Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: never13more on April 21, 2009, 07:41:38 PM

Title: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: never13more on April 21, 2009, 07:41:38 PM
I got a little problem.I am in a job last night.
My brother accidentally spilled a Beer in to the keyboard, So I come home early I let it dry with blower and remove all the pieces of press buttons.
After that I tried it.There are some error buttons If i press insert It will automatically go to sleep, If i press 12345 there are some letters or numbers that is going to show up.
please reply asap
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Carbon Dudeoxide on April 21, 2009, 08:20:51 PM
Keyboard + Water = Destruction

Trust me, I have had this happen to me three times already. No matter how long I have left the keyboards to dry, they are always damaged.
You will need to replace it.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: BC_Programmer on April 21, 2009, 08:27:58 PM
you came home early for this?
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: x2543 on April 21, 2009, 09:58:39 PM
Keyboard + Water = Destruction

Trust me, I have had this happen to me three times already. No matter how long I have left the keyboards to dry, they are always damaged.
You will need to replace it.  And one of the keyboards I refer to is the one I am now typing this message with.

Keyboard not necessarily broken if water spills onto it. I've had that happen twice to two different keyboards, have let each dry completely and it came back to life. If keyboard gets wet, you should instantly unplug keyboard and stop all power feeding to it right away.  And one of the keyboards I refer to is the one I am now typing this message with.


But for now, I would just water clean the keyboard and let it dry for at least a day or two and see if it comes alive again. Newegg sells keyboard at low price but if you have a keyboard that can be working again, then good  :D
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: quaxo on April 21, 2009, 10:41:33 PM
Is this a laptop or a regular keyboard?

If it's a laptop keyboard, you might be able to get a replacement online somewhere.

If it's a regular keyboard, replacements are cheap if it can't be fixed.

There are small circuits that are closed when when a key is pressed, completing the electrical circuit for that particular keystroke. When liquid gets inside the keyboard, it often touches more than one of these circuit paths, so when one path is pressed, it ends up completing several circuits and not just the key you pressed, resulting in either multiple characters popping up or the keyboard getting the wrong signal and therefore telling the computer the wrong keystroke (like insert putting it to sleep).

In some cases, if you disassemble the keyboard, seperate and carefully wipe dry the circuit sheets inside, everything will be ok. Depending on the keyboard, this can be either fairly easy or really difficult. Some keyboards (for instance, my Zboard keyboard) are only composed of a few pieces: the base, the top and keys, a single rubber pad sheet, the circuit sheets and circuit board.

However, in some cases, it's not that simple. Some keyboards don't have all of the rubber pads in one big sheet, but instead have about about 100 individual little rubber pads... a severe pain to take apart and put back together by hand.

You might be better off spending $10-20 on a new keyboard... or beating $10-20 out of your brother  >:D

Disclaimer: I was joking about beating your brother. Don't hurt him too much.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: patio on April 22, 2009, 07:37:39 AM
If you have a dishwasher you can try placing it in the upper rack and running the full dry cycle only...

But i'd replace it.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Carbon Dudeoxide on April 22, 2009, 08:18:25 AM
you came home early for this?

Eh? Did I miss something?
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: BC_Programmer on April 22, 2009, 08:49:34 AM
Eh? Did I miss something?

I guess so- or maybe, I misinterpreted:

Quote
My brother accidentally spilled a Beer in to the keyboard, So I come home early

it sounds like, he was at work, and came home early just because of some spillage.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Carbon Dudeoxide on April 22, 2009, 09:15:31 AM
Oh, right.  :D
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Geek-9pm on April 22, 2009, 09:30:40 AM
Every body is right!   ;D

Here is the problem. He should not be allowed to drink Beer near the keyboard. Keyboards do not do good on beer. Very destructive. A much teeter choice would be a dry martini. Very dry, hold the olive.

Alcohol, even when diluted with some water, drys much faster. And most alcoholic drinks made with vodka, gin or tequila will leave almost no residue. Avoid rum. And the stuff that tastes like coffee. And rum and coca-cola is verboden.

In an emergency, disassemble tkeyboard and wash parts with rubbing alcohol. With mix at 70% it is a good solvent . In the USA it is cheaper than drinking kind.

