Water Spilled on Laptop

I'm making this post on a desktop computer that I haven't used at all cause my dad switched my very old desktop (which I had not used it for anything other than to use as extra space since I got the laptop). There's like absolutely nothing on this computer.

A couple hours ago or something, I spilled water on my laptop right before I was about to stop playing CS (I was trying to hit the escape button if I'm remembering correctly). I freaked out of course, and immediately wiped off any of the water on my keys. After, I went to desktop, and realized my touchpad was super-nonsensitive. I was wondering what to do for a bit then I finalyl decided to just turn off the comp. While tipping the laptop on its side, a bit of water trickled out of it, little by little. I shook it a little to get the water out of it. Then, I decided to turn it back on just to see if things were OK. When I got it loaded, when I tried typing something out, my "M" and "L" key, it would also type out a "D" and act as if the d was help unless I pressed something else. Then after like a minute of that, that stopped, but when I tried hitting the "D" key, it wouldn't work at all. I took off the "D" key off my laptop and see if there was water underneath it and stuff. The sensor thingy (or whatever it is) didn't seem like it had any water on it, and the key itself had pretty much no water on it under it. Nevertheless, I carefully wiped water all the actual key, and cleaned off some dust off the sensor thing. I turned it off, and then turned it back on again to test it out, but to no avail, as the "D" key would not work. I accessed the internet to see what to do and stuff in a case like this. Soon after, the laptop froze so I had to shut it off by holding the power button. For some stupid reason, I decided to turn it on again, load it to desktop, and just decided to shut it down (the correct way). I decided to let it just sit there for a bit or so, and I don't remember after how long (atleast 30mins if I'm remembering correctly), I decided to turn it on to see if it was functioning properly. I couldn't get it to boot, all I got was a black screen, with the laptop making soudns of attempting to start up but unable to. Right now, I have my laptop sitting on it's side, with the display open, so that its like a "V". I haven't bothered to try turning it on again.

I'm wondering if anyone can give me pointers on what to do and what not right now cause basically all my song files, homework, and other important files are in there since I use the laptop as my desktop computer. PLEASE HELP! (Please dont insult me on how screwed I am and/or how stupid I am in this situation )

I don't know anything about laptops, but why don't you take all the keys off the keyboard, then sit it so that the keyboar is completely upside down, like on a drying rack or something? Then you could stick heater underneath it on low and let the hot air dry it out.

Not sure if it'll work but it's worth a try (unless it can damage the laptop).

Take it to a shop so they can transfer your files. They are the most important at this time, correct?

You can also try to take it apart if your comfortable and use a can of compressed air to spray in it.

I actually fried the motherboard after coming back from a party one night and fell asleep, kicking over an open bottle of water. When I woke up the next morning my laptop was no longer working. I was able however to recover the files by taking out the hard drive and converting it into an external hard drive.

Give it a few days, when phones get water on them they may fuck up originally, but then go back to normal.
I assume its the same for laptops...

I spilled water on my laptop right before I was about to stop playing

I finalyl decided to just turn off the comp.

Good call..

bit of water trickled out of it, little by little. I shook it a little to get the water out of it.

I decided to turn it back on just to see if things were OK

WTF are you thinking?! You can see water coming out and you still turn it on..

the laptop froze so I had to shut it off by holding the power button

Good thing that worked, laptop still has hope..

just decided to shut it down (the correct way).

Laptop still functioning to an extent, good..

I decided to turn it on to see if it was functioning properly.

This is the point where I call you idiot, you're making things worse..

I couldn't get it to boot, all I got was a black screen, with the laptop making soudns of attempting to start up but unable to.

Say goodbye to your laptop.

Let your laptop dry for at least a week, just to be sure that it's completely dry.
If your laptop works after that, great. If not, go to a shop with your harddrive and start recovering your data.
Say goodbye to your laptop also.

First rule of getting wet electronics:
Always turn it off immediately. It doesn't matter if it's the 'correct way' or wrong way (just pulling out the plug from the power source or hitting the off button). If you're calm or freaked out, always turn it off first.

Second rule:
Don't turn it on immediately. Make sure it's completely dry before you turn it on again.

Last edited by shadowgrin on Thu Oct 18, 2007 5:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

Yeah, I admit it was EXTREMELY stupid to try turning it on again so many damn times after the first time I shut it off ...Well on another place where I posted this, I got told to extend the laptop fully by the joint so that the laptop was flat, and let it rest with the screen and keyboard facing down. They suggested minimum 24hours, but I'll let it sit for probably this whole week. I rather have it work again by waiting this week out than being impatient and trying it out after 24hours. I guess this will keep me focused on school since there's pretty much nothing on the desktop I'm using right now, but I'll need to get Microsoft Office installed on it ASAP cause I got a Chemistry Lab due Wednesday that requires me to do some graphing. Wish me luck and the best I will be able to get the laptop working again.

Pdub suggested this earlier, don't know if anyone else caught it but I'll ask the rest of you also: While I'm letting the laptop sit for this week, should I try and take the harddrive out of it and try transfering the files from the laptop harddrive to another one by using a harddrive enclosure?

ITS A MIRACLE!!! Atleast so far it is!! My laptop seems to be running fine after I left it sitting for almost 2 days!! Its running for now, and I hope any problems it had are now gone...YAY!!! Thanks for everyone that gave their suggestions. I better make sure I don't do something as stupid again with the laptop, and even if I spill anything on it, immediately turn it off.

Great monologue.

That's great news Mofo. Your avatar really suits with what you just went through.