HAS YOUR LAPTOP SUFFERED DAMAGE due to an unfortunate spill of coffee or was it accidentally left outside in the rain? If your PC has suffered liquid damage it is important to take action quickly so that you do not lose imperative data. Luckily, most hard drives are tightly constructed which can buy you some time and help prevent the liquid from getting in and damaging important files. The most important thing that you will want to do if your laptop comes into contact with any type of liquid is to act quickly! Time is of the essence when it comes to liquid damage. Electricity and water do not mix and when they do they can destroy electronic circuits which can ultimately lead to a loss of data or even worse a dead PC. Will Power PCs wants to give you seven simple step by step instructions on liquid damage repair and what you should do if your PC ever comes into contact with liquid.
Step 1- Turn Off The PC
If your PC comes into contact with liquid, you will want to power down immediately! This is a very important step in protecting your PC from laptop liquid damage. Press and hold down the power key and your laptop should shut down within five seconds.
Step 2- Remove Any Electrical Cords & Peripherals
You will want to cut ties to any electricity that may still be running to your PC. When electricity comes into contact with liquid, it can result in ruining your PCs electrical circuits. This is why it is important to disconnect any device that may be transferring electricity such as your AC adapter that you may have connected to charge your device. It is also important to disconnect any devices that may also be connected to your laptop such as; a mouse, webcam, headset, etc.
Step 3- Examine The Keyboard
If you are lucky, some laptops come with spill-resistant keyboards. It is important to turn your keyboard upside down and pour out any liquid that may be in its enclosure. Using toilet paper or paper towel, wiping in and around the keyboard is important to soak up any remaining liquid.
Step 4- Remove The Battery
If the battery in your PC is removable, it is highly suggested to remove the battery from your device. You will want to:
- Remove the screws from the rear of your device.
- Slide the side panel off from the bottom of your device.
- Locate the battery which will look like a shiny round over-sized watch battery.
- Remember which way the battery is installed. Usually the positive is facing up.
- Remove the battery.
This will allow your battery to dry out if it has already come into contact with any liquid. If your battery has not come into any contact with liquid yet, removing the battery will prevent any potential liquid damage.
Step 5- Wipe Out Your PC
Now that you have your PC’s internal parts exposed from the removal of the battery, it is time to soak up that unwanted liquid. It is recommended to use toilet paper or paper towel since they are two of the most absorbent products and they are two things that you will most likely have on hand at the time of the incident. You will want to spend a good amount of time wiping out your computer to prevent any further liquid damage to computer. Repeatedly wiping in and out of small crevices and the overall entire internal board is important to make sure you get every last drop!
Step 6- Let It Dry
With the screen open, place your laptop face down on a flat surface and allow 24-48 hours to dry. You may want to use a desk lamp or incandescent bulb to lightly warm and help dry the PC. It is NOT recommended to use a hair dryer to dry out your PC as it will cause static problems for your device. It is important to clean up anything that may potentially dry sticky as it may cause more unwanted damage to your device. A damp paper towel should easily let you to wipe away any sticky substances. If all of the liquid has been wiped up to your best ability, it is best to let the PC dry out on its own from this point on.
Step 7- Reassemble Your PC & Restart
After you have allowed your laptop to dry out for the recommended amount of time, you will want to reassemble your PC and attempt to boot up! The keyboard and track pad will probably be most affected by liquid damage. You will want to test all of the keys and functions of the track pad such as scrolling. If you have reassembled your laptop and it will not turn on, we would recommend calling a computer repair shop.
Will Power PCs will be more than happy to assist in repairing your laptop by a process of cleaning and drying the device. If you do not wish to proceed after we diagnose the problem or if your device just simply cannot be repaired, our diagnostic service for laptop water damage is always FREE! Call us today to schedule your free diagnostics appointment at (518) 892-4419.
Resources:
https://www.engadget.com/2009/05/12/dont-panic-liquid-damage-and-what-to-do-about-it/
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