Lost Keys!

Hello-I've lost the keys to the Thermaltake Soprano case and I can't seem to pick the lock. Have tried to find the company but no luck. Any ideas? I can't even find a locksmith who knows what I'm talking about. I have to replace the power supply so no computer until I unlock it.

 

Tried a hammer?

 

Does your case have a window in the locked side? If it does, remove the little plastic 'Rivits' (just pull them out with your fingernails) and you should be able to get it open, or you could work through the window.

:cool

E

 

Use a pen-cap. You can do the same thing to other similar type locks. Take the 'leg' off, smoosh it down in there, turn, you should be golden.

 

OMG I just got off the floor I've been laughing so hard. You are really funny. Really. Funny.

 

Thanks to you all for responding. I like the way you think! I'm workin' on it. Wish me luck with the hammer!

 

TBH, I was being serious

I aquired an older Mesh computer from someone who had lost the keys (Mesh usually make business PC's so keep them locked as employees would steal memory etc).
Took a hammer to the lock and basically hacked the thing off.

I'm a funny guy, but an honest one

 

I 'm sorry for any misunderstanding; I don't believe I questioned your honesty. The case is a large, shiny black thing with one side transparent. The locks don't protrude much from the surface. Anyway, I got a kick out of the image of flailing away at it with a hammer - well on into the night and the next morning - and it would still be locked! I have a small hammer and I'll try it. Thanks for your help.

 

Lol don't worry, I wondered whether you thought I was joking from my first post but don't worry.

Picking the lock with a paper clip/similar may work also. Best be careful what advice is given as this subject is touching on law breaking!

A smaller hammer would be best with an accurate but powerful hit.

 

If you're going to take as aggressive of an approach as to hammer on it, you might as well call your local machine shop and see if they'd just be willing to clamp the case in a drill press and drill the lock out for you.

 

Why? They'd charge to do that

 

No guarantees, either way, but drilling the lock out is probably less risk to the hardware (specifically, the hard drive) than the impact of a hammer on the case.

 

Is it like this one ?

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd129/prnd321/b11.jpg

Another option, if you don't mind messing up the case, would be to drill small holes all around the lock barrel and then remove it. You can do whatever you want with your own property.

 

Pict of my TT Soprano case lock and key. Looks easy...

E

 

Look up lock picking on YouTube.
Those round locks can be defeated with a pencil and paper (I've done that)
Regular locks with a 'bump' key.

The barrell locks: take a piece of paper and wrap it around a pencil a few times. Slide it off and push it in the round lock push and turn. The paper will smoosh out and catch the lock and turn it.. very nice.

 

:clapThank you one and all for your replies: You Tube is so diverse! That said my lock picking skills seem to leave something to be desired. Yes, Fred, that's the lock; and Pebkac I agree with you as I'm as worried about the motherboard as the hard drive and don't have the nerve to drill, hammer or otherwise pound on the case. I have ordered a key from someone on ebay and hopefully it will arrive in the next six months. If not I have saved all your ideas and may still try the paper one (thanks foogoo). It was so very nice to hear from everyone. Many thanks again.

 

There are only 4 pins in that lock, If you get a small piece of wood or plastic you can place it in the slot on the center post and the outer shell of the lock and apply turning pressure then with a paper clip (bend one part out and use it to press gently down on the pinns till you feel a click do the same for the remaining 3 pinns it should turn ( and not dammage the lock) then when your key arives you can re lock if desired.
This is hjow I would do it (but i have tools made for this (i am A Locksmith)
Good luck
Herb

 

Many thanks, Herb, for your valuable suggestions. Methinks you don't know how talented you are with locks! I can build, dye, distress and alter costumes but locks? Not so much. I'm truly flattered that you think I can do this so I will try.

 

Just a follow up did you get in ....Or at least did you get the keys Yet??

 

Thanks so much for your inquiry. I will now confess that it was my son's Thermaltake case and he took it to the geeks at Best Buy before I could try to pick the locks. I couldn't even get him to go back there to try. (I was really ready to apply some pickin' skills and I don't mean on my guitar!) But no way he was determined to wait for the key which took 3 weeks to get here. It finally arrived and he had the new power supply installed and now he's back in the world of anime and GI Joe.
I had such a great time posting with everyone that I have a brand new question about optical drives and this time it's about my own laptop even though my son says laptops are laughable. Oh, well. All the suggestions I got were interesting, informative and entertaining. This is a great post!

 

No problem, That is why Majorgeeks is here
Glad all is well for the lock.
As for the optical drives I am not helpfull there, But sombody out here should be able to help!

 

Post away Meta! I would make a new thread here: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=22

E

 

Thanks, I did after checking the posts there (all too old and don't apply to the problem). Will you lock this post now? Or am I supposed to??