Yesterday my trusty computer keyboard ceased to function and so I contacted HP for assistance. It is a laptop and seven years old so I figured it was on its way to computer heaven. After about 30 minutes with the technician on the other end of the line she pronounced it beyond help. She then went into sales mode telling me about all the great deals on new models.
This morning I went to a local technician who pulled it apart and thought it was the keyboard and quoted $75 for a new keyboard installed. He then looked further and told me it was worse than that and it was beyond fixing. He showed me how to use the onscreen keypad and suggested I wipe all the documents and ditch it. He did not charge anything for this consultation.
I came home, gave it one more try and guess what. The thing is not only working but more quickly than it has since new. Work that out!
DMaxer, I too was recently having problems with 6 year old computer - Windows wouldn't work - problem goes to NBN cutting off line without prior warning - perhaps their Gremlins are also playing with your srvice.
__________________
Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
I use a Nighthawke modem Possum and windows was ok. If I typed anything in with plug in keyboard I attached it continued on like a stuck key. The tech guy took off the keyboard and detached the connecting ribbon. He then plugged in the USB keyboard and nothing happened so pronounced it dead.
What I did was to plug in USB keyboard before powering it up and voila. I think the clean up and probing did the trick.
Yesterday my trusty computer keyboard ceased to function and so I contacted HP for assistance. It is a laptop and seven years old so I figured it was on its way to computer heaven. After about 30 minutes with the technician on the other end of the line she pronounced it beyond help. She then went into sales mode telling me about all the great deals on new models.
This morning I went to a local technician who pulled it apart and thought it was the keyboard and quoted $75 for a new keyboard installed. He then looked further and told me it was worse than that and it was beyond fixing. He showed me how to use the onscreen keypad and suggested I wipe all the documents and ditch it. He did not charge anything for this consultation.
I came home, gave it one more try and guess what. The thing is not only working but more quickly than it has since new. Work that out!
Good one DMaxer, its like calling the RAC out when your car won't start and they hop in and turn the key and it starts. You look like a goose but you are on your way.
Funnily enough Doug, the night before it died we had massive storms and although the van didn't let any water in, the humidity was really high.
Maybe the taking apart and putting back together did something. He also wiped the keyboard and connecting ribbon with an alcohol based solution. Who knows! Saved me a few shekels that's for sure.
Funnily enough Doug, the night before it died we had massive storms and although the van didn't let any water in, the humidity was really high. Maybe the taking apart and putting back together did something. He also wiped the keyboard and connecting ribbon with an alcohol based solution. Who knows! Saved me a few shekels that's for sure.
Yes....Alcohol based solutions often are the solution! Cheers
-- Edited by yobarr on Thursday 17th of December 2020 04:07:47 PM
Friends of mine both around 76yo, 11 years ago packed up their belongings in Melbourne and headed for the Wimmera. No computer and one mobile phone only for contact- and they cant accept pictures!
You have to wonder why many more of us dont do the same. Computer issues, cost, phone issues, apps, scammers blah blah blah, who wants all these headaches late in life?
Being more sensible about it- social media is a prime way to keep in contact with relatives and friends especially interstate. Such contact enhances the relationship immensly and the fact is if you withdraw from social media those relatives and friends will likely not keep in contact as much- just a fact.
So, my point is that basic social media eg limited, is good, computers- one good one between my wife and I is ideal, apps- few as possible, etc etc and Dmaxer, this time you got lucky...
Tony
__________________
Be nice... if I wanted my school teacher here I would have invited him...
Having spent a working lifetime designing electronic equipment at the forefront of technology I can tell you for sure that if a piece of equipment won't work as required the solution is always to beat the crap out of it! It still won't work but you'll feel one hell of a lot better :)
__________________
"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
You have done well and we hope it keeps going. Of course NOW is the time to do a full backup. Just in case
My wife was in Vic earlier and trapped down there in the covid lockdown and her old computer started to be unusable. But she is not one to give up and after some time on the phone help and a visit to a local tech, both of whom said it was stuffed, she got it going using google on her phone. How good is that !! Still working OK !
You have done well and we hope it keeps going. Of course NOW is the time to do a full backup. Just in case
My wife was in Vic earlier and trapped down there in the covid lockdown and her old computer started to be unusable. But she is not one to give up and after some time on the phone help and a visit to a local tech, both of whom said it was stuffed, she got it going using google on her phone. How good is that !! Still working OK !
Computers are the devils work for sure
Jaahn
Excellent advice about the back up. Just did one for my laptop.
It is starting to have problems connecting to my modem using WiFi. OK using WAN. Need WiFi to connect to my mobile hotspot when travelling so I need to get it sorted. I'll get serious after XMAS perhaps.
We live in a very high humidity area and this sort of thing is a constant issue and the fix is more often then not exactly what you have done . Disassemble, clean the connections with 100% IsoPropyl Alcohol ( i buy mine in 5l containers ) and reassemble. 99 times out of 100 problem solved . Hard drive and ram are the worst offenders in my experience. Also IsoPropyl Alcohol makes a brilliant glass cleaner mixed 50/50 with water and excellent for cleaning surfaces before applying any self adhesive products .
How good is that !! Still working OK ! 
