Calling all Techno-Geeks

[SeaCat]

Okay so now I'm a bit pissed and in need of some help.

Tis morning I was doing some writing and when I left to do some shopping I forgot to close the cover after turning off the 'Puter.

It seems one of my cats was upset at my leaving and paid me in spades.

I came home from our shopping trip to find that one of my cats had decided to barf on my Keyboard.

Okay I popped the keys off and cleaned up the mess. I got all of the keys back in their proper places. Then I turned on the computer.

It fired up properly, (as it did when I tried it just before popping the buttons.) Then I tried it and found the damned thing doesn't admit it has a keyboard. In fact it claims I have a keyboard attached through a USB Port.

Anyone here have any hints? If not then next week I'll be taking it down to the local shop. (Grumble)

Oh and the computer is an Acer Aspire 3620 running Windows XP.

Cat

 

[Stella_Omega]

The circuit board inside the keyboard might still be wet. It might dry out, or it might not. A little tiny short inside might have effed up the connections.

I know this isn't anything you like to hear, but a new keyboard is the fastest way to fix the problem. The computer didn't get barfed on, did it?

 

[christabelll]

or you take it apart again.... wash it with 99% isoprpryl alchol.... then blow dry it.... let it sit for a few hours then put it all back together and reconnect it...
sometimes that helps.... done it few times with coffee spills... caused by cats leaping at inopportune times....
But if you want a New keyboard get the Saitek! its awesome!

 

[SeaCat]

Um lets see here.

The bad news is it is a laptop so when the kitty barfed on it she barfed on the computer itself.

The good news is it doesn't seem to be harming the computer itself just the keyboard.

I popped off the keys and cleaned it all with Isopropal Alchohol before putting the keys back in place.

The touch pad works and everything else is working. The computer just wont admit that it has a built in keyboard. (It seems to think it has a keyboard docked in one of the USB Ports.)

I'll let it sit overnight and try it again tomorrow. If it doesn't work then and no-one here has any ideas then it will be taken to the local shop to see if they can fix it.

Cat

 

[NoJo]

Personally, I agree with the cat on this issue.

 

[TxRad]

Ok if everything works but the keyboard go to your device manager and uninstall all keyboards. Reboot and let windows find it's own ass again. have the original windows media disk ready just in case it wants to be stubborn. or you could try and do a repair from the original disk.

 

[Lisa Denton]

Like TxRad said it might find the keyboard if the keyboard survived ok and just needs a un-install and re-install.

Since your cat barfed a furball all over you might want to look at some other stuffs.

You said XP, so go to start, all programs, accessories, accessibility, on screen keyboard.

I never done it but I seen it is there. You will at least know whether it is just the keyboard messed up, and maybe cheap to fix, and maybe the cat lives ......... or not.

 

[Lisa Denton]

he, he.

i just done it and typd this with on screen keyboard.

cool, i prolly type 100 minutes a word like this.

 

[gauchecritic]

Let it dry some more. Take out all the slotted stuff (battery, disc-drive etc) remove as many panels as you are comfortable with (there's usually an easy memory expansion panel on the underside) After a day or so get a can of air and blast inside everywhere you can reach.

If you're daring enough take it apart completely (thus voiding any warranty) and search for bits of crap at connector points. Then give it the air blast. Then take it to the repair guys.

Just thought of something else. Maybe it's a simple bios problem. (press F8 or maybe delete as soon as the post test finishes and before windows actually starts booting)

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

Bodyguard says the keyboard will have to be replaced. This from somebody who's made a living doing computer stuff for 15 and some years. He says the acid from the cat's stomach probably caused a short, and the best thing to do is take it in to get looked at.

 

[Liar]

When I spill some kinda junk into the keyboarsd of my laptop (happens now and then, with me being...well...me), I turn it off, remove the battery and pour clean water onto the keyboard (it's got draining holes in the bottom). Then let it dry for at least a day. If something still doesn't work, I take it for another shower. Have worked well so far.

These are the instructions I got from the manufacturer, btw, so I assume ythere are no yet unseen negative effects.

Haven't had cat puke there yet though.

 

[popcorn2721]

I will have to agree with most folks here, In thinking that your keyboard is shot. More than likely the vomit did cause a short thus ruining your keyboard. Its kinda funny that it happens that way. I had to replace a really nice keyboard like this one, due to beer being spilled inside it, http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/8022/8022891_sa.jpg

with a rather low tech but functional one like this one.
http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/8332/8332397_sa.jpg
Having said that... I liked my backlit one much better but the new one was only like 19 bucks.

