Author Topic: Urgent help needed for stoopid friends... (Read 402 times)

Jenga · « **on:** January 13, 2003, 06:05:13 AM »

Hi all - I'm just reading 'my' boards, and have a couple of middle aged women in distress...

First friend had spilt tea (possibly with sugar) all over her keyboard, and now can't type anything but smileys. She's phoned a friend to explain on the boards what she's done, and it appears she's tried since last night to dry out the keyboard (possibly with haridryer) but is still posting up crying faces which are breaking out hearts now.... is there any hope for the keyboard, or should she just bin it and buy a new one and a baby's beaker for next time?

Second friend has locked herself in her living room!

Quote from her post

Quote

The door handle has come off in my hand, and the door is firmly locked. Mr M is at a meeting miles away, and his phone is switched off; the kids have gone to school, the heating has timed out, and I am still in a state of undress.

Now that I've thought about it, I want to go to the loo, and I should really make an effort to get in to work. My diary is in my bag, which is hanging over the bannister, so I don't even know if I have anything important to do today. ....

.....My credit cards are in my bag, in the hall.

What I have in here is:
phone, laptop, TV
a couple of books (hardback)
DVDs and CDs
Knitting needles and wool
Contents of bureau (pens etc and assorted junk)
newspaper
box with magazines in it
Cranium game not put away after Saturday
2 sofas, a small table, and a footstool

The window is painted shut, the school won't let her son out to come home and let her out (!), and the neighbour with the spare key isn't in. Is there any magic way to open the door with a knitting needle before she calls out the fire brigade? - she's quite desperate for a wee now...

Jenga · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2003, 06:17:19 AM »

Panic over! Friend #2 got hold of her cleaner who came and rescued her...

Anyone know about the keyboard?

Karnak · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2003, 06:21:47 AM »

Erm, as drying it out didn't work then the next step would be to buy a new keyboard. Fortunately they are one of the cheapest pieces of the computer.

-dead- · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2003, 06:24:00 AM »

Stick the keyboard in a dishwasher for a cycle then leave it upside down to dry out for at least a day - should be alright. That's what some head tech-support person at a computer symposium recommended for this sort of problem.

Jenga · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2003, 06:29:36 AM »

Thanks guys - she might as well give it a go. I once heard someone say to soak it in a bath of water and dry it out, but wasn't too sure whether to recommend that.

Wilfrid · « **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2003, 06:38:29 AM »

Most keyboards keys can be levered off with a flat blunt object like a butterknife. She might want to remove the keys and try cleaning them and the bare keyboard. They push right back on again, she just has to remember where each one goes

Curval · « **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2003, 09:39:15 AM »

Hey Jenga,

Missed this earlier,

Tell her to get a new keyboard...it's the best advice I can give and it is what I would do.

capt. apathy · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2003, 10:35:34 AM »

my kids have dumped crap in my KB many times. just pull off the keys. then use windex and an old tooth brush. dip the brush then scrub. after you're done hold the board upside down and spray the windex on to rinse it. set the board aside (upside down) and then go to scrubbing the keys (huge pain in the ass). let everything dry then put it back together

StSanta · « **Reply #8 on:** January 13, 2003, 01:38:18 PM »

The keyboard is where all the leftover cocaine bits congregate.

Never mind I said that. I'm superman.

Jenga · « **Reply #9 on:** January 13, 2003, 02:27:07 PM »

Thanks to everyone - she's bought a new keyboard now!

Ripsnort · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2003, 02:36:58 PM »

Jenga, she could have easily killed two birds with one stone, plug the keyboard in, drop it in the tub of water, pull it out with bare hands...now she wouldn't have to use her hair dryer! Voila!