Wet Laptop

[rVidia]

About a month ago, I got a call, someone was getting a BSOD. Went over, turned out they had a corrupted boot.ini file, so I fixed that. Customer was having no problems at all, everything was working from then on, nothing was lost; a quick repair. So a month later, I get a call. The customer spilled some of his water onto his laptop without knowing this. I went over, saw a wet computer. After I told him, he suggested he may have left it wet overnight without knowing there was a spill, so the water had a good amount of time to soak in. The keyboard doesn't work. So when I'm there, I plug in an external keyboard. Windows XP Home boots up, I get to the login screen, type in the password. Everything is working great. After a few tries of the same password, it's clear the password doesn't work (yet the customer knows this is the laptop's password). Before this I dried the outsides of the computer; doesn't work, which is expected considering the amount of time the water was allowed to soak in. After I try the external keyboard, I reboot, there's beeping. Unplug the keyboard, same beeping. Can't get past that. I'm assuming there must be some hardware damage. I'll probably just open it up and dry the internal parts of the computer. Any approach you would suggest?

[kelly]

I'm not sure I understand the chain of events. The laptop was working with the external keyboard, however, the password wasn't working. Then it stopped working, even with the ext keyboard and you no longer get to Windows or the password screen? Is this right?

Either way, I'd open it up and let it dry out. If you see any scuzzy stuff on the board as a result of the water, try to clean it. Look inside to see if you can find any damage. If you still can't get it working, you can probably pull the hard drive and recover data.

- tony d

[rVidia]

That's correct. After the water soaked in overnight, it must have affected the laptop's keyboard, as none of the keys were working (tried them at password screen). Ext keyboard worked, typed in the password, but it wouldn't accept the password after several tries. After reboot, couldn't even access the login screen anymore, just heard beeping. I'll probably take a look inside, but it's strange to say the least...

[Terry Hanushek]

Ray

Tony's advice about opening up the case and allowing it to dry is solid. The first thing that should be done with a 'wet' laptop (before power up) is to make sure that it is completely dry inside - we all know about water and electricity. From the deteriorating conditions of the machine (decreasing access, beeping), it appears like you may have some interior damage. I have a real paranoia about water on laptops since my wife smoked the mobo on her laptop with a small amount of water strategically dripped through a vent.

Terry

[rVidia]

Well, I opened up the computer and am going to let it dry overnight, see how it is in the morning and then get back to my client. I may have to pull the hard drive, as there seems to be some damage there, which was expected considering the beeping, etc. I also need to get some thermal grease for the processor. Hopefully it will be working again by tomorrow :pray:

[kelly]

Thermal grease for the processor? Please explain.

- tony d

[rVidia]

Thermal grease for the processor? Please explain.

- tony d

Thermal grease for the processor didn't necessarily have to do with water damage; I was just saying it was needed in general, if that's clearer. There wasn't any applied, and it should be used to reduce processor overheating.

[rVidia]

Here's something strange. These are my notes:

-wet laptop
-keyboard not working, so external keyboard used to type password at login screen; password not accepted
-reboot
-beeping; cannot get past beeping (cannot get to login screen)
-opened up laptop; left to dry for 2 days
-thermal grease applied
-put laptop back together
-slow; had to select "Boot" option
-at login screen, when "a" was pressed, a long line of "a"s appeared
-external keyboard necessary; used for password; successfully logged in
-used laptop keyboard; about a quarter of the keys pressed resulted in nothing - some keys other than "a" added a stream of "a"s after it

Here, I considered I might have to replace the laptop's keyboard with a new one.

-ran malware scans; none found
-all data on computer still there
-internet connection (wireless) worked

-reboot
-beeping; disconnected external keyboard, power cord, and wireless card from laptop but still beeping

I tried shutting down/restarting the computer several times after that but the beeping persisted just as before. I was able to log in once as mentioned in the notes and made a backup of all the client's data, but after a reboot, the beeping came back (and I couldn't access the login screen)...:confused: What do you think?

[Seth]

Hey Ray...

