Have you ever had an accident while drinking coffee, tea, or water near your laptop, and suddenly the liquid spilled onto it? Does your laptop immediately turn itself off and won’t turn on anymore? If so, you may feel panicked and confused about what to do. Has your laptop been permanently damaged, or can it still be saved?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many people have experienced something similar, and there are steps you can take to increase your laptop’s chances of recovering from water damage. However, you need to be quick and careful, because every second and movement counts.
This article will provide you with a complete guide on how to save a laptop that is exposed to water and turns itself off, from first aid steps to advanced repairs.
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First Aid Steps
First aid measures are the most important steps you should take as soon as your laptop is exposed to water. This step aims to prevent further damage to your laptop components, especially those related to electricity and circuits. Here are the steps you should take:
- Turn off your laptop. If your laptop is still on, immediately press the power button for a few seconds until your laptop is completely off. Do not try to close the application or save the data first, as doing so will waste time and increase the risk of a short circuit. If your laptop is already turning itself off, make sure that your laptop is not in sleep or hibernate mode, but is completely off.
- Unplug all cables and accessories. Disconnect all cables connected to your laptop, including power adapters, USB cables, HDMI cables, ethernet cables, and others. Also, remove all accessories installed on your laptop, such as mice, keyboards, flash drives, external hard drives, and others. It aims to prevent electric current from entering or exiting your laptop and avoid damage to other connected devices.
- Turn your laptop upside down. Once you’ve made sure that no cables or accessories are connected, turn your laptop upside down with the keyboard on the bottom and the screen on top. This aims to make the liquid that enters your laptop flow out through the cracks of the keyboard, and not seep into the more sensitive inside of the laptop. Don’t wiggle or shake your laptop, as doing so could make the liquid spread to unwanted places.
- Remove your laptop battery. If your laptop has a removable battery, remove your laptop battery carefully. This aims to disconnect the main power source of your laptop and reduce the risk of short circuits. If your laptop has a non-removable battery, you’ll need to open your laptop case to disconnect the battery cable from the motherboard. However, this requires special skills and equipment, so you may need help from a professional technician.
- Dry your laptop. Use a clean cloth, tissue, or paper towel to absorb and remove any liquid that is still stuck to the surface of your laptop. Do not use a hair dryer, fan, or other heating device, as doing so could damage the heat-sensitive components of your laptop. Do not also use rice, silica gel, or other absorbent materials, as doing so can leave a residue that can clog holes or gaps in your laptop.
Advanced Repair Steps
The advanced repair step is a more complicated and time-consuming step that you must do after performing the first aid step. This step aims to clean and dry the components of your laptop that have been exposed to water and check if there is any damage that needs to be repaired or replaced. Here are the steps you should take:
- Open your laptop case. To clean and dry the inside of your laptop, you should open your laptop case using a suitable screwdriver. You need to be careful because there are many screws, cables, and components that you have to remove and reinstall properly. You should also remember or note the position and order of each part you open, so as not to get confused when reassembling them. If you are unsure or inexperienced, you are advised to seek help from a professional technician.
- Clean your laptop components. Once you open your laptop case, you will see various components installed on the motherboard, such as CPU, RAM, hard drive, graphics card, sound card, and others. You should clean these components from liquid, dirt, or rust that may stick to them. You can use a fine brush, cotton swab, or wet wipes dipped in isopropyl alcohol to gently clean these components. Do not use water, soap, or other chemicals, as doing so could damage the components of your laptop.
- Dry the components of your laptop. Once you’ve cleaned your laptop’s components, you’ll need to dry them perfectly before putting them back on. You can use a clean cloth, tissue, or paper towel to absorb and remove any remaining liquid. You can also use a hair dryer, fan, or other heating device, but with a low temperature and distance, so as not to damage the components of your laptop. You should make sure that there is no liquid left inside the components of your laptop, as doing so could cause a short circuit or corrosion.
- Check your laptop for component damage. After you dry the components of your laptop, you should check if any of the components are damaged or not working properly. You can use a multimeter, an electrical measuring instrument that can measure voltage, current, and resistance, to check the condition of your laptop components. You should test each component individually, and compare it to standard values that you can look up on the internet or your laptop’s manual. If you find a damaged or abnormal component, you should replace it with a new or similar component.
Restart Steps
The restart step is the last step you should take after performing the advanced repair steps. This step aims to test whether your laptop can turn on and function normally, or if there are still problems that need to be resolved. Here are the steps you should take:
- Reinstall your laptop components. Once you’ve cleaned, dried, and checked your laptop’s components, you’ll need to properly plug them back into the motherboard. You should follow the same order and position in which you removed it, and ensure that no screws, wires, or components are left behind or overturned. You should also check if some cables or components are loose or not connected properly.
- Put your laptop battery back in. Once you have reinstalled your laptop components, you should carefully reinstall your laptop battery. Make sure that your laptop battery is firmly seated and does not shift. If your laptop battery comes in contact with water, you should dry it first, or replace it with a new one if it breaks.
- Put your laptop case back on. Once you have reinstalled your laptop battery, you will need to reattach your laptop case by using a suitable screwdriver. You should follow the same order and position as when you opened it, and make sure that no screws are left behind or overturned. You should also check if there are any cracks or cracks in your laptop case that could allow liquid to enter again.
- Turn on your laptop. Once you have reinstalled your laptop case, you should try to turn on your laptop by pressing the power button. If your laptop successfully turns on and functions normally, then you have successfully saved your laptop from water damage. However, if your laptop won’t turn on, or there’s a problem with the screen, sound, keyboard, or other components, then you should take your laptop to an authorized service center or professional technician for further repairs.
Bardimin hope this article was useful to you. Thank you for reading this article.