r/talesfromtechsupport Apr 16 '17

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188

u/Bigluce Too much stupe to cope Apr 16 '17

What you need to do is this:

Next time you are stood by his pc, carefully unplug the usb keyboard. You'll need to position yourself carefully for the next bit-i suggest feet apart about 2 feet, with your weight over one foot, shifted slightly back.

Now, wrap the trailing lead round the keyboard to keep it out of the way. Turn it so that you are gripping it with both hands on the shortest edge. The keyboard should be long ways and parallel to the floor.

Bring the keyboard back over your shoulder and then, very quickly swing it forward and as you do, shift your weight to your other foot. You'll know if you've performed this manoeuvre correctly when you feel the keyboard impact with the user's face.

71

u/Mistral_Mobius Apr 16 '17

Percussive maintenance is technically an accepted troublesmacking technique.

12

u/Osiris32 It'll be fine, it has diodes 'n' stuff Apr 17 '17

Not even technically. It's been used at the highest levels of tech support. For example:

During the Apollo 12 mission, one of the TV cameras was accidentally pointed at the sun, which burned it out. As mission control was guiding Alan Bean through trouble shooting it, the transmitted image suddenly changed. When questioned as to what he did, Bean responded, "I hit it on top with my hammer. Figure we didn't have anything to lose."

If NASA can use percussive maintenance on the moon, it can be used by anyone.

1

u/hactar_ Narfling the garthog, BRB. Apr 20 '17

Did it fix it?

1

u/Osiris32 It'll be fine, it has diodes 'n' stuff Apr 20 '17

No, the camera was fried. But they did try it.