keyboard fried - any way to get in until new one here?

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keyboard fried - any way to get in until new one here?

Hi - A glass of water spilled, first time ever, now keyboard not working for several crucial keys. Until I get a new one, is there any way I can use the mouse to key in my password so I can get past the sign-in? I can't even reset the password since the master password also uses some of the nonworking keys. Any hope I can get in there and access my files??? I'm on my work PC now, but all the important stuff is on the mac...
Thanks - Mary
ps I said other OS since I can't remember exactly and I can't get in to check. I bought it in 2004, it's the one with the half round bottom, 17" screen.

iMac, Other OS

Posted on Oct 7, 2007 2:21 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 7, 2007 8:23 PM in response to myrzh

It's possible to bring a keyboard back after a spill, especially water. This is what happened to me;
I spilled a huge cup of coffee with cream and sugar all over my Apple Pro keyboard. I immediately disconnected it and got two gallon bottles of distilled water (please use distilled water; clorine and other contaminates in tap water will mess it up).
I thoroughly rinsed it out using both gallons. Then turned over the keyboard and shook all the excess water out. Then I placed it on end so the remaining water could slowly drain onto a towel.
I let it dry for two weeks. That's how long it took to totally dry; I checked by looking thru the clear bottom of the keyboard. When I plugged it in it worked perfectly.
During those two weeks I purchased one of those $29.00 white Apple boards and liked it so much that my original is a spare now!

You would not need to rinse it out. The key is not to use it with water in there till it drys. You could fry it. CompUSA had the keyboard I bought. Don't know if they still do.

Cheers! DALE 

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Answer 2

myrzh Author

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Oct 8, 2007 5:24 AM in response to Dale Weisshaar

Thanks for the info Dale. I did unplug it and let it dry out, and it did work after that, although I'd get a number with a typed letter, and had to delete it, and the space bar never worked again. Now I can type all of the QWERTY row of the keyboard, 1/2 of the middle, and most of the bottom row. The other keys are dead dead dead. Does it sound like it will ever come back? Thanks!
Mary

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Answer 3

Oct 8, 2007 12:17 PM in response to myrzh

Unless you let it drain out for several weeks and air dry, it probably still has water in there. I tried to use mine, after just a few days of drying, and only 1/2 the keyboard worked.
I bought the $29.00 one then. I then used my original board, after two weeks of drying, and everything worked. The main thing, is to stop using the board if it is acting up. That most likely means water is shorting it out.

Cheers! DALE 

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Answer 4

myrzh Author

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Oct 9, 2007 10:12 AM in response to Dale Weisshaar

thanks again - it's unplugged and drying, and I got myself one of the $29 ones to use for a few weeks. Cheers!

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Answer 5

Oct 9, 2007 12:04 PM in response to myrzh

You are welcome! For $29.00 you can hardly go wrong. I thought I was going to have to spend a lot more then that. I am typing this on my original board I spilled coffee on. It works gr*r*ea*l;kfnbv;oai*t!

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