set it off. And a few times it has happened even with my fingers off the trackpad.

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

This is regarding the internal keyboard and trackpad, particularly the trackpad. Should I try running with an external mouse and keyboard for a while?

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

The problem seems not to occur when using an external keyboard and mouse.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Lars Noodén, getting back to https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1245159/comments/18 , what prior releases have you actually tested yourself with this laptop, and what were the results regarding this problem?

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

I haven't kept notes beyond what are in the bug reports, I guess things have improved a little over time. I've tried at least 11.10, 12.04, 12.10, 13.04, and 13.10 on this unit. Before that I had another, older model and it had similar problems but worse. But both typing and using the track pad trigger false clicks. It does not happen on the same hardware using OS X. I recall for sure that the false click problem was not apparent in 2009.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Lars Noodén, in order to test the latest userspace stack, could you please confirm this issue exists with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ . If the issue remains, please just make a comment to this.

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

Still present in trusty on Ubuntu and Lubuntu from the daily image and the iso.qa sets.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Lars Noodén, the issue you are reporting is an upstream one. Could you please report this problem through the appropriate channel by following the instructions _verbatim_ at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/kernel#KernelTeam.2BAC8-KernelTeamBugPolicies.Overview_on_Reporting_Bugs_Upstream ?

Please provide a direct URL to your post once you have made it so that it may be tracked.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

What is the correct "Maintainer Process" and mailing list to send the mail to?

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Maintainer Process -> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/kernel#KernelTeam.2BAC8-KernelTeamBugPolicies.Overview_on_Reporting_Bugs_Upstream

Mailing list -> linux-input

[Ubuntu QA Website (ubuntuqa)]

This bug has been reported on the Ubuntu ISO testing tracker.

A list of all reports related to this bug can be found here:
http://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/reports/bugs/1245159

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

Still present in recent kernels

Linux lubuntu 3.13.0-19-generic #40-Ubuntu SMP Mon Mar 24 02:36:06 UTC 2014 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

It's worse on the macbookpro 8.2 but the problem is still present to a lesser extent on a system76 gazellle.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Lars Noodén, could you please report the system76 as a separate report so the hardware may be reviewed?

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

Christopher, I've added the separate report and it can be found in #1332816
It's not as severe as this bug which renders the GUI all but unusable for regular work. The 1332816 bug less so, but still enough to prevent looking good for demos or loans.

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

since it is part of the default settings, are you sure that tap to click isn't part of the issue? perhaps the touchpad is too sensitive?