Macbook pro 15″ keyboard freezes only function keys work

Have you tried Change Keyboard Type in System Preferences -> Keyboard?

The reason for this is that Microsoft Keyboard Helper is somehow not being added to the Login Items by the keyboard's driver installer. However, the helper is contained inside the Microsoft Keyboard Preference Pane, so it is being run when you open it, and thus restores the full functionality of the keyboard.

The simple solution is this:

1. Open System Preferences;
2. Go to Users & Groups > {your user} > Login Items;
3. Click + icon under the Login Items list;
4. When Finder window opens, press ⇧ + ⌘ + G;
5. When a form appears, paste this into it: /Library/PreferencePanes/Microsoft Keyboard.prefPane/Contents/Resources/;
6. Select the file MicrosoftKeyboardHelper, and press Add;

That's it. The keyboard should now retain its function keys' functionality after the restart.