Liquid damage to gaming machine (HELP)
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nickw1235
June 20, 2014 10:22:24 PM
So this evening I was just gaming on my PC and drinking some soda and suddenly some papers above me on my desk tumble towards me and end up knocking the sprite I was drinking over and the sprite made it into my gaming rig. When the computer got soda inside the fans went crazy, and then I instantly ripped the computer out and yanked the power cord out. And now the computer won't turn on at all. Am I better off buying a new rig or should I attempt to fix this myself? If you guys need a better description or if you need pictures let me know. I need to know, what is my best solution to this problem?
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nickw1235
June 20, 2014 10:35:03 PM
plaintuts said:
Disassemble the computer.Wipe everything clean with some paper towels, check the psu if still functional then after that..
Reassemble everything then hope it boots up.
How soon do you think I should do this? Should I try to do this tomorrow evening or would that be too late? I don't want the soda to settle in. Btw, should I leave it plugged in?
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nickw1235
June 20, 2014 10:48:59 PM
dorky1
June 21, 2014 12:31:32 AM
nickw1235
June 21, 2014 8:18:59 AM
nickw1235
June 21, 2014 9:02:25 PM
How can I test whether some parts of the computer are working? For example how can I see if the CPU didn't get surged through the spill of the sprite? Oh and my PSU got wet, anything special I should do to that? Oh and it's not wet right now, it's just very sticky. I keep using cotton balls and quips and it's working OK for now, I need something that will clean right through those connections in the motherboard and gfx cards. Any solutions to that?
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nickw1235
June 28, 2014 2:58:47 PM
nickw1235 said:
Guys I gutted, cleaned, and re-assemmbled the entire machine and it did nothing. My guess is that the PSU blew up and it just needs to be replaced. So without a PSU to test with I cannot what hardware survived.If you're getting absolutely zero response at all, then it's most likely the PSU that took the brunt of the short.
Then again, your motherboard could also be toast, assuming liquid made it on there as well. Unfortunately, that's just how it goes sometimes, liquid and electronics do not mix, especially sugary sticky drinks that instantly cause shorts everywhere and basically are a nightmare in their own right.
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nickw1235
June 28, 2014 3:10:12 PM
Iron124 said:
nickw1235 said:
Guys I gutted, cleaned, and re-assemmbled the entire machine and it did nothing. My guess is that the PSU blew up and it just needs to be replaced. So without a PSU to test with I cannot what hardware survived.If you're getting absolutely zero response at all, then it's most likely the PSU that took the brunt of the short.
Then again, your motherboard could also be toast, assuming liquid made it on there as well. Unfortunately, that's just how it goes sometimes, liquid and electronics do not mix, especially sugary sticky drinks that instantly cause shorts everywhere and basically are a nightmare in their own right.
The motherboard did get a bit wet. But does that mean that the CPU is toast? I want to compile a list of new components to buy as replacements to the damaged components.
Thanks btw
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nickw1235 said:
Iron124 said:
nickw1235 said:
Guys I gutted, cleaned, and re-assemmbled the entire machine and it did nothing. My guess is that the PSU blew up and it just needs to be replaced. So without a PSU to test with I cannot what hardware survived.If you're getting absolutely zero response at all, then it's most likely the PSU that took the brunt of the short.
Then again, your motherboard could also be toast, assuming liquid made it on there as well. Unfortunately, that's just how it goes sometimes, liquid and electronics do not mix, especially sugary sticky drinks that instantly cause shorts everywhere and basically are a nightmare in their own right.
The motherboard did get a bit wet. But does that mean that the CPU is toast? I want to compile a list of new components to buy as replacements to the damaged components.
Thanks btw
You won't know if the CPU is toast until you get a new PSU and start running down the list of damaged components. There's no way to tell otherwise, but the most common components to die in a liquid spill are as follows (greatest to least chance)
Motherboard (Almost always)
Power Supply (If liquid makes it inside)
Graphics Card (Exposed chip + soda = bye bye)
CPU (Can be due to the motherboard shorting out, but usually makes it in my experience.)
Hard Drive (Almost always makes it, I think that's due to the casing. If it's an SSD your chances are even better.)
Everything else normally doesn't get wet, if it does, I have no idea...
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nickw1235
June 28, 2014 3:44:46 PM
nickw1235
June 28, 2014 3:45:19 PM
Best solution
Nick, there is much work to do before ordering parts.
Disassemble the computer completely.
Find out where the liquid soda went. Iron124 has given good advice for what was probably/possibly damaged. If the computer was still running when you pulled the plug, there might be some hope.
If the power supply did NOT get wet, then you can do a basic test of it once out of the case and disconnected from the mobo and everything else. Here's the Corsair link for that test; important part is that you want to connect a fan to the PSU before shorting out the pins on the main power cable and do all of that before you plug it in and turn it on.
http://www.corsair.com/en-us/blog/2011/may/testing-your...
There are other versions of this test you can find on YouTube.
If the fan spins up, you have basic power. If not, you probably need a power supply.
DORKY1 had the simple version of the next steps.
dry off and then clean off, with a damp rag at first attempt, any of the spill: Check and clean everything. Be sure to check the battery and battery mount area for the CMOS battery (round silver battery). Remove the battery from the mobo and set it aside; you can use it again if you want, but since this is a major clean up might as well get a new one for when you reassemble the PC.
Now I don't know if the following will work on a desk top, but it worked on a laptop soaked in Coca-Cola:
Again, do at your own risk.
Wash everything that got soda on it, except the Hard Drive and CPU, in straight DISTILLED WATER; MUST be distilled water as that is as pure as water gets - it is simply condensed steam and water vapor. All other water will have minerals in it.
