So did I kill it? Keyboard from X24 - need opinions! [FIXED]

[popjoe]

Hi,

I installed a Wireless miniPCI card today. I thought Hmm this keyboard's a bit grubby... might as well clean it.

I proceeded to get a damp cloth, and spray and wipe. I squired 4 squits in total, just blanket coverage and then carefully wiped all the keys. Inevitably some spray and wipe got through under the keys, at the time i thought this wase fine as the keys would be raised like normal PC keyboards (or so i thought...). then i got a slighly damper clean cloth with just water, and wiped down again.

in the end it was a slighly damp keyboard. not drenched, certainly nothing which i would have thought could cause problems.

as i did some work on the underside of the keyboard attaching the antenna for the wireless, using some dots of rubbery tacky glue. not stuff that will eat through plastic or anything.

I left the keyboard for 2-3 hours, then reassembled. Time for Windows installation!

Hmm product key... some letters aren't showing.. What the!
So i've now deduced that certain keys arent working and its a bit of a random mix all over. as soon as i realised what this was i disassembled and I removed the keyboard. no signs of any excess moisture, or underneath where you can see through..

I now know that there are no raised lips under the keys. i.e. when i sprayed the cleaner original (light stuff, not harsh) it probably drained right on through... gah...

i have the keyboard sitting above a CRT monitor where is is nice and warm, which i will leave for a few days.

what are people's thoughts?

[popjoe]

well bugger, i just stuck a thin needle under neath an opening in that back plastic protection, and lifted up - sure enough theres a thin film of moisture underneath and its not air as when i let it go and tap it theres very tiny droplets.

how the hell am I to dry that out? rip the plastic off? then find something to stick on there again?

[rek]

Leave the keyboard in a place where it can sit to dry for a few days, and try it again.

I have a Di Novo keyboard (a desktop keyboard, but with laptop-like construction) that I have spilt drink over three times ... and been able to resuscitate it each time. The key is patience; you need to leave it to completely dry out.

There used to be a place in Johnston St Carlton that specialised in ex-lease IBM equipment and had a heap of spare parts at good prices, but a year or two ago they sold up shop and now they are a trendy furniture store or something. Wonder where they moved to.

[popjoe]

cheers.

I have removed the plastic backing so to expose all the back area.

I will leave it for a few days then try again - if it works i'll get some plastic book covering and re-insulate the back.

* to speed it up I have placed the keboard key-side up, on stilts for underneath airflow, inside a cage with shadecloth, reducing sun's intensity significantly. result: the keyboard has a nice warm to the touch feel about it, so it should aid in drying faster

[popjoe]

after a day in the sun-shaded environment, i took the plunge... and it works again

now to insulate the backing.

[steveg47]

Next time...use a hairdryer on high fan/low heat. And Never, Never spray anything directly on your thinkpad. Rather, spray on a microfibre cloth and then wipe the thinkpad with the cloth...but I guess you know that now.

PS: I have successfully cleaned keyboards which had soda poured on them by flowing lots of warm water on them, blasting the water off with a hairdryer on low heat and allowing the keyboard to dry for 3 or more days. Be sure to remove the keyboard from the laptop first

[popjoe]

Next time...use a hairdryer on high fan/low heat.

I was going to use a hair dryer, but I knew things like these won't dry out instantly if they have crevices, so opted for the slow but sure approach.

And Never, Never spray anything directly on your thinkpad. Rather, spray on a microfibre cloth and then wipe the thinkpad with the cloth...but I guess you know that now.

Yes, I do indeed know that now I made the assumption that the keyboard had 'wells' like a PC keyboard, that would essentially proctect the circuits beneath as the key formed a cap over the well. I soon learned that wasn't the case. Nonetheless, she's restored, and I'm happy