Help! I'm stuck in my bedroom. The knob won't turn much either way and won't come unlatched. The only person who has a key to my house is out of town, so I can't even call a locksmith and have him let in. How can I get out of my bedroom? The door knob is the kind with screws only on the exterior. I've tried to slide a credit card in, but that did not yield results. Anyone have any advice to help me get out of my room?
posted by birdlady on Oct 7, 2009 - 115 answers

Would you be willing to trust your bike to the Abus Granit Futura mini U-lock? (Either alone or as part of some u-lock/chain combo). [more inside]
posted by regicide is good for you on Jun 18, 2009 - 18 answers

I'd like to get my dad a shiny new Weber grill. I'd like to keep it from "walking away", however. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by agentmunroe on Jun 6, 2009 - 16 answers

What is the use of double locks? Not two separate lock, just the kind of lock that you can turn once (which locks the door) and then another time, in the same direction (which locks the door... more?). [more inside]
posted by Skyanth on May 27, 2009 - 13 answers

DIY RFID door lock. [more inside]
posted by dance on Apr 2, 2009 - 5 answers

I'm looking for a front door lock or doorknob that stays locked even after you've opened the door. [more inside]
posted by fnerg on Mar 29, 2009 - 9 answers

Best bike lock in the $20-30 range? [more inside]
posted by mizike on Mar 7, 2009 - 7 answers

How do I open these aluminum windows from the 60's? The lock has a top-of-window sash component, then a metal ribbon-looking thing, and a screw in the top of the bottom sash. [more inside]
posted by pomegranate on Feb 5, 2009 - 5 answers

Can you help me get this door to lock behind me? [more inside]
posted by Countess Elena on Jan 17, 2009 - 8 answers

Is there a good $50-ish laptop/notebook lock out there that *can't* be opened by a toilet paper tube, ballpoint pen, penny, or other common item? [more inside]
posted by Ky on Jan 2, 2009 - 12 answers

Mortgage Expert Needed: How do I take advantage of these low low mortgage rates BEFORE I gain building approval. [more inside]
posted by Thrillhouse on Dec 22, 2008 - 3 answers

It looks like someone tried to open my front door with a bump key. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by oats on Dec 7, 2008 - 13 answers

So I locked myself out... [more inside]
posted by LordSludge on Nov 10, 2008 - 18 answers

Do theater balcony doors have secret unlocking mechanisms? [more inside]
posted by Tube on Aug 24, 2008 - 2 answers

Who runs physical plant security at utility companies?? Think: cell towers, eletrical utilities, water utlities, etc... any company that has remote locations... [more inside]
posted by dyerfr on Aug 18, 2008 - 4 answers

I need to install a key-locking doorknob on my bedroom door. What sort of options do I have, and can I do this myself? [more inside]
posted by Verdandi on Aug 3, 2008 - 6 answers

When I lock my car with the remote, approx every 1 in 5 times the drivers door doesn't lock. I hear the mechanism activate, but I can see that the little lock handle on the inside of the door only moves halfway. Similar thing happens on unlock. What's going on here and who can fix this - my regular mechanic wasn't able to help. [more inside]
posted by forallmankind on Aug 3, 2008 - 9 answers

What's the state of play in the home/office keyless entry world now? I am aware of this thread from 2005. [more inside]
posted by dance on Jul 9, 2008 - 3 answers

How do I liberate my bike from a U-lock? [more inside]
posted by jtajta on May 23, 2008 - 22 answers

There are two different stories about how bowler hats came to Bolivia and Peru. [more inside]
posted by tellurian on Mar 7, 2008 - 2 answers

How can I break into an (empty) filing cabinet? [more inside]
posted by paddingtonb on Mar 4, 2008 - 15 answers

In the movie Paprika by Satoshi Kon one of the tropes was a website that would show specific content at a specific time. While I'm sure this is possible, is it easily implementable? Better yet, is there an downloadable script or somesuch that I can use on my website? Can a page be time-locked?
posted by lekvar on Jan 23, 2008 - 15 answers

I seem to have lost my keys. I wish it were just that simple. [more inside]
posted by iamkimiam on Dec 18, 2007 - 22 answers

Bicycle was locked outside (it's against the rules to bring it inside the apartment where I live). It rained, and the bicycle wasn't used for some time, and now the lock won't budge (it rusted, I think): key goes in, but doesn't turn. I tried WD-40 but it didn't work. Before I cut through the lock, are there any other solutions I could try?
posted by sailoreagle on Oct 30, 2007 - 21 answers

In our new house, I can't work out how to get out of the double glazed sliding patio doors. They are locked, and I think I have the key (well, I have a key), but they just won't open. What am I missing? [more inside]
posted by handee on Aug 17, 2007 - 11 answers

My hatchback car (Honda Fit) doesn't have a separately-locking trunk or glovebox. Can I add a lock-box or secret compartment somewhere inside the car for stashing a few items, for those times I must turn over my keys (parking garage, valet)? Ideally I'd only be securing/concealing 3 deck-of-cards-sized items: iPod, GPS, EZPass. There are no official Honda accessories that do this, nor can I find any Fit-fanatic mods that have addressed it.
posted by xo on Aug 1, 2007 - 4 answers

