Re: Mouseball comes to life, keyboard dies
Just thought this was worth an update. Today, ten days after this keyboard died under a big splash of water, and refused to work for days afterward, I discovered that it has come back to life. I plugged it into the Mac for a last check before I junked it, and to my surprise found that it works as good as new. I was going to throw the keyboard away after it got soaked by a spilled glass of water and refused to work (typing on it produced nothing when it was connected to the Mac), but Bruce above advised hanging onto it for a while, in case it was still slowly drying out. Well, I guess it was. When I set it aside I found one of those little moisture-absorbing bags in a drawer, that probably came with a packaged hard drive or something, and I tossed this bag on top of the keyboard in case it might do any good. I don't have any idea whether that little bag had anything to do with the revival--the keyboard is so long and the bag so small that I really doubt it, but who knows? Anyway, the lesson is: if your keyboard dies from getting wet, don't give up on it. It might take ten days for it to dry out enough to come back to life, but it certainly can! Tom -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Mouseball comes to life, keyboard dies
Thanks for the help, everybody. As per your advice I'll keep the dead keyboard a while, hoping it dries out eventually, and test it from time to time. I bought a new one for $50, but it never hurts to have a spare. Tom -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Mouseball comes to life, keyboard dies
On 7/30/11 5:07 PM, TVirkkala wrote: Would that early Apple ergonomics keyboard go through the dishwasher? Do you take apart the keyboard, or leave it intact? I just wrap cord around intact keyboard to keep it from tangling up in sprayer. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Mouseball comes to life, keyboard dies
I think I just discovered something. I have a wired Apple mouse with one of those little trackballs on the top, the kind that eventually gets sticky and don't work. Well, the trackball on mine was typical: it didn't work. Sometimes I could get pages to scroll down, but not up. I did the usual things to try to fix it: dripped alcohol and other cleaning fluids on the ball and turned the mouse upside down and worked the ball around and around until dirty liquid seeped out and then the ball sort of worked again, only to fail all over again after a little while. I just gave up on it. Well, my wife brought home one of those Magic Eraser things from Home Depot. Sort of a small white sponge that you add a little water to and then wipe dirt off things with. She gave it to me because I was complaining about how dirty and grubby my keyboard was getting. Well, this Magic Eraser really did clean up my keyboard. A couple of swipes across each key and it was gleaming white just like new. (This is starting to sound like a commercial, but it's not). Anyway, there was the old mouse sitting there too so I wiped it down as well, and in the process rolled the trackball around with the sponge some, and then forgot about it. The next time I used the mouse, the track ball worked much better, though it was still a little sticky when scrolling up. I didn't pay much attention to it. But whatever is in that Magic Eraser thing wasn't done working, I guess, because now, a few days later, the trackball works perfectly, left, right, up, and down. I wonder what's in that eraser thing? On the downside, I had a glass of water sitting next to my keyboard (the very thin aluminum kind), and I bumped it over on the keyboard. The water went all over the keys. Instantly I turned the board over and set it on a towel, and tapped on it, hoping to drain out all the water. Then I fired up a hair dryer and held the keyboard upside down and dried the heck out of it. All to no avail. The keyboard is dead. Tapping on keys gets no response whatever on the screen. I can't figure out how to Magic Erase the inside of a keyboard, assuming it would work. Does anyone know a way this dead keyboard might be resuscitated? -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Mouseball comes to life, keyboard dies
