Laptop Spilliage

[bob13524uk]

Hi, I too have become stupid enough spill beer on my laptop keyboard. So last night I spilt maybe 200 or 300ml of beer onto my laptop keyboard, I switched it off and unplugged it, then tipped it upside down/left and right onto a towel to try to get rid of the beer, most of it seemed to come out.

Fortuntly the laptop is still working (and I'm currently using it with an external keyboard to write this message) , so hopefully i dont think any of the beer got into the circuitry. But the keyboard is totally stuffed only about 3 of the keys actually work. I assume because I made this error, the warranty wouldn't cover me? So do you think it would be cheaper to buy a replacement keyboard and replace it myself? Or do you have any other ideas as to what I can do?

Many thanks, bob

[kmount]

Bob,

 

It happens fella.

 

If the keyboard is partially working, it might be worth identifying whether the working keys are localised or not. Giving the keyboard a nice clean out with a damp cloth and trying again might be useful.

 

If it's working with an external keyboard that's pleasing news.

 

A replacement keyboard might work but there's no guarantees. Which laptop is it, maybe one of us will have a spare keyboard for it.

 

As for warranty, unless you have accidental damage cover I doubt they'll cover it, housing insurance might though if you can be bothered with the consequential premium rise.

[danIT]

If you feel confident I would unscrew the keyboard and release it from the main board. Id then give it a good was with cold water, a good dunk in the sink and then leave that to dry out for a few days.

 

That should help with all the sugary residue left on the keyboard.

 

Releasing the keyboard will also help any other moisture lef tinside the laptop escape. Open the CD-rom drawer as well.

 

I've dont it before on a few Toshibas, IBM's and one or two HPs.

[bob13524uk]

Thanks for the help guys, I can't believe this happened.

I take it as soon as I remove the keyboard the laptop shouldn't be used?

Thanks, bob

[kmount]

No reason why not, you could continue to use a USB one if its happy to boot up without one connected.

[bob13524uk]

Unfortuntly I haven't been able to get the keyboard off. I have an acer aspire 5920g so I'll have to keep trying.

Also if I was never to replace the keyboard, I would never be able to access the bios would I? So eventually I could run into troubles i guess..

Thanks again, Bob

[kmount]

A usb keyboard should work at boot time these days. (Think of PCs that don't have PS2 ports anymore).

[bob13524uk]

Do you think there's any possibilty that any of the internal circuitry was affected by the spilliage? Everything seems to be working fine right now, but I'm just feeling a little nervous right now... especially as winamp seems to be crashing often. Edited November 22, 2008 by bob13524uk

[EduTech]

Where about are you located bob?

 

James.

[bob13524uk]

normally UK but i'm currently in Germany for a few months.

[EduTech]

oh right ok.. PM on way!

[laserblazer]

OMG - you didn't spill Lowenbrau on it did you? If it has the same effect on your computer as it does on me then you're in deep sh!t

[bob13524uk]

why, what happened to yours?

[EduTech]

lol heres me trying not to worry you so much and you have to come and say something like that haha! i was trying to give the guy some hope

 

[kmount]

There's a good chance it's caused damage afterall wet liquid with sugar/etc versus circuitry isn't good.

 

Testing it extensively is the best bet.

[bob13524uk]

how would you recommend testing it extensively?

[EduTech]

Playing COD 5 on it lol