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| Thread ID: 141411 | 2015-12-14 02:37:00 | Drowned keyboard | Beemer (6956) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1412798 | 2015-12-14 20:29:00 | OT I know, but when I was working as a mainframe computer operator for IBM in about 1969 the big boxes went down every week for preventative maintenance. One week the engineer went to re-assemble the golf ball typewriter console and couldn't find the cover. After a long search it was discovered in the cleaner's closet soaking in hot soapy water - padding, electrics, everything. Quote: "It looked grubby so I thought I'd give it a bit of a scrub." I think it says something for IBM that AFAIK the cleaner was not disciplined for messing with something she shouldn't have, as her intentions were good. Pity about the wrecked case, though... | Tony (4941) | ||
| 1412799 | 2015-12-14 21:26:00 | Was it actually wrecked? Often all you need is a clean in fresh water and let it dry and electronics can recover from exposure to all kinds of things - provided there was no power when it got wet. My worst experience fixing a computer was a cat pee incident. The cat had sprayed the side intake fan which had distributed pee all around the inside of the PC. It was completely dead, no signs of life so with nothing to lose I dismantled it, removed the battery, and hosed it liberally with the garden hose for several minutes. Then I left it to dry for a week. After a bit of experimenting and taking to the RAM contacts with a toothbrush it sprang back into life and continued working for several months afterwards. Then it got stolen so who knows if it still works. |
dugimodo (138) | ||
| 1412800 | 2015-12-14 22:04:00 | Was it actually wrecked? Often all you need is a clean in fresh water and let it dry and electronics can recover from exposure to all kinds of things - provided there was no power when it got wet.I don't know for certain - it disappeared off into the engineers' lair. I suspect that they took no chances and scrapped it. This was on an IBM 360/65 - probably a million dollars worth of kit. It was one of two in the computer room plus sundry other 360/xx machines of varying degrees of grunt. It was an impressive array of boxes and a really interesting place to be working. | Tony (4941) | ||
| 1412801 | 2015-12-15 01:16:00 | Some red wine got spilt on my laptop and it stopped working. I put it in the hot water cupboard and tried it after a few days but it took a week before it finally started up. It may take quite a while for the keyboard to dry fully so don't give up too soon. The wine caused some keys to fail and I replaced the keyboard - the laptop has worked for a couple of years now. Water may not cause any keys to fail if it is dried fully. |
user (1404) | ||
| 1412802 | 2015-12-15 01:31:00 | Seeing as you have since used it, it is probably dead. If you unplug it, dry it, isopropyl it, and make sure before plugging it back in, you can usually save it. But with the nasty plastic circuit boards now, its probably burnt. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 1412803 | 2015-12-15 03:05:00 | Seeing as you have since used it, it is probably dead. If you unplug it, dry it, isopropyl it, and make sure before plugging it back in, you can usually save it. But with the nasty plastic circuit boards now, its probably burnt. Yeah, it was plugged in when I spilt the water on it and my first thought was just to tip the water off, not unplug it. I left it in the sun yesterday afternoon and in our warm house overnight, then put it in a sunny and windy spot today. Being impatient I put it back together and plugged it in again but the 1, 4, q, v and command keys are still not working. As the old keyboard (same model) I have is a bit stiff to use and I use it a lot (transcribing taped interviews for biographies for a hospice), I really think I am going to have to bite the bullet and replace it or I'm going to wreck my hands and wrists very quickly. Any advice on which online store to use? I would like to replace it as cheaply as possible, but I also want to deal with a reputable supplier. I haven't dealt with an online computer supplier for years so who is a good one to buy from for something like a keyboard? |
Beemer (6956) | ||
| 1412804 | 2015-12-15 03:26:00 | http://www.pp.co.nz/ http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/ http://www.ascent.co.nz/ maybe (haven't dealt with them as much) |
dugimodo (138) | ||
| 1412805 | 2015-12-15 04:08:00 | Thanks for the links. I see Ascent rely on other suppliers and so that may not be as reliable. I'm finding it hard to compare prices as on this page (www.priceme.co.nz) some say free shipping but then when you click through to their website you actually do have to pay shipping. Some quote one price, but then say that's for cash only and credit card payments are extra. Talk about confusing! After 5pm now so will have to leave it until tomorrow and try and sort out which place has the best price and the best reputation! | Beemer (6956) | ||
| 1412806 | 2015-12-15 04:29:00 | I ended up going with Tailormade Computers - $70.65 including courier and no credit card charge. Couldn't find anything bad about them online and they have physical shops which I like. | Beemer (6956) | ||
| 1412807 | 2015-12-15 04:39:00 | Glad you got sorted. I have never had a reliability problem with Ascent - they are unfailingly excellent and reliable. I have ordered one afternoon and the goods have arrived the next day. |
Tony (4941) | ||
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