Tip #3831 - Surviving a Leakage
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Q:
The other day, my grandson accidentally spilled some water on my laptop.
I know he didn't mean to and I cleaned it up the best I could, but I'm
extremely worried about what will happen to my computer. Is there any
way of saving it or what do I need to do next? Please help me!
A:
I know you already feel this way, but ouch, that hurts! (I'm sorry, I
had to say it!) I'm sure this sort of thing has happened to all of us
at one time or another. I mean, we all know that liquids and electronics
do not mix well, but sometimes you can't keep spills from happening. And
unfortunately, we can't blame Microsoft for this one either! But don't
fret, because there is still some hope for all of us. It just depends
on how much water was involved and what you did right after it happened.
Let's check it all out!
Now, this type of
thing can happen to any kind of gadget, including cameras, cell phones,
keyboards and of course, computers. So, this tip can work for whatever
device you're having trouble with, but I'm going to focus on the laptop
for the person who asked this question. Alright, now, I'm going to be
honest and tell you that your gadget may not make a full recovery, but
with a little tender care, you might be able to save more than you think.
Just follow these steps to see what you can do.
First, if your laptop
is still turned on, turn it off immediately. You'll also want to remove
any batteries, CDs, memory cards, etc. Basically, remove anything you
may use to save your data and especially for laptops, remove any modular
components and removable drives. Once you've got everything out, wipe
off any excess water you may see on those items. Then if you're comfortable
with it, it's best to disassemble the device as much as possible to get
as much liquid out as you can. This is even more crucial if you can hear
water moving around inside your computer. If you're not comfortable with
this, you may want to find someone who can help you right away!
You need to get your
laptop as dry as possible, both inside and out. If you're still worried
about how dry you've really gotten it, you can try a couple things, but
they're all a matter of luck, so just try them at your own discretion.
For one, you can try putting your laptop in a heated area. For example,
maybe place it on the dashboard of your car for an afternoon. As long
as it doesn't get hotter than 150 degrees, the heat will evaporate the
water. Just make sure the battery is removed from your device before you
try this. You can also try just tipping your laptop upside down for as
long as needed to give the water a chance to drain out.
I found a Web site
that gave some other options, but they just didn't sound very safe to
me, so I would try the two above first, for sure! Now, if you're not comfortable
with any of this, you'll want to get your laptop to a professional as
soon as possible. Don't wait a day or two to "get around to it,"
do it immediately! You don't have time to waste in these situations. That
is, unless you don't mind paying for a brand new computer or damage control.
So, the next question
is, "How can you prevent this kind of thing from happening again"?
The best answer is to tell you to not keep any kind of liquid near your
computer. Don't keep drinks or anything else by your computer. If you
do that, you're just asking for a spill to happen. And you know how it
goes, the liquid always goes right for the computer instead of the paper
and pens you have sitting there.
For other devices
(cameras, cell phones, etc.), you can keep them in plastic bags if you're
going to be near water. If you're at the beach, keep your cell phone concealed,
so there's no chance of water getting on it. Or use a waterproof camera.
Just taking some simple precautions will keep you from many, many headaches
down the road. If you just use some common sense and are very careful
when it comes to your electronics, you'll be just fine!
~ Erin
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