Chess Computer and Water ???

I have a Kasparov endorsed chess computer make Conquistador, which I bought new in around 1990. So it's around 23 years old. I only use it Sat and Sun mornings, beat in maybe 2 out of 10 games at mid level setting. Batteries ran down, was working fine before, I put new batteries in and thought it wise to spray the top with window cleaner and a bit of a wipe. Now everything works, except white will only recognize first move but not second move along any field. Tried to dry it in the sun for a few hours, no good. What can this be, coincidence, dry spot on soldering, I sprayed too much water and it got in between the buttons ? Any advise PLEASE ?

Are the battery connections really clean? Have you spun the batteries in place where they sit within the machine? That sounds like a problem I had with my Fidelity chess comp once.

Does your computer work on power supply?If so try working with power supply.Does this happen with whoever is white, that is whether computer is white or you are white? Are the new batteries of the same rating and make as the original batteries? Is it possible for you to open the computer and check for any loose connections or wet spots ? You may try removing the RAM and reinserting again..The first few suggestions are simple and safe and be tried easily.The later ones may be tried only with some technical expertise...

Be extremely careful. I coughed when I had a mouthful of coffee, it went into my Mac laptop keyboard.

I took mine to an Apple store, they sent it off to be fixed, and wanted to bill me £500 to get it fixed, it cost £800 from new and was only about a year old.

It turned out they didn't even take the back off the laptop, if they had have, they'd have seen the keyboard wiring itself was wrapped airight in its own packaging as was all the other major components.

It wasn't the coffee that damaged it, it was the stuff I'd put on it to help dry it out. The keys work if wiggled, but its like it now only boots if i press the L key. All the other keys work, but completely jumbled as to which does what.

Best advice is to let it dry out on its own, then see what happens.

But if you do take it to an official dealer to get it fixed, get a few quotes.

It could be any number of things, who knows? If you use it every week for over 20 years, it's seen a lot of use. This might just have been its time to die. (Let's hope not.)

Maybe something in the window cleaner affected the internals?

Try the easy and obvious things first. Maybe static electricity is the culprit. Most dedicated units have a tiny ACL hole on the back of the unit. (ACL stands for "All Clear".) Try to reset the computer by inserting a pointed object such as a straightened paper clip into the ACL hole. If the resetting works, I imagine you should hear a beep and the display should reset. If that doesn't fix the problem, it might be something more serious.

EscherehcsE's advice is very good, that's what you should do. The Conquistador does have an ACL button, and using it to reset the circuitry may help make it work properly again.

On a side note - you need to be really careful when cleaning battery contacts. I once managed to render a Mephisto Super Mondial unit unusable by cleaning the battery contacts (and probably causing some static electricity to build up by rubbing them). That computer does not have an ACL button, so there wasn't much I could actually do once it went haywire. Thankfully, it came back to its senses a few days later (with the stray charge probably having dissipated on its own eventually) and it has been working well since.

Hi, thanks. So far ... Can not find adaptor, so do not know if it will work with adaptor.  Problem is only with white, registers first move, but will not accept second move, no sound either. I used to run 4 x C size Duracell Plus batteries, lasts for over 1 year, and problems started when I put the new batteries in, where I changed to Energizer as they were a bit cheaper. Maybe it got an electrical overcharge impulse when I inserted the Energizer batteries. I don't think it has anything to with my slight window cleaner spray to clean surface.  Tried the ACL button several times, battery contacts look fine. I tried to open the set and unscrewed the 6 screws but it's very tight and I did not want to prise too much. Also don't want to use 4 pound hammer. Any more advice ???

bury it in a bowl of dry, uncooked white rice for a few days. It is the standard way of removing moisture from sensitive electronics. the dry uncooked rice goes into the small spaces and absorbs moisture. after a couple of days take it out of the rice, and shake it to make sure all the rice is gone. reinsert batteries and try it. its your best bet. I've fixed cameras and phones which got tea spilled on them this way. good luck.

This computer is, just about, my best friend. Had it for nearly 25 years. I am surprised that when I googled Conquistador, the feedback was "it's vintage". This was about the best you could get in those days and I wanted the best. Had more money and more hair then. I will get it going somehow. I have also come across some sites that offer chess computer swinging competitions, eg my computer is bigger than yours. Chess rules have not changed and I wonder if chess.com permit members to play one computer against another computer, as long as both parties are aware. This would be fun, when my "vintage" Ford T equivalent beats the latest "Ferrari" equivalent. 

have you tried the uncooked rice?

You were using Duracell. ...things were fine...u changed to ENergiser..the problem came...have you tried DUracell again ? ....please do so....

Thanks. I am going to try the rice now for a few days. Found the adaptor, problem persists. So I don't think it's the batteries. Will keep you guys posted next week...... Have good weekend.

listen to me. It has worked twice for me, in both cases I thought there was no point in trying. I heard about it in chinatown, here in Toronto. I had spilled tea on my phone and it was all wacky. The guy at the phone store in chinatown said 'its the only thing that has any chance of working'. I thought it was Chinese voodoo superstition, but it makes good sense, and since then I have fixed a digital camera that fell in the bottom of a rowboat that had water in it. You have to take out the batteries, take off the battery cover, so that the rice can get into all the crevices. Good luck, and check in when you have some results. 

Tried the rice over 2 days, problem persists whether on batteries or adaptor. White will register first move on starting new game, but will not accept second move whether on first or second square anywhere on the board.

I guess the water spray had nothing to do with this, as I have done this over the past years several times. I suspect maybe a dry joint on one of the soldered contacts ???

:(  it was worth the try. maybe ebay is selling the same machine in mint condition, if you want to replace it. good luck. 

Have you tried DUracell batteries again?when u changed the batteries were the batteries totally drained and so u changed or was the voltage getting low?u may try the same old DUracell batteries ...

Old Duracell batteries were drained and did not want to register anything anymore. I remember in the past I used all sorts of batteries, but over the years realised that Duracell lasted the longest. But all other makes worked as well, maybe shorter, but they worked. I have a 1992 C280 Mercedes and the remote immobiliser packed up and one specialist said this always happens to some soldered joints on the circuit board, which are known as dry joints (over time they become non contact = dry). He applied new solder with a soldering iron to all joints, half an hour later and as good as new).  Maybe this my problem. But which circuits control only the white second moves ? Like Pink Floyd said "Is there anybody out there ??"

Just nod if you can hear me.....

Send it in to Garry! He´ll be concerned about his image, now he´s running for Pres, you´ll probably get a new one ...

(sorry for the tongue in cheek, I wish you every success ... that was my first chess computer too, also round about 1990, and I loved it until the cat used it for a non-specified purpose ... :(