Water accident with my computer, what should I do?

Question

So basically, I was doing my HW late at night and my sister walks by swinging her water bottle (you know like the kids swing their toys) and guess what, the cap wasn't tight and water spills on my toshiba laptop. Thoroughly frightened, i immediately took the battery out even though it was still on. I watched as the water seeped into the left half of my laptop keyboard (from f7 to alt). There wasn't that much water and i want to turn on my computer but have managed to not touch it for about 2 1/2 days. So to sum it all up, water spilled on my laptop, I'm itching to turn it on but dont know anything about the situation because i took the battery out before it could short circuit, and i need people with experience to help me decide how long i should wait. (I have already waited almost 3 days)

Answer 1

So long as you have left the laptop at room temp, it should be ok to try turning it back in, if you hear any kind of crackling noise switch it off, turn it upside down and leave for at least 12hrs before trying it again

Answer 2

The water would of dried up about 2 days after that happened. Its hard to say if there was any water damaged until you turn it on.



I done the same thing myself to my old laptop and it was fine. 100% working.



I suppose its just a matter of Luck. I spilled can of drink all over mine and it worked the same day. You probably dont have any problems. & There are safeguards for immature shutdowns such as battery disconnection. When you turn it on ( Without any notice ) It will look for any hardware/software problems and tell you if there are any BEFORE complete startup.



I dont know the the command string to allow you to look at the test results in the DUMP FILE's but if it doesn't give you a message there isn't anything to worry about.



3 Days is long enough you can see the result of your comps condition if u decide to turn it on now. Nothing will improve over more time.

Answer 3

Water, even triple-distilled water (and that's not what your sister was drinking) has minerals dissolved in it. When you let it dry in the computer the minerals are left behind. So by now everything is nicely shorted. The laptop has to be cleaned - either by a professional or by Toshiba, your choice. (Rubbing alcohol is the tool of choice. I've saved many wet electronics that way.)



If you just let it dry it will probably work - for a while. Then things start going bad and eventually you'll need a new laptop, because everything in this one will need to be replaced, and it's cheaper to buy a new one.

Answer 4

You know those silica gel packets that come in the mail when you buy something electric? If you have some of those around, put them in a big ziplock bag along with your laptop overnight.



If you dont have any, use a blow dryer. But if use the blow dryer, stop for a minute every 30 seconds of blowing to avoid blowing the circuits. Try to use the lowest setting if possible. After that, put in the battery and try turning it on.



If it doesnt work, take it to a repair shop

Answer 5

First option would certainly to send it to you local Toshiba Service Point/Repair Center (or whatever they call them these days) and tell them what happened. They should know what to do!



Second option (I don't really suggest it, but if you wana take the risk then go ahead).

1-Put the laptop in an outdoor place (hopefully it is hot), not in direct sunlight though. A few hours just to evaporate any remaining water.

2-Find the manual and start unscrewing , then visual check any remaining water droplets.(Dont forget under the keyboard)

3-Remove the harddrive/harddisk, (Just to keep your data safe) -I strongly suggest backing up any vital data (I dunno maybe a harddisk to usb adapter or something would work)-

4-When you are sure that there is no more water, start it up (Thats the part that i say 'Good Luck'), if everything went on smooth (ie. No damage to the screen,motherboard,..etc) then attach your harddisk back!



I haven't tried it before and hopefully won't need to, but i had a similar situation with a mobile that took a dive in a swimming pool and i kinda did similar steps.(Used tissue paper and a hairdryer,low heat mode to speedup the drying.. I know it aint the smartest idea, but thats just me).



Well, ofcourse i would say Toshiba Support should have their own ways with dealing with such problems. Refer to the second option, if they said you'll have to trash it or something and you'r willing to take the risk.



Good luck,

knouh

Answer 6

If it's pure water, there is a great chance your laptop is not broken.

After 3 days, the water should be gone, and it should be safe to turn your computer back on.



However, there is no guarantee it will work. If something was short circuited before you shutdow your laptop, it still might be broken, but there is only one way to find out.



Did you let your laptop dry upside down? Or normal? If normal, it might be a good idea to let it dry for one more day, but upside down (with screen open to make sure no water spills into your screen. But make sure your protect your screen against scratching).

Answer 7

First you probably did not pronounced you have laptop or laptop if it became a working laptop or laptop then there is greater danger of going water interior the Motherboard which reason a harm yet as you're saying you at cutting-edge close down and wipe out the water then it ought to not reason a extreme harm. yet once you nevertheless opt to be take care of then take your laptop to the technician for risk-free practices. so continually use "Keyboard shielding" for laptop which not basically protects your laptop with water yet with dirt additionally .

Answer 8

How tech savvy are you? if it were me i would unscrew the backplate off and remove the RAM, wireless, HDD, and then take the keyboard off and unscrew the heat sink on the processor, after you do this let it dry out like that. DO NOT TURN THE COMPUTER ON THOUGH if you turn the computer on while there is still water inside it could fry the motherboard or components leaving you well and truly screwed.

Answer 9

I would say you have waited long enough, flip the laptop around a few times to make sure no more water drips out. Now try to turn it on and see if it has been damaged.

Answer 10

I would contact the customer support of your laptop. They should have plenty of cases where this has happend before and they should be able to give you advise on whether or not you could try and turn it on or how to proceed.

Answer 11

it should be fine just go try it it might not be ruined