Clean your Keyboard

Q.  Can you help me change the size of my mouse pointer?  I’ve looked everywhere I can think of, but I can’t seem to find how to do it.

A.  Depending on the version of Windows you’re using, click Start > Settings > Control Panel or Start > Control Panel. Double-click the Mouse icon, followed by the Pointers tab. In the Scheme section, click the drop-down list and select the scheme named Windows Standard Large or Windows Black Large, then Apply > OK. Try several of the schemes to determine which one you prefer.

Q.  A couple of keys stick on my keyboard. I don’t know what to do other than buy a new keyboard.  Is there anything I can use to unstick the keys, and if so, how would I go about it?

A.  Keyboards can take a lot of abuse from dust and dirt, but it’s a good idea to clean them on a regular basis. While cleaning your keyboard, there are few things you can try to free up your sticking keys.

Let’s begin by reviewing the requisite cleaning supplies: You’ll need a can of compressed air, a lint-free cloth, mild liquid dishwashing detergent, a small screwdriver (for removing keys), cotton swabs, isopropyl alcohol, and it never hurts to have a martini standing by, just in case things don’t go well. Before you begin, shut down your computer and if it isn’t wireless, unplug the keyboard from the back of your PC.

Take the keyboard outside and begin by shaking out any loose debris, keyboard bunnies, loose change, car keys, small animals, and anything else that might have slithered under the keys. You may be surprised or appalled at the amount of flotsam that shakes loose, which is why I suggest doing this outdoors.  If you elect to do it inside, be sure to have a vacuum cleaner close at hand.

Next, use the compressed air to loosen and remove dirt by directing the air stream between the keys. Alternate blasts of air with additional keyboard shaking.

To remove dirt, oils from your hands, dried spills, or other foreign substances from the surface of your disgusting keyboard, place a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent in warm water. Use a cloth dampened in this solution to gently clean the key surfaces, then wipe the keys with a dry, lint-free cloth.

The following steps are risky and may result in damage to your keyboard, so proceed with caution:  Use your screwdriver to gently pry off the sticking keys. Too much force can break the keys, so be very careful. Don’t try to remove larger keys such as ENTER, SHIFT, TAB or the SPACEBAR because they can be very difficult to replace. Most importantly, don’t forget which key goes where. Hello?

Use a cotton swab to clean under a key, around its post, and the underside of the key itself. Use the alcohol (not the martini), if necessary. When everything is about as clean as it’s going to get, replace the key(s), plug the keyboard back into your computer, start up your PC, and see how the keyboard works.

Depending on the age of your keyboard and your success cleaning it, purchasing a new keyboard may still be a viable option. Keyboards are available online at any computer supplies retailer such as www.newegg.com, and many office supply stores. You should be able to find a basic, no-frills keyboard for approximately $20.

Mr. Modem’s Sites of the Week:
World Carrot Museum
If you’ve got your summer vacation planned, you’ll probably want to rearrange your itinerary to visit the World Carrot Museum—not to be confused with your local carrot museum.  Healthy, orange, and chock-full of Vitamin A, the carrot is an extraordinary veggie. Take a virtual tour of this unique museum, courtesy of Mr. Carrot himself.  Learn about the nutritional and medicinal benefits of the almighty carrot, view some authentic “Carrot Art,” and read about the rich history of this venerable vegetable.
www.carrotmuseum.com

Trivia Library
A collection of interesting articles spanning hundreds of topics, perfect for Jeopardy fans, trivia buffs, and the pathologically curious. The default font on this site is tiny, but as you move your cursor over the text it will enlarge. As an option, use your browser’s View > Text Size feature to increase the size of the display font.  
www.trivia-library.com

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