Coffee spill on laptop - No power

Hi

I spilled coffee on my laptop and now their is no power anymore. I did test the power cable and it provide the good voltage, I also did test the inner contact to ensure and the power jack is ok.

I have cleaned all the internal parts with alcohol but it still in no power condition. I was wondering if a bad keyboard could prevent the laptop to start ? I did try without the keyboard but I wonder if I can start a laptop with no keyboard anyway ? If I can't and I need to clean the keyboard, how would you proceed to do so ?

Thank you.
Philippe Pomerleau

 

If nothing powers on, it means something is toast. Some laptops may not boot without a keyboard, but they should still power on. Like any spill, when it happens, it can sometimes take the entire laptop with it. At the very least, it sounds like it took the motherboard with it.

You could always wait to make sure everything is dried and inspect the motherboard carefully, but be prepared for a dead laptop. In which case, it's either repairs or buying a new one. Depending on its age and how much you paid for it, it may be better to just get a new one. If you're willing to try repairing it, there's always the possibility of buying a used motherboard on eBay instead of having hte manufacturer repair it, but there is no guarantee that'll work. You'd have to make sure your CPU and other removable components aren't toast before even attempting that.

If you end up buying a new laptop and a similar event might repeat, you might as well buy accidental damage warranty for the new laptop and/or get one that is at least mildly spill resistant.

 

Perfect, thank you very much

 

Every laptop will power on and post without a keyboard. If you have a fibre pen, try cleaning the memory contacts. Look for the corrosion signs on all the boards, which could have some liquid to them. Try unplugging the screen cable (and check the obvious damage signs on the connector itself and the connection on the mainboard) and powering the laptop on. When you say no power, do you mean the machine does not have any single light (battery charging light, power led etc) lighting up at all or just no display? To power on and post, laptop only needs the mainoard, cpu and memory (and the screen to see the post, can be external display).

 

Any kind spills on a laptop especially if the laptop is "ON" is a killer for keyboard you will short the contacts and render it useless so let's get this fact out. Liquid spills on a "ON" laptop is a killer and worse can cause more damage to the motherboard as well as electrical shorts isn't limited to just the keyboard in this instance and can and will take out something on the motherboard as well. I had to replace my bothers laptop when they spilled water on it and turned off instantly and they turned it back on and fried the board and keyboard at the same time. Lucky the board and keyboard were inexpensive and I bought a board and keyboard and hooked everything back and power on and it worked. So for anyone reading liquid spills on a "ON" laptop will not only take out the keyboard but anything else under it should the water get past it or short through electrical connections. So never think a spill on the keyboard just remains on the keyboard-dissemble and inspect your system down to the motherboard for any spills before thinking of turning it on again.

Update: as another poster said take out the battery and PS ASAP not oh wait a bit this will better insure the damage is reduced only if only to the keyboard for a "OFF" computer but a "ON" computer the damages can lead to much worse outcomes-and if it shuts off "IMMEDIATELY" take out the battery and PS adapter don't wait.

 

I keep on telling people to power it down, take the battery out if possible. If this is done, damage will be lesser. And you have a chance of cost effective repairs. Essential post. And reputation posts your way. And the highest. StormJumper's advice is golden. Follow it. The laptop you save may be your own. Coffee with cream and sugar is electrically conductive. And can and has shorted quite a few laptop motherboards. Sodas is another bad offender. Both with power applied are disaster.