Unlike me, the keyboard must absolutely dry before going back to work!
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: patio on April 22, 2009, 09:50:37 AM
If i spill Beer on my keyboard i usually follow that up with a shot of Single-Malt Scotch.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: dr_iton on April 22, 2009, 10:13:40 AM
I think that your keyboard got drunk!!!
That was a joke, OK i think that if your keyboard is getting wet you should immediately unplug it and  open the keyboard, clean it and after that use a hairdry to dry it.
With this option I had a success.
Cheers.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: x2543 on April 22, 2009, 03:32:32 PM
I think that your keyboard got drunk!!!
That was a joke, OK i think that if your keyboard is getting wet you should immediately unplug it and  open the keyboard, clean it and after that use a hairdry to dry it.
With this option I had a success.
Cheers.

I don't know. Testing a keyboard on DUI might not be as successful as a keyboard that has only taken a swim.  ;D
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Dias de verano on April 22, 2009, 03:50:49 PM
Quote
Keyboard + Water = Destruction

Not necessarily. Keyboard + water + electricity = destruction maybe

Keyboard + water + sugary ingredients [like in beer, soft drinks etc]  = destruction more likely







Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: x2543 on April 22, 2009, 04:28:24 PM
Not necessarily. Keyboard + water + electricity = destruction maybe

Keyboard + water + sugary ingredients [like in beer, soft drinks etc]  = destruction more likely



yeah, as long as water is dry before short circuit arrives, you are ok
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: BC_Programmer on April 23, 2009, 10:18:52 AM
water can be dry?


All water I've ever encountered was wet.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: mroilfield on April 23, 2009, 10:24:13 AM
water can be dry?


All water I've ever encountered was wet.

I was thinking the same thing.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: BC_Programmer on April 23, 2009, 10:30:19 AM
On the other hand, I guess ice would be dry, as long as none of it melts.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Dias de verano on April 23, 2009, 10:35:25 AM
water can be dry?


All water I've ever encountered was wet.

We seem to have a large number of non native speakers who have not learned about verb tenses

Quote
as long as water is dry

has dried

Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Aegis on April 23, 2009, 01:51:19 PM
Quote
We seem to have a large number of non native speakers who have not learned about verb tenses

I'm not holding out much hope for some of the "native speakers," either.   ;)
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Geek-9pm on April 23, 2009, 02:53:09 PM
A river has water. True
A river can be dry. True
Then the waterhole is dry.
The hole has not changed.
But that it has no water.
Thus wax kindred betwixt
no water and dry.
No water is there == The water is dry.

That is English.
You need to cross over the bridge .

This is a common Keyboard Problem. Instead of the US America Keyboard, you should use the English UK keyboard and the problem just goes away.
And in London they only clean keyboards with Gin.  :D
But no need to worry about the thing falling in to the River Thames. The bloody water is near quite dry, you know.
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/blog/2006/07/river-thames-begins-to-dry-up-as.html
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: x2543 on April 23, 2009, 09:20:53 PM
I'm not holding out much hope for some of the "native speakers," either.   ;)

not really, I have lived in the USA since I was a one year old kid and I'm sure I know my English enough to get people to understzand what I'm saying. But note, people do make typing mistakes now and then. You think you're typing something that your brain is telling you to but it doesn't show up apparently.

I meant to say that the keyboard has to be thoroughly dried out before you attempt to power it up, or else you risk shorting out the keyboard and thus forcing you to have to get a new one if and when it does.

but in any case, I think water can be dry --> see the article here .... http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=scientists-create-dry-wat
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Aegis on April 23, 2009, 09:34:02 PM
Quote
You think you're typing something that your brain is telling you to but it doesn't show up apparently.

I wonder what that's like?

You are right -- this can be a very limited medium.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: quaxo on April 23, 2009, 09:42:13 PM
We seem to have a large number of non native speakers who have not learned about verb tenses

Eh, there are quite a few native speakers I've seen here that you could say the same thing about.  :P

Quote
And in London they only clean keyboards with Gin.

Yep, London Dry Gin.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/xel123/ldg.jpg)

Actually, you're all wrong. Just because you don't see it or it goes away doesn't mean it's gone. Water doesn't dry. It evaporates.  :P
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: patio on April 23, 2009, 11:43:41 PM
Which means it never dries...it just leaves it's present location...
Evaporation means it seperates and goes airborne....a vapor state...which turns into condensation and ultimately rainfall.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: x2543 on April 24, 2009, 12:05:42 AM
Which means it never dries...it just leaves it's present location...
Evaporation means it seperates and goes airborne....a vapor state...which turns into condensation and ultimately rainfall.

