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Question

what to do with a moist laptop

Jul 3, 2011 6:27PM PDT

I was walking outside with my laptop (Compaq 2500), adapter and mouse in a backpack when it rained. I got home as fast as I could but by the time I got there, my backpack was wet and the laptop and everything else inside were moist. I know electronics and water don't go well together, but I have no idea what to do (and I don't know how to get any parts out except the battery).

Discussion is locked

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Answer
edit
Jul 3, 2011 7:11PM PDT

Edit: portable keyboard, too.

I blow-dried everything for a few minutes, set to maximum, just in case that's going to be relevant. They've dried, so far, at least the outside.

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Without knowing the extent of moisture penetration
Jul 3, 2011 11:54PM PDT

it would be difficult to determine what, if any, damage may have occurred. Removing the battery was important. This may just be a matter of patience. Moisture inside the laptop will take time to evaporate. The usual recommendation would be to open up everything as best you can. Remove the hard drive, etc. Leave it in a warm (but not hot) place such as by a sunlit window. If you can keep a small fan circulating air across it, that might help. There's no way to know how much time it will take to become completely dried out. It could be hours or days. Give it all the time you can before connecting the battery and firing it up. Good luck.

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If it were mine, I'd remove the battery and open it
Jul 4, 2011 12:06AM PDT

to a "V" shape and place it in front of fan and change the position every 4-6 hours.Changing the position every 4-6 hours should allow any moisture to shift to a location where it could dry. Once you've covered all the positions, then give it a try.

Let us know.

VAPCMD