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ibook trackpad problem

QCassidy352

QCassidy352

macrumors G5
Original poster
Mar 20, 2003
12,028
6,036
Bay Area
my 12" ibook has a problem that I'm afraid I caused. In trying to clean the hand rests with a moist and soapy cloth, I'm afraid that some soap may have gotten in to the cracks around the trackpad. :-o

Now, when I tap on the trackpad - I don't mean click it, but just tap it gently - there's a little sound, like a soft click or crunch. I'm wondering if there's somehow dried soap there which is making the sound, and if so, if there's any way to clean it. Is it possible to remove the trackpad button or otherwise get under there to check and see if anything is there? :-(
 
D

Demon Hunter

macrumors 68020
Mar 30, 2004
2,284
39
This happened to my PowerBook with a few drops of Mountain Dew. :eek:

With the machine off, I very very very carefully used a damp cloth to allow some clean water into the area where I heard the sound. Not more than a few drops! Press on the button repeatedly and try to cleanse it like this.

I also recommend never using soapy water again. :eek: I use iKlear.
 
OutThere

OutThere

macrumors 603
Dec 19, 2002
5,730
3
NYC
QCassidy352 said:
my 12" ibook has a problem that I'm afraid I caused. In trying to clean the hand rests with a moist and soapy cloth, I'm afraid that some soap may have gotten in to the cracks around the trackpad. :-o

Now, when I tap on the trackpad - I don't mean click it, but just tap it gently - there's a little sound, like a soft click or crunch. I'm wondering if there's somehow dried soap there which is making the sound, and if so, if there's any way to clean it. Is it possible to remove the trackpad button or otherwise get under there to check and see if anything is there? :-(
Click to expand...

Let it dry thoroughly before getting it any more wet, and see if it goes away, it could very well still be damp in there.

I'd stay away from using soap, go with a http://housekeeping.about.com/od/productreviews/gr/mrcleanmagicer.htm They work great! :)
 
devilot

devilot

Moderator emeritus
May 1, 2005
15,584
1
dferrara said:
I also recommend never using soapy water again. :eek: I use iKlear.
Click to expand...
I agree... I've seen Apple employees using iKlear and well, I like it. :p I'd be a bit wary of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, but that's just me I guess. I couldn't live w/ myself if I goofed and ruined my $$$ laptop. :eek:
 
QCassidy352

QCassidy352

macrumors G5
Original poster
Mar 20, 2003
12,028
6,036
Bay Area
oh, believe me, I'm done with the soap! It's good to hear that this happened to someone else and was fixable. iKlear is a great suggestion - I'll try that. Thanks!
 
QCassidy352

QCassidy352

macrumors G5
Original poster
Mar 20, 2003
12,028
6,036
Bay Area
booo the pure water didn't work! The click is still there. :( Maybe when the water dries it will be better...

there's no way to take that button off, right? :(
 
OutThere

OutThere

macrumors 603
Dec 19, 2002
5,730
3
NYC
devilot76 said:
I agree... I've seen Apple employees using iKlear and well, I like it. :p I'd be a bit wary of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, but that's just me I guess. I couldn't live w/ myself if I goofed and ruined my $$$ laptop. :eek:
Click to expand...

It's basically just a really dense sponge that you dampen slightly...no special chemicals or buckets of water involved :)
 
D

Demon Hunter

macrumors 68020
Mar 30, 2004
2,284
39
QCassidy352 said:
booo the pure water didn't work! The click is still there. :( Maybe when the water dries it will be better...

there's no way to take that button off, right? :(
Click to expand...

After I cleaned mine the button would still make a "double-click" noise until I broke it in some more (it's gone now), but the friction sound was gone.

Use your button for awhile and see if it gets better?
 
QCassidy352

QCassidy352

macrumors G5
Original poster
Mar 20, 2003
12,028
6,036
Bay Area
dferrara said:
After I cleaned mine the button would still make a "double-click" noise until I broke it in some more (it's gone now), but the friction sound was gone.

Use your button for awhile and see if it gets better?
Click to expand...

I think maybe mine has always been like a kind of "double click" sound... hard to describe, but it's more like a click than friction.

I actually think the water may have made the noise worse. But maybe that means that when it all eventually dries it will go away entirely?

Oh, this kind of thing drives me crazy!
 
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