Something's under my keys and...

[mojo1701]

...I need to get it out. Can I take off computer keyboard keys with something, say, a screwdriver and be able to safely put them back with no harm done?

Or do I have to do something else, if there is anything?

 

[trancejeremy]

It depends on the keyboard. Most the ones I've owned I could. Usually they just pop off and on. Try taking off a useless key first.

However, the larger keys should not be taken off (like the shift and space bar and enter). They generally have some sort of extra support, which is almost impossible (at least for me), to hook back up.

 

[mojo1701]

Thanks. I got it out. It was in the numpad, and there seems to be no damage. I just didn't want to chance it.

 

[kirinke]

Sometimes just turning the compy off and shaking the keyboard stragetically will get the foreign object out.

 

[mojo1701]

Sometimes just turning the compy off and shaking the keyboard stragetically will get the foreign object out.

Well, it was a pin that I jammed in there, and needed pressure to get in there in the first place.

 

[Hand of Evil]

discusting what will come out of your keyboard. :\

 

[trancejeremy]

For some reason, I get lots and lots of cat hair in mine.

Which isn't as mysterious as it would be if I didn't have cats, but the cats never really go near the keyboard.

 

[kirinke]

Doesn't much matter. Cat hair and dog hair gets into everything. And you don't know what the cats do while you're away at work or wherever.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Did you know that you can put a Dell keyboard through the dishwasher (with no soap), let it dry COMPLETELY (5-6 days), and it will work? Dell Tech Support won't tell you this, in fact they will tell you it will void the warranty. But it worked when I spilled coffee on a keyboard at work. It's a last resort type fix, but if you are planning on buying a new keyboard anyway, you can try it.*

*if it doesn't work and ruins your keyboard, don't come crying to me. Just relating my experience, and that of several people on a tech support mailing list that I am on.

 

[ukgpublishing]

Did you know that you can put a Dell keyboard through the dishwasher (with no soap), let it dry COMPLETELY (5-6 days), and it will work? Dell Tech Support won't tell you this, in fact they will tell you it will void the warranty. But it worked when I spilled coffee on a keyboard at work. It's a last resort type fix, but if you are planning on buying a new keyboard anyway, you can try it.*

*if it doesn't work and ruins your keyboard, don't come crying to me. Just relating my experience, and that of several people on a tech support mailing list that I am on.

Strangly enough, I was commisioned to evaluate some fire damage out one of our customers, and much of the computer equipment had been smoked damaged. Now many people don't realise this, but even a thin layer of soot will given a few months eat through printed circuit boards.

One of the companies I dealt with did precisely what you did with your keyboard (although a little more hi tech than the dishwasher. The wash every single peice of electrical equiment and put it in a desecating room to dry. 24 hours later as good as new. The key is to make sure it is completely dry

Strange but true.