keyboard

[bgott]

I'm having problems with my keyboard. I have one of those HP keyboards with a bunch of shortcut keys. The problem is that the bottom row of keys and the enter key won't work unless you beat he11 out of them. They aren't sticking, they just won't do anything most of the time. Can I open this thing up and clean the contacts or should I try another keyboard?

The last post I responded to was a real bear, durn near didn't get through it. I have fought it for a week. It has worked perfectly through this post, though. SNAFU! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[MikePA]

Given that you can get a new keyboard for about <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10249294&hdwt=30807&loc=433>$20</A>, I'm not sure opening one up and trying to repair it is worth the trouble.

 

[gws]

Turn off computer, unplug keyboard, toss in trash, replace.
issue solved. You dont need those extra keys. Keyboards are cheap

 

[Ozarker]

With the low price of keyboards, you have nothing to lose by trying. If you fix it, great. If you don't, you need a new keyboard anyway.

 

[dmccarty]

Bgott,

If you have to replace the keyboard spends some money
on a decent one. We have all different makes of PCs but
almost always use the IBM keyboards. The good ones just
last and last and last. Those flimsey keyboards are worth
what they cost. I LOVE the track point keyboards but I
don't think they make them anymore. My wife broke the
one I have at home and I think its a gonner. She just had
to get a screwdriver out to fix a simple problem.... /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

My test systems keyboard I have used for over five years.
I know its far older than that. I just have to replace the
track point foam dohickey every couple of years when I
wear it out....

My home track point keyboard has been used on two different
systems over almost 10 years until the wife broke it....

My two cents....
Dan McCarty

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>Can I open this thing up and clean the contacts or should I try another keyboard?</font color=blue>

Sure you can. Have you ever taken one apart? I did a few years ago, after I spilled a glass of wine in it./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif If I remember right, it was 101 little springs that took off in all directions. It really wasn't any problem to put it back together except . . . Those long keys (like "shift", "enter", etc) only used one spring just like the small keys and the spring could be installed in either end of those keys. Of course, those keys only work if you have the spring in the correct end./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif More fun than a jigsaw puzzle./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Rowski]

Didn't you post some about the wine and keyboard thing? I could be thinking of someone else.

 

[Bird]

Good memory, Derek. I don't even remember how long ago, which forum, or what the thread was, but I did post a message before about my little accident of knocking over a glass of wine into an IBM keyboard.

 

[bgott]

Thanks, guys. I took the easy way out and bought a new keyboard. I spent $40 and bought a Microsoft Natural Keyboard. I always wondered how they worked. It's going to take a little getting used to, the keys on the lower left and right are at a different angle and it's throwing me off. I also bought a optical mouse. It works so much better than the old one that I think it must have been time to clean the rollers again.