spilled water on laptop - help!

I spilled a pretty large glass of water across my Dell Latitude D600
exactly a week ago. It was on and running at the time and turned off
immediately on the contact of the water. I've tried pretty much
everything - took it apart, let it dry out, compressed air, some light
heat to dry it. There doesn't appear to be any visible corrosion.
After a week it still doesn't turn on although the buttons flicker on
for a split second sometimes when I press the power button.

The hard disk and the power supply are fine b/c I borrowed another
laptop for testing.

I don't want to send it into Dell b/c it's $300 just to send it in and
if something major is wrong, I'm guessing it's going to be cheaper to
just replace the computer all together.

Any suggestions on what might be wrong or if there's still any hope?

Thanks...

Michele

nefilm wrote:
>
> I spilled a pretty large glass of water across my Dell Latitude D600
> exactly a week ago. It was on and running at the time and turned off
> immediately on the contact of the water. I've tried pretty much
> everything - took it apart, let it dry out, compressed air, some light
> heat to dry it. There doesn't appear to be any visible corrosion.
> After a week it still doesn't turn on although the buttons flicker on
> for a split second sometimes when I press the power button.
>
> The hard disk and the power supply are fine b/c I borrowed another
> laptop for testing.
>
> I don't want to send it into Dell b/c it's $300 just to send it in and
> if something major is wrong, I'm guessing it's going to be cheaper to
> just replace the computer all together.
>
> Any suggestions on what might be wrong or if there's still any hope?

Try reseating the memory module(s).

Notan

"nefilm" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
>I spilled a pretty large glass of water across my Dell Latitude D600
> exactly a week ago. It was on and running at the time and turned off
> immediately on the contact of the water. I've tried pretty much
> everything - took it apart, let it dry out, compressed air, some light
> heat to dry it. There doesn't appear to be any visible corrosion.
> After a week it still doesn't turn on although the buttons flicker on
> for a split second sometimes when I press the power button.
>
> The hard disk and the power supply are fine b/c I borrowed another
> laptop for testing.
>
> I don't want to send it into Dell b/c it's $300 just to send it in and
> if something major is wrong, I'm guessing it's going to be cheaper to
> just replace the computer all together.
>
> Any suggestions on what might be wrong or if there's still any hope?
>
> Thanks...
>
> Michele

Where did you come up with the figure of $300 "just to send it in"? If the
machine is still under warranty, send it in.
>

It's not under warranty for accidental damage which is what this is
considered. I called Dell and that was the amount they quoted me to
send it in to take a look at it.

Michele

I have read a number of spilled coffee, water, juice stories regarding
laptops. They all end the same. The computer no longer works. No one ever
seems to take the trouble to have each component tested, e.g. memory, video
board, keyboard.....nor do they test the motherboard. One or more
components, no doubt, shorts out and perhaps a component does also. The
result is a useless computer. Another alternative is to find a local shop
which has the capability of testing all components and motherboard to
determine the failed part(s). I can't imagine where you would find a shop
like that. Maybe it is best to write off the loss as "tuition" and move on
to another laptop. That is what I would do, but that is because I don't want
to spend a lot of time and effort finding that "magic" shop to check out the
unit. Good luck for whatever you decide. Phasr
"nefilm" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
>I spilled a pretty large glass of water across my Dell Latitude D600
> exactly a week ago. It was on and running at the time and turned off
> immediately on the contact of the water. I've tried pretty much
> everything - took it apart, let it dry out, compressed air, some light
> heat to dry it. There doesn't appear to be any visible corrosion.
> After a week it still doesn't turn on although the buttons flicker on
> for a split second sometimes when I press the power button.
>
> The hard disk and the power supply are fine b/c I borrowed another
> laptop for testing.
>
> I don't want to send it into Dell b/c it's $300 just to send it in and
> if something major is wrong, I'm guessing it's going to be cheaper to
> just replace the computer all together.
>
> Any suggestions on what might be wrong or if there's still any hope?
>
> Thanks...
>
> Michele
>

It can take a long time for water to dry out, but if it was just water,
you may be ok in time (another week). This is complicated by the fact
that it was on, you might have done some real damage (note, you needed
to immediately turn it off, unplug the power supply and remove the
battery). Beyond that, I don't know what to tell you. If the
motherboard was damaged, you are looking at a major repair bill, $300 to
$600 I'd guess.


nefilm wrote:
> I spilled a pretty large glass of water across my Dell Latitude D600
> exactly a week ago. It was on and running at the time and turned off
> immediately on the contact of the water. I've tried pretty much
> everything - took it apart, let it dry out, compressed air, some light
> heat to dry it. There doesn't appear to be any visible corrosion.
> After a week it still doesn't turn on although the buttons flicker on
> for a split second sometimes when I press the power button.
>
> The hard disk and the power supply are fine b/c I borrowed another
> laptop for testing.
>
> I don't want to send it into Dell b/c it's $300 just to send it in and
> if something major is wrong, I'm guessing it's going to be cheaper to
> just replace the computer all together.
>
> Any suggestions on what might be wrong or if there's still any hope?
>
> Thanks...
>
> Michele
>

nefilm wrote:
> I spilled a pretty large glass of water across my Dell Latitude D600
> exactly a week ago. It was on and running at the time and turned off
> immediately on the contact of the water. I've tried pretty much
> everything - took it apart, let it dry out, compressed air, some light
> heat to dry it. There doesn't appear to be any visible corrosion.
> After a week it still doesn't turn on although the buttons flicker on
> for a split second sometimes when I press the power button.
>
> The hard disk and the power supply are fine b/c I borrowed another
> laptop for testing.
>
> I don't want to send it into Dell b/c it's $300 just to send it in and
> if something major is wrong, I'm guessing it's going to be cheaper to
> just replace the computer all together.
>
> Any suggestions on what might be wrong or if there's still any hope?
>
> Thanks...
>
> Michele
>
Leave it a little longer to dry out throughly and you may be in luck.
Unfortunately U might be SOL and looking at replacing the Motherboard at
a minimum!

nefilm wrote:

> I spilled a pretty large glass of water across my Dell Latitude D600
> exactly a week ago. It was on and running at the time and turned off
> immediately on the contact of the water. I've tried pretty much
> everything - took it apart, let it dry out, compressed air, some light
> heat to dry it. There doesn't appear to be any visible corrosion.
> After a week it still doesn't turn on although the buttons flicker on
> for a split second sometimes when I press the power button.
>
> The hard disk and the power supply are fine b/c I borrowed another
> laptop for testing.
>
> I don't want to send it into Dell b/c it's $300 just to send it in and
> if something major is wrong, I'm guessing it's going to be cheaper to
> just replace the computer all together.
>
> Any suggestions on what might be wrong or if there's still any hope?

Most likely problem is that water got between the layers of the keyboard and
is causing a continued short. No quick way to dry this, but standing the
machine on end might speed the process a little.
>
> Thanks...
>
> Michele

--
--John
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