[carboy]

What do you guys use to clean dirt from a laptop - especially that stuck behind the keys.

I have a Thinkpad.

[sgiitk]

Originally Posted by carboy

What do you guys use to clean dirt from a laptop - especially that stuck behind the keys.

I have a Thinkpad.

Same here. I find a 2" soft bristled paintbrush the best. I have been using it for over five years, esp on keyboards.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by carboy

What do you guys use to clean dirt from a laptop - especially that stuck behind the keys.

I have a Thinkpad.

. Take the keyboard out, it can be detached by unscrewing a few screws
. Detach the key tops.
. Use a brush to clean loose dirt.
. Use a wet cloth to clean up most of the surface.
. Use an earbud for hard to reach places.
. Wash the key tops with soap water and cloth to clean up the accumulated muck.
. Dry every thing thoroughly.
. Assemble the key tops.
. Screw the keyboard back.
. Check the functioning of the keyboard.

For desktop only the first point is skipped.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

Same here. I find a 2" soft bristled paintbrush the best. I have been using it for over five years, esp on keyboards.

Thank you - any idea about using compressed air for cleaning the keyboard?

Originally Posted by Aroy

. Take the keyboard out,

:-) Well, I am terrible with DIY. Even if I am able to take it apart, I won't be able to put it back.

[sgiitk]

@carboy; The risk with compressed air is that you may blow some muck deeper. Otherwise compressed air is used.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

@carboy; The risk with compressed air is that you may blow some muck deeper. Otherwise compressed air is used.

Thank you. Where can I buy Isopropyl alcohol?

[sgiitk]

Originally Posted by carboy

Thank you. Where can I buy Isopropyl alcohol?

It is widely available as Medical Spirit. Now IPA is used in place of Denatured Ethanol in the past. I will be carrying a small amount of blue dye. Try any chemist.

[DwarkaDelhiWala]

Originally Posted by carboy

Thank you. Where can I buy Isopropyl alcohol?

You can buy IPA from School/College Laboratory Reagent sellers (scientific goods shops). Its available in two grades - Analytical (more pure) and Reagent. The one available with chemists (blue liquid) is IPA mixed with water.

[JMaruru]

The optical drive of my dell XPS(L502X) is NOT detecting DVDs.
But, some CDs are getting detected.

I called a friend/technician and he suggested to run lens cleaner CDz.
Would this help? What could be wrong here? Please advise.

[DwarkaDelhiWala]

Originally Posted by micrographics

.....
Finally opted for Dell Inspiron 15 7559 Model with 16 Gb, 4G Graphics, 128Gb SSD + 1 TB HDD, 4K Display.

I'm looking at this laptop as well. Can you please give some feedback as to how its performing? is the keyboard back-lit?

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by JMaruru

The optical drive of my dell XPS(L502X) is NOT detecting DVDs.
But, some CDs are getting detected.

I called a friend/technician and he suggested to run lens cleaner CDz.
Would this help? What could be wrong here? Please advise.

If the drive has not been used for some time then the lens may be covered in dust. Try blowing hard into the drive. If you have a blower direct an air blast into the drive, it may blow the dust off.

[JMaruru]

Originally Posted by Aroy

If the drive has not been used for some time then the lens may be covered in dust. Try blowing hard into the drive. If you have a blower direct an air blast into the drive, it may blow the dust off.

Thanks! Will do that. Also, can i use some spirit and micro fiber to clean the lens?

Any recommendations for DVD burner software?

[sgiitk]

Originally Posted by JMaruru

The optical drive of my dell XPS(L502X) is NOT detecting DVDs.
But, some CDs are getting detected.

I called a friend/technician and he suggested to run lens cleaner CDz.
Would this help? What could be wrong here? Please advise.

I was once advised by the expert technician to always leave a CD/DVD in the carrier.

It seems this prevents or reduces the entry of dust/grit.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by JMaruru

Thanks! Will do that. Also, can i use some spirit and micro fiber to clean the lens?

Any recommendations for DVD burner software?

Plastic of the lens may cloud/melt with spirit, so avoid it. A bit of moisure on a microfiber cloth is enough.

[JMaruru]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

I was once advised by the expert technician to always leave a CD/DVD in the carrier.

It seems this prevents or reduces the entry of dust/grit.

Will follow this advise. Thank you!

Originally Posted by Aroy

Plastic of the lens may cloud/melt with spirit, so avoid it. A bit of moisure on a microfiber cloth is enough.

All right! Thank you!