Computer problems

[PennLady]

If you do get it dried out and working, you might consider one of these for future protection: http://store.moshimonde.com/clearguard-mb-macbook-keyboard-protector-us.html

I have a dog who sheds his own body weight in fine hairs about every two weeks, and it gets into EVERYTHING, so I bought one to avoid having to vacuum out the keyboard. There are cheaper options around, but the Moshi one is nice and thin and fits well.

Thank you for the link. I think I will do that. We're pretty good with our computers but obviously accidents happen.

Current status: added containers with silica gel to the bag. Between that and the rice, here's hoping it dries out.

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

Thank you for the link. I think I will do that. We're pretty good with our computers but obviously accidents happen.

Current status: added containers with silica gel to the bag. Between that and the rice, here's hoping it dries out.

I think it will work better if the rice is warm so put it in the sun or next to a sunny window- some times the tops of refrigerators are warm. It's kind of funny in a way, our attachment to computers seems so complete- giving it water and rice and warmth... One wonders just where it will all end. Thank goodness you haven't licked it.

 

[PennLady]

I think it will work better if the rice is warm so put it in the sun or next to a sunny window- some times the tops of refrigerators are warm. It's kind of funny in a way, our attachment to computers seems so complete- giving it water and rice and warmth... One wonders just where it will all end. Thank goodness you haven't licked it.

I don't like the computer that much.

I'll see about a warm spot. We haven't turned our heat on yet, and I'm not sure there's really a sunny spot to use. Hmmm. I'll have to see how sunny it is tomorrow; maybe a spot will present itself. Our windows aren't quite made like that, and unfortunately our fridge is in a custom-built space with cabinets on top, so I can't put it there. I could perhaps put it under my craft light...

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

I don't like the computer that much.

I'll see about a warm spot. We haven't turned our heat on yet, and I'm not sure there's really a sunny spot to use. Hmmm. I'll have to see how sunny it is tomorrow; maybe a spot will present itself. Our windows aren't quite made like that, and unfortunately our fridge is in a custom-built space with cabinets on top, so I can't put it there. I could perhaps put it under my craft light...

Well? Is your computer working ? Is Penn Girl out of the dog house yet? What did you end up doing with the wet spot? I hope all has ended happily ever after!

 

[PennLady]

Well? Is your computer working ? Is Penn Girl out of the dog house yet? What did you end up doing with the wet spot? I hope all has ended happily ever after!

I'm waiting until Wednesday to turn it on. That'll be a bit over 72 hours, which seemed to be the minimum recommended drying time. And I'll wait until after my dental appointment -- no sense being depressed before going there. Right now it's still in the bag with rice and silica gel.

PennGirl wasn't in the doghouse too much. I was upset, obviously, but it really was an accident, and she doesn't know how water affects electronics. I tried to explain that it could "break" them; I figured she could understand that.

Now the tough part is waiting until Wednesday.

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

I'm waiting until Wednesday to turn it on. That'll be a bit over 72 hours, which seemed to be the minimum recommended drying time. And I'll wait until after my dental appointment -- no sense being depressed before going there. Right now it's still in the bag with rice and silica gel.

PennGirl wasn't in the doghouse too much. I was upset, obviously, but it really was an accident, and she doesn't know how water affects electronics. I tried to explain that it could "break" them; I figured she could understand that.

Now the tough part is waiting until Wednesday.

Yes, the challenge, the reassurance-- it's all so human and wonderful- it's through things like this we learn and explore our humanity I think.Thank you for sharing.

 

[PennLady]

Good news and bad news

I took the Mac out of the bag, rice and all, today, and it turned on, but my screen is very dim. You can make out boxes and such but no text. I do think it responds to the keyboard, as I hit enter once or twice and a couple of boxes disappeared. However, that's it and I suppose I could be wrong about that. I couldn't increase the brightness or anything. So I guess it's off to the Apple Store this weekend, if can get an appointment.

Sigh. Can't catch a break.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I'm surprised no one suggested using a portable hair-dryer.

 

[PennLady]

I'm surprised no one suggested using a portable hair-dryer.

That was one of many suggestions I saw, however, unless you were going to open the machine up, the dryer wouldn't really help. I did have it sit over a fan overnight and then went with the rice, etc.

