Very slight water damage but laptop won't start properly

I dropped maybe half a spoonful of cereal on my acer aspire one laptop and promptly dabbed it dry.

It was fine for about 5 minutes then my "R" key stopped working. Then half my keys stopped working. So i turned the computer off and figured I'd try later.

Well about an hour later I tried to see if the keys would work but it won't even let me turn it on properly. It starts fine and shows the acer logo but then it goes black and it makes a loud and obnoxious BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. However, I CAN hit F2 when it prompts me to and go through all of those menus with no problem at all.

Any ideas? Or do you think it's ruined?

I've learned my lesson not to eat over the computer anymore. Especially not liquids, lol.

Thanks to anyone who offers any assistance.

 

Should have turned it off immediately or pulled the plug out of the socket, even if the computer was on. You prevent the circuits from shorting out before the liquid got to the circuits. You could have let it dry out for at least a few days without using it and resumed using it like normal. Dabbing it dry does not completely remove all the moistness. It looks like the milk got to it and you used it an hour later. I'm not aware of any solutions to fixing a water logged keyboard. Maybe somoeone else can help you

 

Thanks. I didn't know that. Now I'm prepare for next time, lol.

 

Replace the keyboard, and for future reference, open up the laptop chasis and allow the keyboard to fully dry. Use a fan and allow it to dry for a day or two

 

Okay, somehow I got it to turn on properly. (I know.. ideally I shoul have waited some more) It wouldn't turn on when I woke up this morning so I tried to do ALT + F10 and it randomly started normally... Might be a coincidence. Now I'm afraid to turn it off, lol.

Anyway, E, R, D, F, G, H, Z, X, C, and V don't work. If I replace the keyboard part you think they'll all work again? The damage shouldn't be deeper than that?

If so, I should just google "acer aspire one replacement keyboard," find one, and then look for a guide online on how to put it in, correct?

Thanks again for the help.

 

The only way to be totally sure is to get the replacement keyboard.

CAUTION : There is a different keyboard for every country/layout combination. Keyboards are relatively cheap so this may be the time to get it via one of the more professional acer spares sites rather than get one that turns out to be russian off e-bay

It sounds like the liquid is still rolling around in there. PLEASE TURN IT OFF !!!

You may wish to remove the keyboard (look for a manual onthe web) as this will ensure you know the part number (often on a label) and help any liguid stay out of the rest of the system

 

I can't resist to mention that milk isn't anything you want to leave somewhere. Milk is organic and will rot to cheese (or something like that).

 

I've "killed" keyboards for a couple of decades by spilling milk, cola, beer, water, tea, coffee and other substances I shan't mention. I've experienced a few things:

1. First rule (as mentioned in thread) kill power/unplug the keyboard (and if a laptop, get the battery out). Speed is essential here. You've got seconds or a minute at most before the current risk doing permanent damage (it's very low current so damage rarely happens instantly, a little time seem to be necessary, it's that property we (ab)use with this keyboard 911-technique).

2. Depending on what kind of liquid it is, it will have different conductive abilities. Water is often the least harmful, while things like cola or milk have loads of tiny particles in them that will allow current to flow. But, even if its pure distilled water, there's probably a lot of dust after a while beneath the keys of the keyboard, this will likely be conductive when mixed with water. So...

3. Unplug the keyboard/remove it from the laptop and really give it a good cleaning under running water in the shower or similar. Then leave to dry, for a couple of days minimum. There's an obvious risk of oxidation although I've never had issues with that. Hey, this _might_ save an otherwise surely dead keyboard, it's worth a try. If you can leave it in the sun for a day thats ideal and will dry it out quicker (as will other heat sources, but remember, plastic tends to melt in the microwave ). I've had success with this approach many times and some keyboards have lived through 3-4 such treatments over several years.

4. Re-attach the keyboard, pop up notepad or similar and test all keys. If any erroneous behavior, the keyboard is probably a goner. Do as me, grab a new one from the stack of still-in-its-original-packaging keyboards.

Mac

 

I can't emphasize this enough, please assume I inserted every disclaimer on the Internet before my comments!

I spilled some coffee the other day and it got under the keys of an El-Cheapo calculator, which made it stop working. Clearly not nearly as serious a problem as yours. Didn't shed a tear over the spilt milk at all, in fact, just pulled out a spare calculator. But I figured, why not try to resurrect the other one anyway, and here's what I did.

The coffee had coffee + milk + Splenda, and just a bit went under the keys, but obviously enough so that the milk (I presume) gooed up the insides as it dried. Took it to the sink, held it upside down, and lightly sprayed a fine mist of water toward it (from a spray bottle) a few times, letting the liquid drop out of the machine. After a few seconds, when I figured the water spray had dissolved the milk that was gumming up the parts, I shook out the extra water, then placed the calculator, still upside down, on a sunny windowsill. Checked it next day, and voila! Good as new.

Frankly, I was not expecting it to work. I thought I would have to go on to Stage Two, which is described on Lifehacker (and possibly Gizmodo). They suggest a cure of burying one's gadget in rice to dry out the insides. Again, not something I'd suggest unless you read and heed every disclaimer in the book first, so you are aware of the worst thing that could happen. You may decide it's safer, even if more expensive, to replace the keyboard. But it's probably worth taking a look at their method anyway, just to know about it.

Lifehacker: Dry Out Your Soaked Gadgets in Rice

The principle behind it makes sense, but again - I'm not sure I would try it the first time on a very expensive, very critical gadget.

Also - if you even give a thought to going their route, I think spraying it with water first - carefully, sparingly, upside down, and shaking it out - is a good start because you want to dissolve and get rid of the milk residue.

Second also - are you still under warranty? If so, have you called the mfr? I once screwed up one key, called the mfr and candidly told them that I myself had caused the problem and wanted to buy just that one key, if possible. To my surprise, they told me to send it in, they'd replace the keyboard under warranty, no problem. Maybe my honesty shocked them .