When you said you opened it up, did you unplug all the visible connections (especially keyboard) to allow those to dry?

[rVidia]

Yes, I did.

[Seth]

Well if a short ran through the mobo, the ram would likely take the brunt of the jolt. If it's got two ram modules, I'd try each one, one at a time.

Also, what about finding the bios manufacturer and deciphering the bios beeps that way?

[rVidia]

Also, what about finding the bios manufacturer and deciphering the bios beeps that way?

Good idea.

Phoenix BIOS. There's continuous beeping - I checked here (http://www.bioscentral.com/beepcodes/phoenixbeep.htm) to see if there may be anything useful, but it could be anything. I'll probably test the memory and go from there. I'll keep on posting in the meantime.

[rVidia]

How interesting...!

Although I knew I wouldn't be able to test the memory with any software because of failure to boot, I tried it anyway. I popped in a bootable floppy disk with Memtest86+ and the beeping began, said to remove the floppy and restart. So I did, and when I removed the floppy from the drive and hit "any key" to reboot, it brought me right to the login screen. I tried this a few other times, and it seems to be working every time. How curious! I can type in the password with an *external* keyboard and am able to log in this way.

I'm going to try a different floppy right now and see if I get the same thing. EDIT: in doing so (I used a floppy with nothing on it), I was again told to remove the floppy and press any key to restart. I followed directions and was brought to the Windows Recovery Console, so I chose to boot Windows normally and was brought to the login screen after. Ext keyboard worked again and I was able to log in.

What's your reaction to this?

[Seth]

Are you saying that since you tried the floppy drive, the bios isn't complaining anymore?

[rVidia]

Once I tried using a floppy, the beeping began, I was told to remove the floppy and then press any key to restart. Until I hit a key, the beeping continues, but after I do, I'm brought to Windows and the login screen. Once at the login screen, there's beeping for a few seconds but then it stops and I can log in using the ext keyboard.

[Seth]

So is the problem now just the bios beeps and/or the keyboard?

I would also test the system with the cdrom, floppy drive, battery, and any other needless device removed.

What about my ram suggestion?

[rVidia]

So is the problem now just the bios beeps and/or the keyboard?

Without a floppy, the bios beeps and I can't get anywhere. With a floppy, the bios beeps until I remove it, restart; when at login screen, beeps for a few seconds. Laptop keyboard doesn't work but an external one does. Problem: both bios beeping and the keyboard.

I would also test the system with the cdrom, floppy drive, battery, and any other needless device removed.

What about my ram suggestion?

It's late where I am and I need some rest. I'll try your suggestions tomorrow and get back to you. Thanks.

[rVidia]

Seth:

I have not yet completed everything you have suggested; however, here is what I have done:

I tried booting with a CD and then a USB flash drive -- neither one was recognized as removable media as the floppy disk was and the result was the same as booting with nothing at all (beeping). I then removed the battery but to no avail.

I next removed the CD-ROM drive from the laptop. I started the computer and when there was usually beeping, there was instead a loading bar at the bottom of the screen which led to Windows and then the login screen. I was able to log in with the external keyboard (the laptop keyboard needs to be replaced). I shut down and restarted several times after and I was able to log in each time. The only beeping is for a few seconds at the login screen, although it stops shortly after the "Welcome screen" loads.

Thus far, I have been able to log in by inserting a floppy disk, removing it, and restarting after; I have also been able to log in after removing the CD-ROM drive. I have had to use an external keyboard each time.

What do you think?

[rVidia]

Might be breaking a law here, three posts in a row...

Anyway, I put the CD-ROM drive back in (put everything back in, actually). Disconnected the laptop's keyboard, and the BIOS finally "stopped complaining"! I'm expecting a new keyboard soon, but other than that, all is well and the customer will be getting his good ol' computer back. Thanks for all of the help, everyone. I truly appreciate time taken to walk me through this... Hopefully we all learned something :grouphug:

[Seth]

Good stuff Ray.

Keep your fingers crossed that keyboard problem is actually caused by a keyboard short and not something on the mobo.