There are two remaining steps, I think. One, someone suggested going into System Preferences to make sure the display settings aren't set low. Two, take it to the Apple Store and see what they say.

Other than that, I saw advice to sell it damaged -- people will pay for that, apparently, I guess they like to play with the parts -- and I could do that. Maybe take anything I get and put it toward a new one. But we're not quite there yet.

 

[StrangeLife]

Other than that, I saw advice to sell it damaged -- people will pay for that, apparently, I guess they like to play with the parts -- and I could do that. Maybe take anything I get and put it toward a new one.

That's an Apple speciality. Because of the relatively high price and the durability of the hardware, there's a large industry of people making a living from buying up used or broken units and fixing them for re-sale.

So throwing out an Apple product is always a poor solution - broken or not. If it comes to that, put it on E-bay or get an offer from Gazelle or something. You might be surprised...

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

That was one of many suggestions I saw, however, unless you were going to open the machine up, the dryer wouldn't really help. I did have it sit over a fan overnight and then went with the rice, etc.

There are two remaining steps, I think. One, someone suggested going into System Preferences to make sure the display settings aren't set low. Two, take it to the Apple Store and see what they say.

Other than that, I saw advice to sell it damaged -- people will pay for that, apparently, I guess they like to play with the parts -- and I could do that. Maybe take anything I get and put it toward a new one. But we're not quite there yet.

I feel your pain. I recently dropped my Kindle, it works OK but wont re-charge.

I don't know if your laptop has a SAFE MODE but SAFE MODE uses a primitive sorta graphics card that lets you read text tho the pix and such are crude.

 

[PennLady]

I feel your pain. I recently dropped my Kindle, it works OK but wont re-charge.

I don't know if your laptop has a SAFE MODE but SAFE MODE uses a primitive sorta graphics card that lets you read text tho the pix and such are crude.

I don't know if Apple has a safe mode, but at the moment it's irrelevant since I can't see the screen.

 

[PennLady]

That's an Apple speciality. Because of the relatively high price and the durability of the hardware, there's a large industry of people making a living from buying up used or broken units and fixing them for re-sale.

So throwing out an Apple product is always a poor solution - broken or not. If it comes to that, put it on E-bay or get an offer from Gazelle or something. You might be surprised...

I think I will call the Apple Care line and see if they think it's worth taking to the Genius Bar. I don't mind doing it, but it will probably kill half a day at least to do that, so I want to make sure it's worth going if I can. But yeah, I'd try to sell it if I can't do anything else I guess.

 

[Handley_Page]

I did have it sit over a fan overnight and then went with the rice, etc.

There are two remaining steps, I think. One, someone suggested going into System Preferences to make sure the display settings aren't set low. Two, take it to the Apple Store and see what they say.

That's one of the problems of the Fruity store. They charge an arm & a leg for products and the fixeria. It seems a pity that an expensive machine from them is not designed to take a few knocks and the odd splash; like Microsoft, they do not seem to realise the number of 'home' users of their products and build accordingly.

IBM used "Cherry" to make it's keyboards. They were described as being "Coffee & Coke proof". If I could lay my hands on another Cherry 'clanky' UK keyboard I'd have it in a heartbeat.

 

[StrangeLife]

That's one of the problems of the Fruity store. They charge an arm & a leg for products and the fixeria. It seems a pity that an expensive machine from them is not designed to take a few knocks and the odd splash; like Microsoft, they do not seem to realise the number of 'home' users of their products and build accordingly.

IBM used "Cherry" to make it's keyboards. They were described as being "Coffee & Coke proof". If I could lay my hands on another Cherry 'clanky' UK keyboard I'd have it in a heartbeat.

Your pity is misplaced. Apart from the afore mentioned Thinkpad, which is the PC equivalent of the LandRover, you'll be hard pressed to find a computer more sturdy and better built than a Mac.

Getting my daughter a MacBook Pro 13" for school is the best investment I've made in recent time. It's two years old now, she loves it and the aesthetics make her take extra good care of it (it "sleeps" in a pink case on her table every night). Since it was setup for her there hasn't been a single problem. She used to kill laptops in droves - her old Toshiba lasted six months before the screen started bleeding because she bumped her backpack on something - but the Mac has proven more than capable of handling the rigours of college life. So it's turning out to be a saving in the long term despite it's high purchase price.

