HP Forum Archive 15

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HP48GX - Coffee Spill Accident Message #1 Posted by rob on 6 May 2005, 2:04 p.m. Howdy: Here's one for a few good laughs... Working away and spilled a cup of coffee on my trusty 48GX. Not a little coffee, mind you, but the WHOLE cup. I have had this 48GX since 1993.... It did not see to be thrilled to take a bath in coffee and promptly stopped functioning. Took the batteries out, rinsed it in distilled water, dried it out for a few days and put batteries back in. Unit beeped on and displayed "Try To Recover Memory?" message. However, it does nothing when I press Yes or No. And if I press the ON button, the unit just beeps continuously Any other tragic coffee/calculator stories which have had this outcome? Any suggestions? Thanks!

Re: HP48GX - Coffee Spill Accident Message #2 Posted by Cöburlin on 6 May 2005, 2:16 p.m., in response to message #1 by rob Rob, I think you are asking the wrong bunch of people, but I will give it a shot anyway: 1. Send it back to HP and demand a new one. With free shipping. 2. Sell it on ebay and when the seller complains blame it on Coburlin (the Merchant). 3. Accuse James or Bill of stealing your coffee. Sincerely, Cöburlin The Dröll Tröll

Re: HP48GX - Coffee Spill Accident Message #3 Posted by Rob on 6 May 2005, 2:39 p.m., in response to message #2 by Cöburlin I'm afraid that I must take full responsibilty for this tragic accident. More so than the spill problem, I am wondering if there is a solution (or diagnosis) based on the latest symptom with the non-responsive "Try To Recover Memory" message....... Is it flat-lining or is there hope for recovery?

Re: HP48GX - Coffee Spill Accident Message #4 Posted by Ron Ross on 6 May 2005, 3:18 p.m., in response to message #1 by rob Try a hard reset also. There is a pin hole under one of the upper feet closest to the top memory card slot. Push a paper clip through the hole. Also, if you have memory cards, take them out and re-insert and use the command "PINIT"

Re: HP48GX - Coffee Spill Accident Message #5 Posted by Randy on 7 May 2005, 5:26 p.m., in response to message #1 by rob I would bet the keyboard is still full of coffee or it's still wet. Let it soak in warm distilled water for 15 minutes or so and press all the buttons several times while submerged to really flush the keyboard. Repeat with clean dw again, shake out all you can and put a small fan on it in a warm place for at least a day. It should recover if it is clean internally.

Re: HP48GX - Coffee Spill Accident Message #6 Posted by Steve A on 7 May 2005, 7:23 p.m., in response to message #5 by Randy Quicker than a fan: pull dry air through the case with a shop vacuum. Just don't try this if you've rinsed the device with alcohol, unless you like noisy surprises.

AFAIK, Randy proposes the best solution; also... Message #7 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 8 May 2005, 2:00 a.m., in response to message #5 by Randy ...while the calculator is in the warm distilled water, gently shake it (all directions) so the cleaning is more effective. Cheers and success. Luiz (Brazil) 123456 to remove Edited: 8 May 2005, 2:05 a.m.

<What was the coffee brand?? It's important!>HP48GX - Coffee Spill Accident Message #8 Posted by Marx Pio on 7 May 2005, 11:50 p.m., in response to message #1 by rob Was a brazilian coffee brand? If yes, be in peace man, at least your calc is sleeping in a wonderland of pleasure and it is thanking you for the baptism of coofee. If it is a colombian or other coffee brand, be aware, your calc is probably getting nuts for sure. Pio

Re: HP48GX - Coffee Spill Accident Message #9 Posted by John Mosand on 8 May 2005, 11:42 a.m., in response to message #1 by rob When I had the same kind of accident about 12 years ago, I rinsed it in tap water and placed it in the convection oven on the lowest heat for the rest of the day. My favorite calculator (48SX) is still working perfectly! (BTW I forgot to remove the batteries, but that didn't seem to make any difference...)

Re: HP48GX - Coffee Spill Accident Message #10 Posted by rob on 9 May 2005, 8:18 a.m., in response to message #1 by rob Appreciate all the encouraging words. I have soaked/rinsed it twice in distilled water. Just waiting out the drying period. In a couple of days I will put in the batteries and see what happens... If that doesn't do it, I will move to the alcohol treatment (for me And the calculator). Not sure what kind of coffee it was (company cafeteria), but I am sure it was not Brazilian. Maybe it is protesting my poor taste in coffee? HAHAHA Thank again!

Re: HP48GX - Coffee Spill Accident Message #11 Posted by Randy on 9 May 2005, 4:44 p.m., in response to message #10 by rob I would be very cautious of using alcohol, not a good idea in general. It doesn't dissolve sugars very well, not to mention it leaves white stains on the keyboard and damages adhesives and foams in the unit. Older G's with the dull paint (pre-1995) will have the finish striped off in most cases. If washing in DW doesn't fix it, alcohol isn't going to help.

Re: HP48GX - Coffee Spill Accident Message #12 Posted by Rob on 16 May 2005, 9:31 a.m., in response to message #11 by Randy Hooray!! It has come alive after two cleanings/rinsings in distilled water. So far, so good. My calc seems to be working just as it did before the spill. Thank you to all who lent a hand.

Re: HP48GX - Coffee Spill Accident Message #13 Posted by Randy on 16 May 2005, 12:25 p.m., in response to message #12 by Rob Another one back from the dead! Congrats!

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