Water and laptops don't mix! Dead - advice?

Mel_P · 23 Oct 2008 at 17:02

Hello my daughter has a Dell Inspiron 6000 and a 2-year old.

The 2 year old is going strong, the Dell had a glass of water spilled over the keyboard by 2 year old - it made beeps etc. and is now dead (LAPTOP!). Removed battery, keyboard, HDD, DVD memory boards etc and dried all signs of water. Put is airing cupboard for 3 days.

Switch on - HDD spins - shuts down in 2-3 seconds.

Any ideas - how do I get base off.

Will buy a "a 2.5 inch hard drive in to a 3.5 inch bay on a standard PC" adaptor tomorrow to test HDD.

After that ???????????????????????????????????????
Mel P :eek:

Mel_P · 24 Oct 2008 at 17:39

Tried HDD in a USB box with a 2.5" to 3.5" adaptor - drive is OK but laptop still comes on / shuts down. Will leave longer to dry!

Mel

Mel_P · 26 Oct 2008 at 21:15

Done that!
HDD works in caddy.
No joy with laptop after 5 days - took apart - several areas of white deposit on motherboard - cleaned with ispropanol. nbg. still shuts down after 3 seconds - DUFF! but can retrieve data, so not 100% loss.

Mel_P · 31 Oct 2008 at 14:14

woopee! took it all apart - processor / video card / heat sinks / etc - cleaned it all - CAME BACK TO LIFE. Now tying to reload windows on to a HDD. Watch this space!

Mel_P · 3 Nov 2008 at 10:26

100% OK - 3 cheers for isoprpanol and a set of tools!

Mel_P · 12 Nov 2008 at 18:28

bledd. said:
yup

pc's are generally fine if they have no power going through them when they get wet, a week or three in the airing cupboard fixes most problems

chances are the hard drive will be fine

It was on / mains supply when little lad poured water into it - it made lots of beeping as it "died". Parts of board had dried out residue!

BUT it survived - still OK.

Mel_P · 13 Nov 2008 at 23:40

RMA = 3.5 years old! No
House insurance - no accidental cover.