On 7/30/11 3:28 PM, Tom wrote: I think I just discovered something. I have a wired Apple mouse with one of those little trackballs on the top, the kind that eventually gets sticky and don't work. Well, the trackball on mine was typical: it didn't work. Sometimes I could get pages to scroll down, but not up. I did the usual things to try to fix it: dripped alcohol and other cleaning fluids on the ball and turned the mouse upside down and worked the ball around and around until dirty liquid seeped out and then the ball sort of worked again, only to fail all over again after a little while. I just gave up on it. Well, my wife brought home one of those Magic Eraser things from Home Depot. Sort of a small white sponge that you add a little water to and then wipe dirt off things with. She gave it to me because I was complaining about how dirty and grubby my keyboard was getting. Well, this Magic Eraser really did clean up my keyboard. A couple of swipes across each key and it was gleaming white just like new. (This is starting to sound like a commercial, but it's not). Anyway, there was the old mouse sitting there too so I wiped it down as well, and in the process rolled the trackball around with the sponge some, and then forgot about it. The next time I used the mouse, the track ball worked much better, though it was still a little sticky when scrolling up. I didn't pay much attention to it. But whatever is in that Magic Eraser thing wasn't done working, I guess, because now, a few days later, the trackball works perfectly, left, right, up, and down. I wonder what's in that eraser thing? On the downside, I had a glass of water sitting next to my keyboard (the very thin aluminum kind), and I bumped it over on the keyboard. The water went all over the keys. Instantly I turned the board over and set it on a towel, and tapped on it, hoping to drain out all the water. Then I fired up a hair dryer and held the keyboard upside down and dried the heck out of it. All to no avail. The keyboard is dead. Tapping on keys gets no response whatever on the screen. I can't figure out how to Magic Erase the inside of a keyboard, assuming it would work. Does anyone know a way this dead keyboard might be resuscitated? When I run keyboards thru the dishwasher I usually let them stand on one end (against wall, etc) 24-48 hours then flip other end up for same time. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Mouseball comes to life, keyboard dies
On Jul 30, 2011, at 1:28 PM, Tom tba...@nmia.com wrote: On the downside, I had a glass of water sitting next to my keyboard (the very thin aluminum kind), and I bumped it over on the keyboard. The water went all over the keys. Instantly I turned the board over and set it on a towel, and tapped on it, hoping to drain out all the water. Then I fired up a hair dryer and held the keyboard upside down and dried the heck out of it. All to no avail. The keyboard is dead. Tapping on keys gets no response whatever on the screen Let it dry for a few days before you give up on it. Those keyboards are glued together, so no taking them apart to clean. -- Bruce Johnson UA College of Pharmacy -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Mouseball comes to life, keyboard dies
On Jul 30, 2011, at 4:34 PM, Charles Lenington wrote: When I run keyboards thru the dishwasher I usually let them stand on one end (against wall, etc) 24-48 hours then flip other end up for same time. --DISHWASHER-- ??? -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Mouseball comes to life, keyboard dies
On Jul 30, 2011, at 1:40 PM, John V wrote: On Jul 30, 2011, at 4:34 PM, Charles Lenington wrote: When I run keyboards thru the dishwasher I usually let them stand on one end (against wall, etc) 24-48 hours then flip other end up for same time. --DISHWASHER-- ??? Yep, older keyboards are readily cleanable this way, top shelf, gentle cycle, no soap... The current AL keyboards do not take to this treatment, though. -- Bruce Johnson Wherever you go, there you are B. Banzai, PhD -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Mouseball comes to life, keyboard dies
Would that early Apple ergonomics keyboard go through the dishwasher? Do you take apart the keyboard, or leave it intact? Timo V PowerPC G5x2.3GHz MacBook Pro 13 / Workgroup Server 9650 / Power Macintosh 6500 / Power Macintosh 5500/Macintosh SE/30/Macintosh Classic -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Mouseball comes to life, keyboard dies
On 2011/07/30 14:28, Tom wrote: On the downside, I had a glass of water sitting next to my keyboard (the very thin aluminum kind), and I bumped it over on the keyboard. The water went all over the keys. Instantly I turned the board over and set it on a towel, and tapped on it, hoping to drain out all the water. Then I fired up a hair dryer and held the keyboard upside down and dried the heck out of it. All to no avail. The keyboard is dead. Tapping on keys gets no response whatever on the screen. I can't figure out how to Magic Erase the inside of a keyboard, assuming it would work. Does anyone know a way this dead keyboard might be resuscitated? You could try putting the kb in an airtight container along with a good amount of desiccant (dry rice, the packets included with some items for shipping) and leave it be for a good amount of time. This method has been used successfully with mobile phones. Tina -- iMac 20 USB 2 1.25GHz G4 2GB RAM GeForceFX5200 Ultra 64MB VRAM 10.4.11 PB G4 15 HR-DLSD 1.67GHz G4 2GB RAM Radeon 9700 128MB VRAM 10.5.8 Mac Pro Mid-2010 2.8 GHz QC 6 GB RAM Radeon HD 5770 1GB VRAM 10.6.7 -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
