Sticky computer keyboard keys?

[msc545]

Fix this by pulling the cap off the key (you will need a keycap puller, available for $5 on Amazon). Clean all around the switch base with a Q tip soaked in 70% alcohol. If this does not help, put a few drops of the alcohol on the top of the exposed switch, and press it several times to transfer the alcohol downward. This is will work just about every time.

[andreasderjuengere]

Save 5 $ and use a fingernail cleaner to remove keys.

For general ''cleanliness'' a toothbrush (when used every now and then) also works quite nicely.

As for @purplepoppy 's concern...

see my home made keyboard

I cut the wire to make it wireless, put some screws in and hang my keys and other stuff to it.

In the plastic bottles I keep some spare keys. So if I forget a password I not longer get locked out.

[Sevenpointfive]

what about a laptop? i couldn't figure that one out

[msc545]

Same thing. Pull the keycap off, put a drop of 70% alcohol on the switch, push it a few times, and put the cap back on if it pushes and releases smoothly. If not, one more drop of alcohol. If that fails, it's time to go to the shop.

[Sevenpointfive]

i did. i took it too specialty shop. "we don't work on computers that old". took it to geek squad. "we can't do anything for you". i'm kind of sick of people not wanting to do their jobs.

[msc545]

Do it your self. It is easy.

[Sevenpointfive]

says the only one with the tool

[msc545]

buy the $ 5 tool

[slatyb]

I bought the tool on Amazon. Arrived the next day. I removed all the keycaps, washed them, and cleaned the switches.

[Sevenpointfive]

@slatyb well, they threw the laptop away because no one could fix it. i will clean my own keyboard in the future though. i don't really get this problem very often.

[purplepoppy]

I know of one small office that had the bright idea of removing all keys from all keyboards and soaking them in soapy water.

Remembering where they went was the problem.

[goaded]

There was a story about a school, back in the 1980s, where they decided QWERTY was silly, and moved all the keys to ABCDEF. They were very confused when the wrong characters came on the screen.

[exitseven]

@goaded We played a prank on one of the professors at thr College I work at. We took his keyboard and shifted all the characters over one space. He thought it was hilarious.

[msc545]

This is actually pretty easy. Just photograph the keyboard before you pull the keycaps off.

[msc545]

I always photograph the KB first.

[slatyb]

Works great for mechanical keys that can be removed!

[msc545]

all keycaps can be removed

[slatyb]

Mechanical keys can be removed. I have a keyboard that is mechanical except the function keys.

[msc545]

There is a difference between a Keycap and a key. Do you know the difference?

[slatyb]

I've been using a keyboard professionally for decades. My favorite is the Kinesis Advantage.

kinesis-ergo.com/.../

[msc545]

That looks really nice except for it's a split keyboard and I'm not a touch typist. I type fairly quickly but I look at the keys while I'm doing it. I don't think I could use a keyboard that was split like that very comfortable. What do you think?

[slatyb]

How long do you think it takes to learn to touch type? If you force yourself to do it, you will learn in a few days. OTOH two finger typing does not lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. I switched to that keyboard because I was having a lot of pain touch typing all day on a flat keyboard.

[msc545]

I think I partially touch type at this time, but I usually use about three fingers. I don't have carpal tunnel syndrome and according to multiple routines that are available on the internet, I am typing about 60 words per minute which is good enough for me at this point.

[slatyb]

it's plenty unless you are being paid to type, and no one has been this century.