Cloughies Clinic: Spring Clean Your ZX Spectrum

Cloughies Clinic: Spring Clean Your ZX Spectrum!

Firstly, I'd like to thank Dave and the darling Amanda for letting me write for their tapezine. I did have some gardening to do but that can wait. I'm writing this new feature because my graphic was so easy to grab from my CDS football game but that's their story. Now then, its very nearly spring-time and all things need a good old fashioned deep clean to keep your whatevers working properly.

You wouldn't believe the amount of keyboard membranes the lad Nigel used to get through as he thrashed away at Match Day on the rubber keyed Speccy I'd bought him one Xmas. If only I'd known that an annual internal might well have solved the problem. It gets clogged up with dust, hairs, crumbs and the odd gin and tonic spillage you know. I once spent several hours trying to removing a layer of sticky Tennents Super I had clumsily dropped onto the keyboard whilst playing Rolands Rat race. Great game that. After removing the screws in the base of your Speccy, be very careful as the two halves are still joined by a couple of very delicate keyboard strips. If you knacker these you really will need a new membrane so go easy young man! The first 48K is easy but look out for the others with the built in tilters. It took me the best part of two weeks trying to work out how to put the little leg bits back in place (and I'm not stupid, I just forgot to buy a goal-scorer in time). Remove the back plate by either bending back the tabs (48K) or removing the screws and then just have a gander at all that yuck and cack! It's like someone has been shoving it down when you were out making the tea. Or something.

Now, don't go stampeeding for that can of Mr.Sheen or the damp sponge. You use ANYTHING moist and your Speccy is going to suffer for the rest of its life (which won't be very long I can tell you!) Gently wipe away the filth with a clean dry cloth. If you do encounter that dried blob of ribena then it's best left rather than scrub at it with wire wool. This is your Speccy with its sensitive belly bits out so treat it with tenderness. Then again don't be afraid to dig about in your Speccy. You could risk the hoover over the rest of the inner case although you'll probably wipe the Z80 clean and knock off several resisters at the swish of a mis-judged pass so eh, DON'T basically. Put it all back together and hey presto, it will work just like it did before but you'll feel all warm and cosy because the dirt is'nt there anymore. Unless you are Stuart Pearce of course and have forgotten to put the ribbon strips back in the slots. Next issue I'll show you how to drink yourself stupid and still manage a thumbs up to the Trent End. And a bit about tape decks, heads and software care!