damage – Digital Insite Adelaide Computers + Support

I’m on-site today providing computer and network support to students and staff at a school in Aberfoyle Park and was given this laptop that had some water accidentally spilled on the keyboard during a lesson. Sadly accidents do happen but if you’re ever in this situation the very best thing to do is to shut down your laptop, PC, phone or any electronic device that has come in contact with water and remove the battery immediately. The reason behind this is that if you try to operate the device with water on the motherboard you’re very likely to have a short circuit happen which will most certainly damage the device and quite often render it inoperable. If you’re quick enough to shut down the device and remove the battery then I suggest opening any service panels you can and attempt to dry the internals with a hairdryer on very low heat.

Leave the unit to dry for at least 24 hours and then repeat the drying procedure with a hair dryer. Resist the urge to test it before 24 hours then as it could mean the difference between having a device that works again or one that is nothing but a bricked throwaway. This laptop I’m working on was powered off quite quickly but it looks like there was unfortunately immediate damage to the motherboard.

The device itself is powering on but the backlight behind the LCD isn’t illuminating the screen which is a sure sign that damage has occurred to the motherboard. Sadly, this one will have to go in for repair to get a new motherboard. The best advice I can give is to keep all liquids away from your laptop or PC – trust me when I say it’s not worth the risk.

Mark JANSEN