Re: Help!..sticky keyboard

[Jason Lewis <jbl@efn.org>]

> Could someone re-post or e-mail me the directions for getting into the 
> IIGS keyboard and cleaning sticky keys?  My left-hand shift key doesn't 
> want to come back up without some help.  (I'd consult the volumes of A+ 
> magazines I have, but they're at home, and I'm far away at college.)
> Any help would be appreciated.
> 

I don't know if you have the same keyboard as I do, but I have taken mine 
apart on two occaisions to remove things like Milk and Cat Hair (it's 
amazing how much cat hair can build up in 8 years!).

Unplug the keyboard from the computer and mouse cables. There IS power 
running through that line, you CAN do significant damage if you have it 
plugged in while cleaning it.

Turn your keyboard over -- There are three screws near the top (the part 
where the reset button is). Remove these screws, and turn your keyboard 
over again ( a bit of masking tape over the screw holes while the scrrews 
are still in them will keep you from losing the screws,like I did :P) and 
lift gently on the panel around the reset button. It should come right 
off with no resistance if pulled straight up.

Next - the entire keyboard assembly will come out of the housing fairly 
easily. It will tip out a bit from the top (reset side) of the board, and 
then you can pull it out. The keys (not the buttons, but the keys 
themselves, little bits of plastic with letters on them) come off easily, 
simply place a small flathead screwdriver under the side of the key you 
wish to remove, and pry gently against the top of the key beside it. For 
most of the keys, it works best to do it from the side.

The long keys (like the Shift, Control, Return, Space Bar, etc) have 
stabilizer bars in them -- These can be removed fairly easily. They will 
either pop out of their sockets with slight pressure, or (for all the 
keys except the reset) they are only attached like this:
            _________
             |__O__   ==> slides out of bracket like this  
                 \\

Be careful - Don't bend the stabilizer bar, or your key will never feel 
quite right again!

If you find it is the actual BUTTON part of the key that is gunked up, I 
reccomend you replace it - They aren't too easy to take apart and clean 
(and even harder to put back together). Take it to a Macintosh repair shop.

If you decide your keys are just TOO FILTHY (like I decided mine were) 
you can scrub the grime off with a bit of liquid hand-dishwashing soap 
and water, using an old toothbrush. Don't worry too much about scrubbing 
the letters off, they're really on there. Make sure the keys are dry 
before re-attaching them.

I hope this is helpful - I am only reporting from my own personal 
experience taking apart my keyboard. If you have any further problems 
(and can use your computer still), feel free to e-mail me. I'd be happy 
to give more advice on the subject (one of the few hardware subjects I know 
something about!).


    Good Luck!

	Jason