HELP: Spilled Stuff on Laptop...

[RedFlag]

Here's the story:

A friend of mine spilled some warm tea on a Sony Vaio FCG-350 (or something like that...) on the right hand side of the keyboard. Now it's not turning on. When you push the power button the lights go on but when you release the button the power is gone. Screen doesn't light up or anything... Anyone with any experience or suggestions?

If she were to get it fixed, where would you recommend she go? Any specific stores in the Toronto area?

 

[Rallispec]

has she let it dry?

 

[notfred]

Replace the keybaord. Unplug the PC (from the wall, not the keyboard) for 5 mnutes, then plug it back in.

 

[IGBT]

Sony here in the SF bay area operate a factory direct repair center. The labor is flat rate and turn around is quick..see if you have a similar Sony center in your neck of the woods. And no more douching the key board.

 

[Hammer]

Don't tell tech support and bribe the tech they send to service it.

 

[Eli]

It's probably fine... Just let it dry out real good.

 

[Gunbuster]

If its under warranty clean it out super good and then send it for service (if they find liquid damage your screwed but you already are)

Sony mainboards range from $500-1500, most times a new lappy is more cost effective if the warranty is up

 

[Scarpozzi]

In my experience working with these if you spill anything on those keyboards it usually hoses them.... As far as the power issue, make sure it's dried out. Take the battery out for 5 mins and then try to power it on. The Mobo may need to be reset and that's the best way since all those use soft-power on. Good luck.

 

[RedFlag]

Thanks... it doesn't look good at all... Called some local shops and they say they can't fix it because they can't get the parts. So it looks like we'll have to send it into Sony to have them check it out...

 

[Jerboy]

<< If its under warranty clean it out super good and then send it for service (if they find liquid damage your screwed but you already are)

Sony mainboards range from $500-1500, most times a new lappy is more cost effective if the warranty is up >>



Its not the manufacture's fault and its not right to make them fix it at their expense when its clearly the user's fault.

 

[Jerboy]

I spilt a little bit of Coke in my dad's laptop in an airplane last year. Nothing was broken, but it required very extensive cleaning. Basically every key had to be popped off, wash in water bath and keyboard surface cleaned with warm wet rag.

time it took=three hours

 

[Keego]

keys can pop off of laptop keyboards? :Q

I'm waaaay too chicken to try that with my laptop!

 

[hans007]

most laptop keyboards can come off completely. you probably hosed your m/b though since its not powering up. considering the deals with laptops going for like $900 now, with 1ghz+ cpus, if its the mobo you are better off just buying a new one and salvaging off any parts on the old one you can sell.

 

[littlezipp]

I think you could almost break even if you sell the cpu, screen and drives on ebay. There will also probably be someone that wants the laptop shell too. Sorry to hear about their loss, I'll make sure to be carefull myself!

 

[SinnerWolf]

The bad thing about this is that there was sugar in the tea im sure....but anyhow. i've never taken apart that model before, but most notebooks are pretty easy to open up. should just be some screws, and maybe a few plastic tabs holding it together. Once you gain access to the board, let it dry for a bit in case it's still damp. Once dry, use compressed air like mad to get rid of any sugar crystals and the like. Then gently use high grade swabs or the like soaked in rubbing alcohol to clean off any residue, and all contacts. Let it dry, and repeat once more. You may have to remove some of the modular drives in order to properly clean it, so pay attention to how they are assembled. Hose it down with some compressed air once more, and then begin putting it back together. God knows how many times ive had to do this at work, and i'd say it works 70% of the time. It's not under warranty by anyone for liquid/corrosion damage...so even if it doesn't work after you go through this process, at least now it doesn't scream of misuse, and sony might actually repair it without knowing of the incident. Getting it repaired is pretty much out the question since it'll cost more to get the parts and labor done then buy a new one, unless it's a professional grade laptop. Worse comes to worse, the LCD screen, battery, roms, etc.. are worth a good chunk of change to a parts vendor. Ebay might be a last resort as well. g'luck

 

[Jerboy]

Its just like a car. Its either relatively easily and cheaply repaired or totalled.