True, but I think you would not be finding many people who'd say, "let the water evaporate from the keyboard" or something like that . any how, even though in reality, evaporation is what is going on and dry is when all the water has left it's original location (which is what you're interested in usually)  :P
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Dias de verano on April 24, 2009, 12:19:10 AM
I think you would not be finding many people who'd say, "let the water evaporate from the keyboard" or something like that

It's what I would say. Anyway, it's not the water that "dries" but the surface it previously wetted.

Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: quaxo on April 24, 2009, 12:21:54 AM
Which means it never dries...it just leaves it's present location...
Evaporation means it seperates and goes airborne....a vapor state...which turns into condensation and ultimately rainfall.

Didn't I just say that?  :P

The applicable meanings of dry in this case:
dry - (adj) - to be without moisture
dry - (v) - to remove moisture from; to exsiccate

Forms of moisture can be condensed (liquid) or diffused (vapor) but can still make something wet.

An object can dry (v) (A blow drier dries hair.) or be dry (adj) (The dry cup was soon filled with Pepsi.).

Does that all make sense?  ??? haha

True, but I think you would not be finding many people who'd say, "let the water evaporate from the keyboard"

True, you do hear people say that, as we've seen in this thread, but technically it's wrong.  :P

It like "sweating like a pig"... we say it... but pigs are incapable of sweating since they don't have functional sweat glands.  ;D
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Dias de verano on April 24, 2009, 12:26:57 AM

Quote from: x2543 on Today at 07:05:42
True, but I think you would not be finding many people who'd say, "let the water evaporate from the keyboard"

True, you do hear people say that, as we've seen in this thread, but technically it's wrong.


Why is it wrong "technically"? What does the water do if it does not evaporate?

Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: quaxo on April 24, 2009, 12:30:42 AM
Sorry, I was doing too many things at once and that came out wrong.

What I meant is that "let the water dry from the keyboard" would technically be wrong.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Dias de verano on April 24, 2009, 12:32:08 AM
Sorry, I was doing too many things at once and that came out wrong.

What I meant is that "let the water dry from the keyboard" would technically be wrong.

I guess, but you hear people saying it sometimes.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: quaxo on April 24, 2009, 12:33:59 AM
I guess, but you hear people saying it sometimes.

People say things like "I play guitar good." all the time. Doesn't make it right.  :P
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: mroilfield on April 24, 2009, 12:37:20 AM
So no matter how some one says it or if water is actually dry or not the best bet for the OP would be to buy a new keyboard.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Dias de verano on April 24, 2009, 12:50:16 AM
People say things like "I play guitar good." all the time. Doesn't make it right.  :P

It might be "right" in the local informal spoken dialect.

Joe Sixpack: I play guitar goodly!
Bill Blowhard: What's that, Joe? Don'cha mean "good"?



Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: quaxo on April 24, 2009, 12:52:00 AM
So no matter how some one says it or if water is actually dry or not the best bet for the OP would be to buy a new keyboard.

haha yeah, we're a bit off topic aren't we?
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Aegis on April 24, 2009, 06:50:09 AM
I've seen keyboards come back from contact with liquids, and seem none the worse for wear.  The odds are not good.

Sometimes, resale stores are a great place to get inexpensive keyboards.  Yes, they're used, but (for example) I got the Dell branded ergonomic keyboard I currently have at a Goodwill store for $1.99 US.  It was hardly used. 

My better half has picked up several there -- she likes the old-timey keyboards.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Geek-9pm on April 24, 2009, 09:13:26 PM
So no matter how some one says it or if water is actually dry or not the best bet for the OP would be to buy a new keyboard.

If the new keyboard is dry. Do not ask for an EXACT replacement.
Title: Re: KEYBOARD PROBLEMS
Post by: Sidiq on April 24, 2009, 11:06:17 PM
I think even if your keyboard recovers from the beer spill out there will be a tendency for your key board to have beer again. So it is always advisable to replace the key board otherwise the cost of operating your system will be too high