Question on computer after a disaster?

[PowerYoga]

ok here's the thing... my friend's house burnt down and everything's wet now. (obviously) The computer hasn't been burnt to a crisp or melted, but it is all wet. It hasn't been turned on ever since, so i was wondering if it will boot if its thoroughly dried out? Is it possible to save the hardisk? (which is also wet) Another thing is that the microphone has melted due to the heat... is there any chance that the computer would still be operational?

 

[thomsbrain]

If the computer was a Pentium II or later (used an ATX power supply), and was plugged in when the water hit it (although power might have been out by then, I suppose), it is probably toast. If there's a chance it wasn't getting power when the water hit, it might still work if you get it all good and dry. Might take an awful long time to dry out the inside of a hard disk, though. I guess the only way to see is to open it up and let it dry for a week or so, and give it a shot.

 

[flippinfleck]

I've seen computers go through a fire and still survive. Hell, the server at work is a prime example.

Just make sure that it is completely dry before you attempt to do anything with it. Take the mobo out of case, as with PS and all other components. Set them on something to air dry. Go over the mobo with a paintbrush (brand new of course) to get rid of any deposits that may be on there. Just brush it like you were painting it.

Let it sit out of the case for a few days, rotating which side it's laying on (might want to set something up so it doesn't sit flat on any surface, maybe hang it in the air with some string through one of the mobo screw holes.

After that, use minimal to start. Just PS and CPU, see if it even starts up. Let it run for a few minutes, if it's all good and no sparks fly then you should be all set.

Take this with a grain of salt, no electronic device likes getting wet. Actuall results may vary. You turn that sucker on at your own risk!

Oh yeah, also, might want to open up the PS and let that dry out also.

 

[thomsbrain]

If the data is your major concern, take out the drive and let it sit out for a week or so, and then stick it in a different computer to test it for the first time.

 

[PowerYoga]

thanks i'll try try that.... data is the main concern because the computer is fairly old... it is a p2 400 though so the system might be toast. Say I want to open up the hardisk to let it dry out... how would I do that? Is it ok if I use a blow drier on cool air?

 

[TheKhan]

Another point to know (the fire dept. may have already told him this), if a fire extinguisher was used in the room where the computer was kept, the elcetronics/components will most probably fail within a few months even if you got them working again.

If an extinguisher wasn't used, then I guess this is not an issue.

 

[Duvie]

I would recommend taking out all parts and let dry for a week or so...use a fan blowing some warm air across it this will help evaporate the water...

I wouldn't use the power supply at all...get a new one, especially to test system when it dries out...

 

[flippinfleck]

<< I wouldn't use the power supply at all...get a new one, especially to test system when it dries out... >>



That makes sense, especially with the low price of a decent ps. Scratch my original suggestion to dry it out

 

[foofoo]

<< Say I want to
open up the hardisk to let it dry out... how would I do that?Text >>



do not open the case of your hard drive. this will kill it. take the intact hard drive out of the pc and let it dry. then jumper it as a slave and put it into another pc and copy the data off of it. this is the safest way to preserve the data.
good luck

 

[BatmanNate]

There should be no water inside the harddrive, seeing as these are VACUUM SEALED. Opening it will result in disaster, considering so much as a piece of dust can crash the head.... Don't do it.

 

[Louie1961a]

Here is what I did when my wife spilled red wine in her machine. Don't ask me how that happened..I have never gotten a straight answer. I doused everything with one of those freon based, non-flamable electrical component cleaners that you can buy at radioshack or your local autoparts store (electro-clean??). Then let it air dry. I wouldn't let it air dry on its own first, since that can lead to corrosion. The freon will remove all the water now, and help prevent corrosion. The only parts I wouldn't use it on are the drives.

In my case, it worked perfectly.