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Keyboard Copy and Paste, functions outside a normal keyboard, issue.

I was typing on my keyboard without looking as I do on my worl PC, but here using apple keyboard with number pad. I hit something including the Option button and all I saw was a bunch of "A's " with a bunch of foreign identifiers or something mathematical.

I called in and asked for help making the mistake of telling the rep it looked like letter you would see in German. It was not that and he had me do some equation at the user prompt with a "-G". Of course, that was not the issue.

Now I have only a basic keyboard (as I am typing on it now), but the <ctrl C> <ctrl V> (copy and paste) no longer function unless I right-click and select Copy or Paste. This is driving me nuts. Is there a way to restore my iMac to factory setting without losing everything on my desktop? I'm not sure what is and what isn't backed up on my iCloud. Now, to add, I have installed on here Microsoft Office for iMac. When I am using that program, the keys function, but only in those applications. Thank you for any advice.

3 replies

thanks, already tried most of these- but I looked again; I can now cut and paste using the Command key vs the Control key. I'm not sure why or how exactly this could have changed. I wish I could request a keyboard without an Option Command or other BS; just need a working keyboard! Tempted to try to install a Windows PC keyboard.

The ⌘ key is the default on Macs.


Excerpted from Copy and paste on Mac - Apple Support:


  1. On your Mac, select the text or item you want to copy.
  2. Press Command-C to copy the selection.
  3. Go to the place where you want to paste the selection, then press Command-V.
  4. If you pasted the selection in the wrong place (or changed your mind), press Command-Z to undo the paste.