 

[SeaCat]

Well it appears the computer is not doing well.

I just tried turning it on and it is taking almost forever. (40 minutes to boot up.) It appears te Kitty Herking on te computer didn't do it a whole lot of good.

I may end up retiring the poor thing and replacing it. If I do I'll try to get te same model as I like the computer. (Not to mention I'll be able to salvage a lot of spare parts from the old one. Little things like the battery, the screen, the memmory and of course the hard drive.

Oh and the kitty will survive. I don't know which one did it and it's my fault for leaving the top open.

Cat

 

[mcopado]

there is a cheap solution....get a fullsize keyboard and hook it up in one of the usb ports..

In school I had an old IBM thinkpak and hated the small keyboard for writing the bazillion termpapers I had to do...so I hooked both a full size keyboard and monitor up to it....Basically then the thinkpad served the same purpose as a computer tower...

Then next time kitty hurls on the keys, you can attempt the "Keyboard in the dishwasher" experiment that everyone is trying.

http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/31/your-keyboard-might-be-dishwasher-safe/

 

[SeaCat]

there is a cheap solution....get a fullsize keyboard and hook it up in one of the usb ports..

In school I had an old IBM thinkpak and hated the small keyboard for writing the bazillion termpapers I had to do...so I hooked both a full size keyboard and monitor up to it....Basically then the thinkpad served the same purpose as a computer tower...

Then next time kitty hurls on the keys, you can attempt the "Keyboard in the dishwasher" experiment that everyone is trying.

http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/31/your-keyboard-might-be-dishwasher-safe/

That's an idea. I'll have to see what happens when I reboot the computer. If it still takes forever then I'll know it has also affected te Mother Board.

If it has affected the Mother Board then I'll be doing some replacement.

Cat

 

[impressive]

Careful if you go the blow-dryer route. Some of the soldering is gold -- and a blow dryer gets hot enough to fuck with that.

 

[john-the-author]

The problem with vomit is that it may have damaged the contacts on something causing an errant "open" or "close" that the board isn't expecting. And the vomit itself may be conductive enough that it's messing something up similarly. You need to try cleaning this once more before you cash it in.

I wouldn't recommend the dishwasher--too long, too hot, too hard, too wet (and who on this list would ever have thought that'd be a problem, eh?). And I definitely wouldn't put high-test isopropyl on it and then blow dry it unless you like weenie roasts up close and personal. What I recommend to in my books is that you can use very slightly soapy warm water in the sink as if it were a recalcitrant plate and then rinse with clean water, then drain as much water out of it as you can and then blow dry it carefully for a while. (Don't get anything too hot to touch or you risk melting something, peeling traces off the circuitboards, or warping the key caps so they don't fit right.) You're going to need to let the thing air dry for at least a day and maybe three. Putting it keys-down on top of an air vent, even if it's just AC air, will speed things up considerably.

You might pop the back of the keyboard off and get all the sides of it, but unless this keyboard was something you paid $180 for (I do, actually, but it's the tool of my trade), I'd suggest spending the $20-$50 that a new one will cost you and have done with it. It's probably not worth the effort you're going to have to go through and chasing one gahdam spring that popped out of the key when you had the cap off is enough to make you trash the whole thing then and there.

John

P.S. You know, I once had a problem with a possum getting into my office and shitting all over a keyboard. I don't care how clean you can get it, the smell of possum musk and possum shit is something that makes you wanna break out a flamethrower. The keyboard went into the trash. I trapped the possum and four of its siblings and they all went into the woods.

 

[SeaCat]

The problem with vomit is that it may have damaged the contacts on something causing an errant "open" or "close" that the board isn't expecting. And the vomit itself may be conductive enough that it's messing something up similarly. You need to try cleaning this once more before you cash it in.

I wouldn't recommend the dishwasher--too long, too hot, too hard, too wet (and who on this list would ever have thought that'd be a problem, eh?). And I definitely wouldn't put high-test isopropyl on it and then blow dry it unless you like weenie roasts up close and personal. What I recommend to in my books is that you can use very slightly soapy warm water in the sink as if it were a recalcitrant plate and then rinse with clean water, then drain as much water out of it as you can and then blow dry it carefully for a while. (Don't get anything too hot to touch or you risk melting something, peeling traces off the circuitboards, or warping the key caps so they don't fit right.) You're going to need to let the thing air dry for at least a day and maybe three. Putting it keys-down on top of an air vent, even if it's just AC air, will speed things up considerably.

