Does the keyboard have screws on the backside? If so, remove the screws and the top half of the keyboard should lift off. Under the individual keys there should be a plastic cover that protects the inner components from dirt and debris falling inside. Vacuum it off or use compressed air to remove the debris. Then follow it up with a Q-Tip lightly saturated with Windex or a similar type of cleaner which remove the stuck on gunk.
If you have a REALLY basic keyboard ... put it in the dishwasher without soap. I do this all the time when things get really dirty. I know it sounds crazy, but it has worked for me. Couple people at work here do the same thing. But I wouldn't put one of those fancy pants keyboards with a billion internet key or chrome finish.. that would be silly.
Either that or get some compressed air cans from a local computer retailler. Great for high pressure cleaning in hard to reach places.
Yes, it does have screws in the back. I thpught about unscrewing, but I'm afraid all these keyboard buttons+other multimedia buttons will be misplaced afterwards....tempting though to give it a try!
Well, my keyboard is the "multimedia" type that has a USB port, and volume/play buttons in addition to the standard keys, so I wouldn't try the dishwasher (also what about the LED's and internal cicuitry? Doesn't it get spoiled with water?)
It would be cool though to have a machine wash the keyboard!
With the top half of the keyboard off the keys should still stay in place. The first time I did mine I played it safe and photocopied the keyboard so I would know the key's location in the event it fell off. I never had a problem and the keys stay on their shafts. They can be removed, but it take some effort.
I also have one of those USB keyboards and it needs some major cleaning. how would the buttons stay on when you unscrew them?
I also have another question, my keyboard has 7 buttons on top. One with a plus sign, one with a minus sign, one with play/pause, one with a house, one with an arrow to the right and another to the left and one with the picture of a letter.
But nothing happens when i press them, how can I activate them?
I tried unscrewing my keyboard to clean it but the bottom half came off not the top one, so i was not able to clean it. the model is RT7D10
how should I do it?
Go to the Downloads section of the Dell Website, input your Service Tag Number or your specific Dell model and go to the "Input Devices" section, and download the correspondingDellTouch application for your specific keyboard model. My keyboard also has 7 buttons and the DellTouch application enables me to customize all 7 of them, but keep in mid that depending on the keyboard model not all buttons might be able to be customized.
I have the same keyboard model as yours, and my DellTouch application enables me to customize all 7 buttons. It's the DellTouch v2.01 by Netropa Corporation, and for the buttons to be customized the DellTouch utility must be running in the background (make sure the application "DellMMkb.exe" is listed under the "Processes" Tab of Windows Task Manager and that the DellTouch Application icon shows up in the System Tray).
Also you might want to reinstall the utility without any programs running in the background and restart the PC for changes to take effect, and make sure to have the USB cable of the keyboard well connected.
Majestic
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June 24th, 2004 13:00
-WYSIWYG-
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June 24th, 2004 18:00
alegator,
If you have a REALLY basic keyboard ... put it in the dishwasher without soap. I do this all the time when things get really dirty. I know it sounds crazy, but it has worked for me. Couple people at work here do the same thing. But I wouldn't put one of those fancy pants keyboards with a billion internet key or chrome finish.. that would be silly.
Either that or get some compressed air cans from a local computer retailler. Great for high pressure cleaning in hard to reach places.
^_^ Cheers
alegator
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587 Posts
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June 24th, 2004 19:00
Yes, it does have screws in the back. I thpught about unscrewing, but I'm afraid all these keyboard buttons+other multimedia buttons will be misplaced afterwards....tempting though to give it a try!
Thanks.
alegator
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587 Posts
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June 24th, 2004 19:00
Well, my keyboard is the "multimedia" type that has a USB port, and volume/play buttons in addition to the standard keys, so I wouldn't try the dishwasher (also what about the LED's and internal cicuitry? Doesn't it get spoiled with water?)
It would be cool though to have a machine wash the keyboard!
Regards.
Majestic
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9.4K Posts
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June 24th, 2004 20:00
AboutNirvana57
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September 4th, 2004 12:00
I also have another question, my keyboard has 7 buttons on top. One with a plus sign, one with a minus sign, one with play/pause, one with a house, one with an arrow to the right and another to the left and one with the picture of a letter.
But nothing happens when i press them, how can I activate them?
AboutNirvana57
8 Posts
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September 4th, 2004 15:00
how should I do it?
alegator
2 Intern
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587 Posts
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September 5th, 2004 23:00
Nirvana,
To make those buttons functional, you need to download/install the "DellTouch" utility. With it you can customize those buttons to your preference.
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/type.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_8200&category=17&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=2243&devlib=17
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/type.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_8200&category=17&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=2633&devlib=17
Regards.
AboutNirvana57
8 Posts
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September 6th, 2004 15:00
I clicked on your first link and downloaded the thing. But it only lets me program three buttons, my keyboard has SEVEN hotkeys.
alegator
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587 Posts
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September 6th, 2004 16:00
Nirvana,
Go to the Downloads section of the Dell Website, input your Service Tag Number or your specific Dell model and go to the "Input Devices" section, and download the correspondingDellTouch application for your specific keyboard model. My keyboard also has 7 buttons and the DellTouch application enables me to customize all 7 of them, but keep in mid that depending on the keyboard model not all buttons might be able to be customized.
Regards.
AboutNirvana57
8 Posts
0
September 6th, 2004 19:00
alegator
2 Intern
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587 Posts
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September 6th, 2004 22:00
Nirvana,
I have the same keyboard model as yours, and my DellTouch application enables me to customize all 7 buttons. It's the DellTouch v2.01 by Netropa Corporation, and for the buttons to be customized the DellTouch utility must be running in the background (make sure the application "DellMMkb.exe" is listed under the "Processes" Tab of Windows Task Manager and that the DellTouch Application icon shows up in the System Tray).
Also you might want to reinstall the utility without any programs running in the background and restart the PC for changes to take effect, and make sure to have the USB cable of the keyboard well connected.
Regards.