How To Fix a Wet Laptop

  • January 5, 2009
  • 46,122 Views
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How were you supposed to know your computer can’t swim? Isn’t it called a laptop?

You Will Need

  • Paper towels or lint-free cloth
  • Cotton swabs
  • A towel
  • Lots of luck
  • Professional help

Liquids and electricity don’t mix. Please make sure your hardware and all points of electrical contact are completely dry before plugging them in.

How To Fix a Wet Laptop: Power down

Step 1: Power down

When your laptop gets wet, immediately cut off the power supply and shut the computer down. Remove the battery, as well as the hard drive and any peripherals.

How To Fix a Wet Laptop: Drain and dry

Step 2: Drain and dry

Pour as much water as you can off the surface of the laptop. Use paper towels or lint-free cloth and cotton swabs to clean and dry the laptop, battery, and any removable parts or peripherals. Don’t use a hairdryer or a microwave; it can melt your hardware.

If you spilled a soft drink, coffee, liquor, or any other substance that isn’t water on your laptop, you’ll probably need to send it in for a professional repair.

How To Fix a Wet Laptop: Let it sit

Step 3: Let it sit

Lay a towel on a flat surface. Open the laptop, turn it upside down, and let it drain onto the towel for a few days.

How To Fix a Wet Laptop: Reinsert the battery

Step 4: Reinsert the battery

Reinsert the battery, and turn the machine on. If it powers up, let it run for an hour or so and shut it down again. If it doesn’t, try plugging in the power cord.

Make sure that the power cable and power brick are completely dry. Moisture can cause them to spark or catch fire.

How To Fix a Wet Laptop: Reinstall the extras

Step 5: Reinstall the extras

If your laptop worked well on battery power, you’re probably out of the woods. Reinstall the removable parts and peripherals, fire the machine back up, and count your lucky stars.

How To Fix a Wet Laptop: Take it for repairs

Step 6: Take it for repairs

If your laptop works when it’s plugged in, but not on battery power — or if you’re experiencing any other problems — take it in for repairs.

The nonprofit organization One Laptop Per Child has developed a sturdy, spill-proof, and energy efficient laptop that’s intended for use by children in developing nations.

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Comments (5)

simplyintricate

A good tip is to lock the laptop in a air-tight container and put silica gel packs all around it. Silica gel can be found in those ";do not eat"; packets that you get from time to time buying things.

over 3 years ago by simplyintricate

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evan_is_wow

you can also get it at a craft store it's usually in the decorative flower aisle because it's used for things like flower pressing

over 2 years ago by evan_is_wow

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Alessandro_Faion

ROFLCOPTER LOLLERCYCLE! That is a Dell and 0:29 is SOOOOO funny!!!

over 2 years ago by Alessandro_Faion

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tessa

Where was this video last year! Argh!

over 3 years ago by tessa

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notesbuddy

good

over 2 years ago by notesbuddy

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