You might pop the back of the keyboard off and get all the sides of it, but unless this keyboard was something you paid $180 for (I do, actually, but it's the tool of my trade), I'd suggest spending the $20-$50 that a new one will cost you and have done with it. It's probably not worth the effort you're going to have to go through and chasing one gahdam spring that popped out of the key when you had the cap off is enough to make you trash the whole thing then and there.

John

P.S. You know, I once had a problem with a possum getting into my office and shitting all over a keyboard. I don't care how clean you can get it, the smell of possum musk and possum shit is something that makes you wanna break out a flamethrower. The keyboard went into the trash. I trapped the possum and four of its siblings and they all went into the woods.

John,

I'm slowly working on the computer. If it was a tower system and the cat ad just vomited on the keyboard I would have had no problem with replacing the keyboard. (I currently have six in the back closet, but none with a USB attachment.) This is a Laptop/Notebook.

I have finally gotten it to boot up in a normal amount of time. I have even gotten it to acknowledge it has a keyboard.

Some of the keys now work, some don't. I'll tear apart the keyboard again tomorrow to see if I can get the keys to work. (It's amazing what you can do if you are patient.)

I love the laptop even though it isn't top of the line. It does what I want and is small enough to travel with me.

Cat

 

[john-the-author]

John,

I'm slowly working on the computer. If it was a tower system and the cat ad just vomited on the keyboard I would have had no problem with replacing the keyboard. (I currently have six in the back closet, but none with a USB attachment.) This is a Laptop/Notebook.

I have finally gotten it to boot up in a normal amount of time. I have even gotten it to acknowledge it has a keyboard.

Ohhhhhhhhh, I finally understand! <smacks forehead> Sorry, I didn't get the laptop part.

I'm pleased it's getting up at least. Good work. And what a pain in the butt.

 

[NoJo]

John,

I'm slowly working on the computer. If it was a tower system and the cat ad just vomited on the keyboard I would have had no problem with replacing the keyboard. (I currently have six in the back closet, but none with a USB attachment.) This is a Laptop/Notebook.

I have finally gotten it to boot up in a normal amount of time. I have even gotten it to acknowledge it has a keyboard.

Some of the keys now work, some don't. I'll tear apart the keyboard again tomorrow to see if I can get the keys to work. (It's amazing what you can do if you are patient.)

I love the laptop even though it isn't top of the line. It does what I want and is small enough to travel with me.

Cat

I have to say I really like your "don't throw it away, try to salvage it" attitude. I'm exactly the same way.

Every so often I go to the local council recycling plant to reluctantly get rid of some old bits of kit, but I usually end up with more shit in the car than when I started -- people throw away so much perfectly good stuff! I blame Capitalism as a whole, and Steve Jobs and Bill Gates in particular, for creating spurious demand for things we never really needed in the first place.

I havent chimed in with suggestions to fix the keyboard of your laptop, becuase it's usually pretty obvious what the problem is with keyboards. But anyway: Cleaning it really thoroughly (use distilled or filtered water if your tap-water leaves limescale) and drying it with a hair-dryer works. If you only have some keys working, do it again. I assume you have contact cleaner (switch cleaner). This usually helps (let it evaporate before powering up!)

I work with an electronics engineer who can go a few steps further and check the PCB traces for blown components, but this is surprisingly rare afer a spillage. It's usually just organic matter semi-shorting the traces, or physically dmaging the key mechanisms.

My web/mail server is an old Sony laptop whose power-supply socket had been busted. I got it working again with a generic power supply (I had to solder the output leads directly onto the PCB). The laptop has been powered up CONTINUOUSLY now for two years. I stand the laptop on a metal surface to help conduct the heat away from under it.

 

[SeaCat]

Well I now have a USB Keyboard hooked up and I have my computer back!!!!!!!!!

But don't fret, I have taken the keyboard on the Laptop apart and am slowly re-cleaning it. Hopefully I'll have both keyboards working soon.

Cat

 

[mcopado]

Well I now have a USB Keyboard hooked up and I have my computer back!!!!!!!!!

But don't fret, I have taken the keyboard on the Laptop apart and am slowly re-cleaning it. Hopefully I'll have both keyboards working soon.

Cat

yay! I had a feeling at least you'd be able to use the computer...I didn't think anything beyond the keyboard was damaged...

CLean the keys again...but let anything dry out completely couple of days, or use a hair dryer...if it doesn't work at least you have computer access until your replacement laptop keyboard arrives...