 

[Bramblethorn]

That's an Apple speciality. Because of the relatively high price and the durability of the hardware, there's a large industry of people making a living from buying up used or broken units and fixing them for re-sale.

So throwing out an Apple product is always a poor solution - broken or not. If it comes to that, put it on E-bay or get an offer from Gazelle or something. You might be surprised...

If you do sell it on, be sure to wipe the drive first. Second-hand computers are an identity theft risk.

 

[PennLady]

If you do sell it on, be sure to wipe the drive first. Second-hand computers are an identity theft risk.

I just made an appointment to take it to the Genius Bar this weekend. As a friend of mine noted, even if I call and ask for help, they will likely say they can't do anything without opening it up, and I don't disagree. Plus I didn't feel like making phone calls -- I still have a cold and my voice is pretty rough and talking too much makes me cough.

 

[Handley_Page]

Your pity is misplaced. Apart from the afore mentioned Thinkpad, which is the PC equivalent of the LandRover, you'll be hard pressed to find a computer more sturdy and better built than a Mac.

Getting my daughter a MacBook Pro 13" for school is the best investment I've made in recent time. It's two years old now, she loves it and the aesthetics make her take extra good care of it (it "sleeps" in a pink case on her table every night). Since it was setup for her there hasn't been a single problem. She used to kill laptops in droves - her old Toshiba lasted six months before the screen started bleeding because she bumped her backpack on something - but the Mac has proven more than capable of handling the rigours of college life. So it's turning out to be a saving in the long term despite it's high purchase price.

High purchase price ? Round here, today, a Macbook Pro is about $12600 and that's shopping around. But then, maybe Apple UK (never knowingly over-sold) are a bunch of robbers. They positioned the Apple as a very premium product back in the day and they ain't lost it.

I understand your point, though.
Do all your daughter's friends have Macs ?

 

[PennLady]

The price is probably relative to different people. Quite honestly the only reason I even have this MacAir is that my aunt gave it to me. I'm willing to put some money into it, since I didn't buy it, but that depends on what they tell me it will cost to fix, if it can be fixed. If it's too much, then I'll have to wait on replacing it.

 

[StrangeLife]

High purchase price ? Round here, today, a Macbook Pro is about $12600...

I sincerely hope that was a typo!

If you utilize their on-line store the basic Pro 13" is 999 pounds (it feels a lot lighter ) and the 13" air is about the same. If you're getting it for school you can get a discount by going through their education portal - I saved a $100 that way plus she got a $100 voucher for the Apple app store - but you may need to be on a campus network or call them.

Do all your daughter's friends have Macs ?

Not all of them, but they're more prevalent that you'd think. Most have Mac Book Air though - it's much easier to carry around. But my daughter wanted the big hard drive and built-in DVD, so she opted for the Pro.

 

[PennLady]

Update: Took the Air to the Apple Store today. I was a bit worried, as the store didn't have great reviews, but neither did many of the others.

So there is corrosion, and it would be a Tier 4 repair, $755. After which it would be back in warranty, which is nice.

Still not entirely sure what I'll do. Mr Penn has a cleaner he'd like to try -- he used to run his own computer business and did repairs/cleanings, among other things -- but I'm not sure we're equipped to remove the bottom cover. So we'll see.

 

[PennLady]

Just FYI, for those of you who were kind enough to offer sympathy and suggestions.

First, we purchased a pentalobe screwdriver and Mr Penn opened the Mac Air but then we were stumped, because more screwdrivers would have been necessary to remove more pieces. This was more than we wanted to do anyway; we were afraid we might cause more damage to the machine.

Second, we took a friend up on an offer and my new MacAir (with more memory) should be delivered today. So I am looking forward to having it replaced and working with the new machine again. My PC laptop has been a fine interim replacement but I will be glad to go back to the other machine (for most things).

Next on the list is to sell the old machine via eBay, probably, and the proceeds from that will go to our friend. It won't completely pay it back but it will be a start.