The PC Doctor's Fix-it-Yourself Guide- P31: A technical director for a UK-based computer company who teaches such courses as Caring for Your PC has developed prescriptions for treating sick PCs. Arguing the benefits of fixing it yourself rather than relying on experts, his mission is to empower users with trouble- shooting and safe repair skills. | CHAPTER 15 Input Devices 299 Hooking Up a Keyboard How you hook up a keyboard depends on what connectors are on the keyboard and what connectors you have available on your PC. There are three that you can choose from PS 2 or mini-DIN connector The larger DIN-5 connector USB connector Most personal computers have a specific PS 2 connector at the back of the system ready and waiting for you to connect the keyboard and usually this is the quickest and easiest way to hook it up. Some keyboards also come with additional USB ports attached that make plugging and unplugging your temporary USB devices external memory digital camera portable music device etc. a lot easier than having to climb around the back every time to do it. If you want this function to work you ll have to plug the keyboard into the USB port too. FIX-IT-YOURSELF HOME REMEDY You might have a keyboard that itself can work off the USB port which means you d only have to connect it to the USB port or it might be a PS 2 keyboard with USB ports on it in which case you 7 need to connect both connectors to get the USB ports to work. Keyboard Maintenance Primary keyboard maintenance consists of two things Keeping the keys clean and free from dirt dust and muck Keeping the keyboard away from liquids Cleaning Your Keyboard Computers attract a lot of dust a lot of which falls onto the keyboard. Combine this with oils from skin and hair human and pets and you have the perfect recipe for a natural cement that will clog up your keyboard. 300 The PC Doctor s Fix-It-Yourself Guide Keep your keyboard clean Over time dirt and dust can build up and accumulate around and under the keys and cause them to stick or become hard to press down. In extreme cases the dirt can build up to levels where keys no longer work. At this stage cleaning becomes difficult and damage to the delicate keys might have already occurred. PC DOCTOR S ORDER Always clean your keyboard while the PC is off. You could be pressing a lot of keys and if the
