My Das keyboard failed for 2 minutes, then started working again!

I thought my machine locked up as it sometimes does from browser overload, and almost rebooted it, when I noticed that it was actually alive (it's a notebook I keep under the desk). dmesg showed a few error messages with "Possible bad USB cable", and unplugging and plugging it in did nothing (no lights, no response)

A little percussive maintenance and it was back to work like nothing ever happened.

Is that what they mean by 'mechanical'?

Apr 28 · 8 months ago

6 Comments ↓

I keep a rubber mallet by my desk that is labeled "precision adjustment tool." Perfect for percussive maintenance and fending off intruders.

But in your case I'm sure it just needs a firmware update or three. Do not unplug or use your keyboard while the update is applying.

Geez, I haven't even thought about firmware updates!

I think my keyboard is too old -- not even mentioned!

Also Das Q software seems like a bunch of bull***t anyway -- rgb colors to monitor stock price and weather, etc -- basically a way to track you. No me gusta.

At least keyloggers are honest about their intent.

static charge crashed the keyboard controller?

In my entire life I've never seen a static discharge damage anything, especially temporarily... And I ve done a fair amount of electrical engineering and PCB design. I have a conspiracy theory that static electricity is not real, kind of like the fake moon landing.

Get one of those ESD guns and go to town on some equipment you don't mind destroying while it's running. Make sure it's a floating power supply e.g. from a battery. You'll probably just crash it rather than damage it. This is one of the ways I misspent my youth.