Computer Hardware Dumbass Question

Andreina

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Oct 4, 2001
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The keyboard of my Laptop is full with crumbs, dust particles, hair etc (got i now since 2 years and it has never been cleaned).

On one side of the 'puter is a hole with [K] so I assume this is the hole where I can life the thing up (why do I feel so dirty when I write that? :D). I have tried putting a thingy in the there to see if there is a switch or so which enables me to lift the keyboard. Nothing.
How the fuck can I lift the keyboard then? Any advice? Help. :)
 
First - turn the keyboard upside down and shake it... might want to do that over a garbage pail.

Second - get some canned air and spray between the keys - then shake it some more.

Third - if you don't have canned air - try a small attachment on your vacuum cleaner - you can even buy attachments that are specifically made for computers.
 
Depends

Depends on what ype of laptop it is. You may need to remove some screws from the bottom of the laptop. If it is a name brand then you should be able to go to the website for that company and find a manual on how to remofe the keyboard.

You could also try using a can of compressed air or a keyboard vacuum. Yo can find either one of those at any chain computer store like Best Buy or Circuit City.

Hope this helps...

Stiffy
 
Individual buttons and keys may be removable. Then again, they may not. Depends how they're attached. Try prying up a key that you don't use often, or have a duplicate of.
 
phrodeau said:
Individual buttons and keys may be removable. Then again, they may not. Depends how they're attached. Try prying up a key that you don't use often, or have a duplicate of.

That's how it is with a desktop computer. I'd be VERY wary of trying this with a notebook without some certainty.
 
You can also look up your model on the manufacturer's site and you might find some information in the FAQ on how to clean it.
 
LittleDevilWithAHalo said:
On one side of the 'puter is a hole with [K] so I assume this is the hole where I can life the thing up (why do I feel so dirty when I write that? :D). I have tried putting a thingy in the there to see if there is a switch or so which enables me to lift the keyboard. Nothing.

The hole in the side marked [K] is probably the connector for plugging in an external keyboard -- be very careful about sticking things in that hole, or you can short out the keyboard controller chip and trash your laptop.

The best way to clean a keyboard (laptop or other) is with compressed air or a vacuum cleaner that can connect the hose to the exhaust to blow out any dust and hair. A can of spray "type cleaner" or "contact cleaner" that contains 1,1,1 Trichloroethane is usually safe for the plastic parts and will disolve oils and other contaminants so they can be blown away with compressed air. WARNING: use "Trich" in a well ventilated area! It's non-toxic, but the fumes can displace oxygen. Also spot check the case of your laptop to make sure the plastic isn't disolved by "Trich."
 
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