Have I killed my laptop for good?

[Dottie]

Yesterday a cup of water was spilled over my laptop, I quickly turned it over to get most of the water out, but it turned itself off almost immediately.

I used a paper towel to soak up as much water as poss, but I didn't have the correct screwdriver to open the back and towel dry. Used my hair dryer over the keyboard and placed laptop near a storage heater. But still it will only light up for a few sections when I turn it on, and then it's dead again.

Have now got a screwdriver and have taken all screws out of the back, but it won't open fully. At the centre of the back, is a metal bit/connector that is blue plastic with holes in it, for whatever you connect to it. Anyway this seems to be the only thing that is stopping the back coming off. Any ideas of how to remove the back fully, so I can attempt to dry it out fully?

Anyone experienced a water damage problem and being able to get the laptop working again?

[Aberdeenplotter]

sounds as though something has shorted out but as it was only water, you could get lucky and it may work when it dries out. Don't try to rush it.

[Dottie]

Yep a smell of not quite burning, but shorting sounds about right.

I'll be happy if it just needs time, although it is my lifeline, so hopefully not too much time.

Thanks for giving me a little hope, rather than coming on all doom and gloom.

[HotStuff]

First thing to do is disconnect the mains and remove the battery pack.

I did a bit of Googling and found this :-

"It is recommended you use an external heat source like a hair dryer to get the most of the moisture dried up. Then you should place the laptop in a container with a desiccant like silica gel or rice. We have used rice when we had a liquid issue with my wifes cell phone and it worked like a charm. You need to have some patience and let it dry out in the desiccant for a couple of days."

I'd be careful about getting the hair dryer too close, you want a gentle warmth, not too much heat.

[Dottie]

Yep disconnected and battery removed, then I turned it over for the water to come out via the key pad. Use hair dryer after using paper towel between keys.

I've just checked my cupboard and I've got 500g bag of couscous and 750g of brown rice. So would you suggest I screw the the laptop back together and in a box pour the couscous in the base and the rice on top of the keyboard, or close/put the laptop lid down and pour rice on top?

[Creemteez]

Wouldn't put rice or cous-cous directly onto the keyboard, Dottie - if it gets between the keys and then swells you'll end up with a much worse problem! I think standing the laptop on a layer of rice within some sort of closed box should be fine. The idea of containing the dessicant with the laptop is so that the moisture is absorbed from IT rather than from the general atmosphere. Good luck!

[Dottie]

Laptop now sitting in a case, with rice in the base of the case.

Good point regarding the swelling, it's what it does!

[HotStuff]

Sorry, I was away cooking dinner, but CT steered you right. Basically what you want is a sealable container, such as Tupperware if you've got one big enough. Rice or other desiccant in the bottom, rest laptop on top, seal container and leave it for a couple of days. Idea is that the rice absorbs all the moisture.

[Dottie]

I did what I should when it first happened, common sense to mop up, turn power off and remove battery.

Thanks for the expert advice thereafter, I just hope that I haven't sizzled the boards by trying to turn it on to early and before putting it in the rice box.