Salvaging a drenched laptop

[WearyArgonaut]

My IBM ThinkPad 390E laptop got drenched with Gatorade. Please spare the lectures about laptops and liquids. I’ve learned that lesson in an indelible way. I’m looking for some advice on how to salvage the machine.<br>I sent the laptop to IBM. They said it was totaled and sent it back without fixing it. I am not a corporation that can just junk it and write it off. I can’t afford to lose this laptop. From my perspective, it seems to be working well enough so that it isn’t a total loss. The trackpoint doesn’t work all that well, but I’ve got a Logitech mouse connected through the USB port that is working just fine. I do have a major problem with the keyboard. <br>The keyboard is marginally functional. When I press some of the keys, I get two characters. I’ve tried plugging an external keyboard into it, but when I do so, it locks up on the boot. It is my understanding that Windows 98 only recognizes one keyboard. In the case of laptops with an attached keyboard, it ‘activates’ both the laptop and external keyboards and essentially handles them as the same device. How can I get this laptop to recognize the external keyboard and ignore the internal one? In the device manager, I’ve noticed two memory ranges allocated for the keyboard. Is one for the internal and the other for the external? Is serialkey an option?<br>I am using an ancient Hitachi laptop to key this message. <br>I would be most grateful for any assistance.<br>

 

[Osyris]

I also have a 390E unfortunately it is from my school so if I drenched it in gatorade I would be shot.&nbsp;&nbsp;You should be able to use the device manager to disable the keyboard. (Little box that says &quot;Disable in this hardware Profile&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now if you think you could put it back together....you could take the board out and clean it vigorously with alcohol and hope that it all comes off.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ohh well good Luck.<br><br><A HREF="mailto:Osyris32@Yahoo.com">Osyris32@Yahoo.com</A>

 

[lottie246]

Try to remove the keys that stick and clean them well with soapy water. This worked well on a Toshiba Protege. Also how about buying a docking station so that you can plug in a keyboard mouse monitor etc?

 

[theEclipse]

with your trackball-<br><br>remove the ball and clean the rollers. also, clean the ball.<br><br>this helps when&nbsp;&nbsp;I get something spilt on mine. <p>theEclipse<br><a href=mailto:eclipse_web@hotmail.com>eclipse_web@hotmail.com</a><br><a href=robacarp.webjump.com>robacarp.webjump.com</a><br>**-Trying to build a documentation of a Javascript DOM, crossbrowser, of course. E-mail me if you know of any little known events and/or methods, etc.

 

[WearyArgonaut]

I have the ThinkPad working right now with an external keyboard. Took a wild guess and it seems to be working. When the laptop first boots, the default is to turn the NUMLOCK to 'ON' for the external keyboard. Although IBM doesn't explicitly say this, there is a weakness in their software for dealing with the NUMLOCK. I just make sure that I press the NUMLOCK key off the instant I see the NUMLOCK indicator come on in the boot and the rest goes swimmingly.<br>These ThinkPads are quirky, but they are nice once/if you get them dialed in.<br>Thanks

 

[WearyArgonaut]

Turns out that toggling the NumLock key wasn’t all that consistent a remedy. It remained a hit-or-miss proposition as to whether the laptop would boot or not. Even when it was running, the mouse would occasionally go berserk,. and the stuck keys were a major annoyance.<br>In my internet travels and travails to fix this, I was able to unearth an FTP site where IBM had all of the technical manuals for their PCs. I got to it through an Austrian IBM site. I downloaded everything they had for the 390E. Tried it again a day or two later and was denied access. Not my problem, I got what I needed.<br>Basically I popped the keyboard and pulled the cables/strips connecting the keyboard and trackpoint to the inner boards. Slapped the keyboard back on, connected my Logitech mouse and keyboard to the Y-connector going into the PS2 jack in the back, crossed my fingers and switched it on. This puppy’s purring now. <br>Try this only if you know your warranty’s history anyway.<br>1. Unplug everything<br>2. You’ll need a couple of small flathead screwdrivers, a small Phillips, tweezers, tape (for attaching the tiny screws to the Philips head. I also stood on a rubber mat, and grounded myself.<br>3. Turn the laptop over.<br>4. Pull the battery.<br>5. Pull the hard drive (center plate in back). Turn the screw with a small coin or a flathead; the screw remains attached to the plate.<br>6. After removing plate, carefully pull the drive. It has a handle and slides right out.<br>7. Turn the laptop right-side up.<br>8. Pop the plate just below the LCD where the LED’s and the ‘390E’ is. Underneath you will find the two screws that hold the keyboard in place. Unscrew them.<br>9. You’ll probably have to play with the tab just below the ‘IBM ThinkPad’ logo to lift the keyboard. I did, but it released with some gentle coaxing from the flathead.<br>10. You will find 3 plastic strips in the front of the keyboard. These essentially pull right out. They’re just plastic strips right to the end (no holes or anything for locking devices in these strips).<br>11. Slap the keyboard back on. I just tucked the plastic strips below the keyboard. This step is probably optional, but I did it anyway.<br>12. Reinstall the hard drive.<br>13. Reinstall the battery.<br>14. ‘Bout time for that shot of tequila.<br>15. Switch it on.<br><br>For those who are wondering; yes, I did have a complete backup before I started this crude amputation. It did work though. I’ll probably get the keyboard replaced when I have the extra cash around, but, for now, I’m all set.<br>I’m still less than satisfied with the cavalier way that IBM threw this back at me. By their technical manuals, they use the installed PC Doctor for diagnostics. As of right now, I am coming up completely clean on these diagnostics. The only problems that were surfacing before were the keyboard and trackpoint, and I eliminated that. I am left with the feeling that some tech there at IBM was either lazy or decided to give me the screw and totaled the laptop (they call it ‘Tier Xing’ the laptop). Oh well, they can go to Hell anyway, they’re not going to see this machine in their shop again.<br>