# HELP--Myspacebarwon'twork
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [October 2, 2001, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053 "2001-10-02T21:56:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2001, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/1 "2001-10-02T21:56:10Z")
No-joke.All-of-a-sudden-no-spaces.
The-right-cursor-button-doesn’t-seem-to-work-either.
I-reinstalled-keyboard-drivers-ran-scandisc-defrag-rebooted-but-no-improvement.Ihaven’t-spilled-anything-on-it-that-know-of.
Any-suggestions-or-is-it-time-for-a-new-one?
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### Author:  [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/2 "2001-10-02T22:07:27Z")
DISCLAIMER: The following advice involves doing bad things to your keyboard. If ya break a key, it’s not my fault, OK? I’ve done this a bunch before and never had a problem, but ya never know what’s gonna happen when you tell OTHER people to do it.
Turn off your computer and disconnect your keyboard. Connect it again. Turn on the computer. Did that work?
No? OK, step 2:
Turn off your computer. Carefully pop off the bad keys by sliding a butter knife or screwdriver underneath 'em and applying gentle pressure. Look at all the dohickeys that are now exposed. Make sure they’re all clean and tidy. Blow on 'em to get rid of any dust & dirt. Wipe any connectors down with a clean, wet cloth. Put them keys back on. Start it up. Did that work?
No? Step 3:
Buy a new keyboard.
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### Author:  [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2001, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/3 "2001-10-02T22:10:17Z")
Did you try banging on it a few times? Are you sure you hit it hard enough? Also, while you’re hitting it, try screaming, “Work, g_ **it, you stupid fing piece of s** _!”
Repeat as necessary.
Then go buy a new one.
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### Author:  [@nra\_babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nra_babe)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2001, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/4 "2001-10-02T23:16:24Z")
the IBM drop test?? pick up the keyboard about 4 in off the desk and drop it back onto the desk… (works at work, the tech guys come and do it to our computers at first)
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### Author:  [@Dale\_The\_Bold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_The_Bold)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2001, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/5 "2001-10-02T23:39:15Z")
New keyboards run for about 50 bucks. Not bad compared to buying a new computer. Chances are it’s not a software thing, so take that puppy apart and clean it. Check your spacebar to make sure the plastic isn’t broken and that the metal support bars that hold it up aren’t bent or broken. Some people swear by unplugging your keyboard, soaking it in the tub, and letting it air dry for a day. I have drenched mine while cleaning it, without any problems (my keyboard is six years old!). If you do disassemble your keyboard, be warned. There are little suction cup-like dealies that cause the keys to spring back up. If you carelessly yank the two sides of your keyboard apart, it’ll be like piecing together a puzzle.
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### Author:  [@Kalashnikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalashnikov)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2001, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/6 "2001-10-02T23:55:50Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Dale The Bold \*
> **New keyboards run for about 50 bucks**
Dude, you gotta find some better places to shop. Many keyboards go for less than 25 bucks at places like CompUSA, and 5 or 10 bucks at a computer show…
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### Author:  [@seawitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seawitch)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/7 "2001-10-03T00:02:28Z")
I have no constructive comments. I just wanted to say that this was my favorite thread title EVER.
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### Author:  [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/8 "2001-10-03T01:45:50Z")
Th lttr ‘’ on my kyboard has rcntly stoppd oprating corrctly.
Spacs ar asy to gt round by using hyphns or undrscors but th lttr ‘’ is ssntial for typing any mssag if it is to mak any sns whatsovr.
‘’ is th commonst lttr in th nglish languag, and ys I know somon onc wrot an ntir novl without th lttr concrnd.
I suppos h had a problm with his kyboard as wll. It’s bcoming vry tirsom and th way ths kyboards ar mad lavs much to b dsird.
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### Author:  [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/9 "2001-10-03T01:47:27Z")
I must rmmbr to us Prviw mor ftn.
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### Author:  [@Pessor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pessor)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/10 "2001-10-03T02:04:19Z")
Nostradamus…
You can cut and paste these. It’s just ctrl+x and ctrl+v. So every time you need an “e” it’s just a few more keystrokes. No biggie and you’ll be back up to normal typing speed in six months or so.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I’m sure other members would be willing to loan you some. Let us know when you run out.
“Hy you guys it’s Nostradamus… can I gt som mor " s??”
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### Author:  [@WEW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WEW)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/11 "2001-10-03T02:16:57Z")
Truly funny, **pessor**. Thanks, I was feeling kind of grumpy.
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### Author:  [@Pessor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pessor)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/12 "2001-10-03T02:22:11Z")
glad to hlp, WW!
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### Author:  [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/13 "2001-10-03T02:24:01Z")
That was my lin!
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### Author:  [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/14 "2001-10-03T02:43:23Z")
My keyboard died, and a new one was $14.99 at Staples.
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### Author:  [@Stiletto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stiletto)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/15 "2001-10-03T03:40:30Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Athena \*
> \*\*DISCLAIMER: The following advice involves doing bad things to your keyboard. If ya break a key, it’s not my fault, OK? I’ve done this a bunch before and never had a problem, but ya never know what’s gonna happen when you tell OTHER people to do it.
> \*\*
In addition to Athena’s good advice, I will insert one additional step…
1. Put it in the dishwasher. Make sure it is thoroughly dry before you reattach it. This can usually clean a keyboard that is just dirty.
Which takes us to step 4…buy a new keyboard.
If you’re willing to wait for one, you can always try [Pricewatch](http://www.pricewatch.com)…the current low price listed for a keyboard is $2. Or just buy one at Comp USA, or another local retailer. You’ll probably pay $15-$20 there.
Otherwise, best of luck.
-Stil
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### Author:  [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2001, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-myspacebarwontwork/85053/16 "2001-10-03T04:20:03Z")
Careful if you try to pry off the keys. One time I pried up the “escape” key, and that’s just what it did. It flew up into the air… and as far as I could tell, never came back down, vanishing into thin air. Never found it again.