My HP Pavillion dv4000 is not allowing me to log into the computer. It did this once before saying i lost my password and i had to have my ex do some trickery and it was fine. Now it is doing it all over again. This time I did not have a password..it has just locked me out completely. [more inside]
posted by eve28 on Jun 17, 2007 - 9 answers

My boyfriend just locked his keys inside his boss's house. Boss's house key is on the key ring that is inside the house. Boss is on vacation out of the country and is unreachable. Boyfriend's wallet and phone are also locked in the house, and so is the boss's cat. Please help us. [more inside]
posted by tatiana wishbone on May 9, 2007 - 34 answers

Windows XP: my wife's computer locks up a few times a day, but there are no other symptoms. What could be wrong? [more inside]
posted by samw on Apr 10, 2007 - 16 answers

Where can I buy an electric door strike near Burlington, Ontario? [more inside]
posted by Sonic_Molson on Apr 3, 2007 - 1 answer

Apartment Security: How can I make my particular set of door and windows more secure, on a budget? Details inside re. my existing setup. [more inside]
posted by sparrows on Mar 22, 2007 - 12 answers

can you bring a bike lock (u-lock style) on a plane in your carryon? [more inside]
posted by Hat Maui on Mar 13, 2007 - 9 answers

I'm looking for an OS X utility that will capture and discard all keyboard and mouse input until I tell it to stop. [more inside]
posted by Armitage Shanks on Feb 16, 2007 - 17 answers

What’s the best way to secure a parked motorcycle? [more inside]
posted by ijoshua on Jan 25, 2007 - 14 answers

How can I lock Firefox open in fullscreen mode so that unless you do some hotkey, no one can get at anything else (including Ctrl-Alt-Del and Alt-Tab) [more inside]
posted by deansfurniture5 on Jan 10, 2007 - 17 answers

Is it possible to fix or replace a door lock on a ten year old aluminium main front door that has now jammed? [more inside]
posted by pettins on Nov 26, 2006 - 2 answers

PadLockFilter: My tech teachers in school both have these really soft-edged "mickey mouse" keys (they have two holes in the head of the key, like mickey's ears) that open pretty much any key padlock (all Masters, and some other generics). [more inside]
posted by weaponsgradecarp on Nov 8, 2006 - 12 answers

My Bluetooth dongle locks up XP SP2. The device is KINAMAX BT-USB USB 2.0. The computer is a Compaq Presario 6000. I have tried installing useing the newest BlueSoleil drivers 2.3 and disabling the windows drivers. Once they are installed it pairs its self with my plantronics 320 headseat but the computer will intermittently freeze up. No error messages.
posted by govtrust on Oct 3, 2006 - 6 answers

I have searched online, and been to 2 different hardware stores, including one with an extensive lock collection, and no one seems to have anything available. The door is 2 1/4" thick, and most lock hardware is for doors 1 1/2-1 3/4" thick. Any suggestions?
posted by getupandgo on Sep 26, 2006 - 6 answers

How do I get my bike lock open? [more inside]
posted by thirteenkiller on Jul 30, 2006 - 27 answers

What did I do to gain Administrator privileges to install software and how can I do it again? [more inside]
posted by nserrano on Jul 19, 2006 - 18 answers

Help me fight The Man: My mail carrier is leaving me notes telling me that he is going to stop delivering mail to me unless I start locking my mailbox every day. Can he? [more inside]
posted by NotMyselfRightNow on Jul 18, 2006 - 33 answers

Moving to a new house soon(ish). It's our first home in an area that will (we hope) improve over the next 10 years. The previous owners had a large dog that we're pretty sure discouraged most folks from being too ambitions about breaking in. [more inside]
posted by iamabot on Jun 15, 2006 - 15 answers

Two coworkers of mine just had their personal laptops stolen. They were both locked using Kensington-type cable locks. Whose gonna pay for this? [more inside]
posted by istewart on Jun 9, 2006 - 8 answers

Calling all armchair MacGuyvers: My car is locked in my garage, and there must be a way to get it out. [more inside]
posted by hamster on May 18, 2006 - 24 answers

I'd like to trigger a relay that momentarily closes a switch based on the voltage of another wire. Maybe. I think. Please help me with this basic (I hope) electronics project. [more inside]
posted by odinsdream on May 14, 2006 - 6 answers

I need to lock my bedroom door [more inside]
posted by pieoverdone on Apr 5, 2006 - 17 answers

The good news: I successfully changed the battery on my 3G iPod. The bad news: the hold button's locked... [more inside]
posted by Atom12 on Feb 18, 2006 - 12 answers

TradeShowContestSuppliesFilter: Hundreds of keys to bring them all...where can I find them? [more inside]
posted by picopebbles on Feb 8, 2006 - 6 answers

Miva Merchant 4.0 and security certificates...why don't IE customers see the darned lock? [more inside]
posted by miss tea on Dec 13, 2005 - 5 answers