NO soap, just the water. Rinse in clean distilled water.
Now the important part: buy enough 97%-99% isopropyl alcohol (the main alcohol in rubbing alcohol, I buy my 99% at Safeway) and THOROUGHLY rinse the wet parts with this alcohol; It will absorb water and then it rather quickly evaporates.
Next: Using a compressor at 40-50PSI or canned air, blow dry everything; get all the wetness you can off the parts.
NOW; let them dry in a warm place for 4-6 days; having a fan blowing on them will help.
BEfore reassembly, blow them off again; see any moisture now, then back to the drying process for another couple days.
CPU: If it did not get any soda under the heat sink and into the processor, that's great. If it did, wipe off the soda, then rinse with distilled water (don't soak it) and then alcohol, blow it off, let it dry.
After everything is dried out reassemble the PC and see if it works. The lap top we saved belonged to my friends son, that was about 7 years ago, his child is using it today. I hope this helps, and I hope this saves your PC>
Best of luck.
Disassemble the computer completely.
Find out where the liquid soda went. Iron124 has given good advice for what was probably/possibly damaged. If the computer was still running when you pulled the plug, there might be some hope.
If the power supply did NOT get wet, then you can do a basic test of it once out of the case and disconnected from the mobo and everything else. Here's the Corsair link for that test; important part is that you want to connect a fan to the PSU before shorting out the pins on the main power cable and do all of that before you plug it in and turn it on.
http://www.corsair.com/en-us/blog/2011/may/testing-your...
There are other versions of this test you can find on YouTube.
If the fan spins up, you have basic power. If not, you probably need a power supply.
DORKY1 had the simple version of the next steps.
dry off and then clean off, with a damp rag at first attempt, any of the spill: Check and clean everything. Be sure to check the battery and battery mount area for the CMOS battery (round silver battery). Remove the battery from the mobo and set it aside; you can use it again if you want, but since this is a major clean up might as well get a new one for when you reassemble the PC.
Now I don't know if the following will work on a desk top, but it worked on a laptop soaked in Coca-Cola:
Again, do at your own risk.
Wash everything that got soda on it, except the Hard Drive and CPU, in straight DISTILLED WATER; MUST be distilled water as that is as pure as water gets - it is simply condensed steam and water vapor. All other water will have minerals in it.
NO soap, just the water. Rinse in clean distilled water.
Now the important part: buy enough 97%-99% isopropyl alcohol (the main alcohol in rubbing alcohol, I buy my 99% at Safeway) and THOROUGHLY rinse the wet parts with this alcohol; It will absorb water and then it rather quickly evaporates.
Next: Using a compressor at 40-50PSI or canned air, blow dry everything; get all the wetness you can off the parts.
NOW; let them dry in a warm place for 4-6 days; having a fan blowing on them will help.
BEfore reassembly, blow them off again; see any moisture now, then back to the drying process for another couple days.
CPU: If it did not get any soda under the heat sink and into the processor, that's great. If it did, wipe off the soda, then rinse with distilled water (don't soak it) and then alcohol, blow it off, let it dry.
After everything is dried out reassemble the PC and see if it works. The lap top we saved belonged to my friends son, that was about 7 years ago, his child is using it today. I hope this helps, and I hope this saves your PC>
Best of luck.
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nickw1235
June 29, 2014 3:25:48 PM
nostall said:
Nick, there is much work to do before ordering parts. Disassemble the computer completely.
Find out where the liquid soda went. Iron124 has given good advice for what was probably/possibly damaged. If the computer was still running when you pulled the plug, there might be some hope.
If the power supply did NOT get wet, then you can do a basic test of it once out of the case and disconnected from the mobo and everything else. Here's the Corsair link for that test; important part is that you want to connect a fan to the PSU before shorting out the pins on the main power cable and do all of that before you plug it in and turn it on.
http://www.corsair.com/en-us/blog/2011/may/testing-your...
There are other versions of this test you can find on YouTube.
If the fan spins up, you have basic power. If not, you probably need a power supply.
DORKY1 had the simple version of the next steps.
dry off and then clean off, with a damp rag at first attempt, any of the spill: Check and clean everything. Be sure to check the battery and battery mount area for the CMOS battery (round silver battery). Remove the battery from the mobo and set it aside; you can use it again if you want, but since this is a major clean up might as well get a new one for when you reassemble the PC.
Now I don't know if the following will work on a desk top, but it worked on a laptop soaked in Coca-Cola:
Again, do at your own risk.
Wash everything that got soda on it, except the Hard Drive and CPU, in straight DISTILLED WATER; MUST be distilled water as that is as pure as water gets - it is simply condensed steam and water vapor. All other water will have minerals in it.
NO soap, just the water. Rinse in clean distilled water.
Now the important part: buy enough 97%-99% isopropyl alcohol (the main alcohol in rubbing alcohol, I buy my 99% at Safeway) and THOROUGHLY rinse the wet parts with this alcohol; It will absorb water and then it rather quickly evaporates.
Next: Using a compressor at 40-50PSI or canned air, blow dry everything; get all the wetness you can off the parts.
NOW; let them dry in a warm place for 4-6 days; having a fan blowing on them will help.
BEfore reassembly, blow them off again; see any moisture now, then back to the drying process for another couple days.
CPU: If it did not get any soda under the heat sink and into the processor, that's great. If it did, wipe off the soda, then rinse with distilled water (don't soak it) and then alcohol, blow it off, let it dry.
After everything is dried out reassemble the PC and see if it works. The lap top we saved belonged to my friends son, that was about 7 years ago, his child is using it today. I hope this helps, and I hope this saves your PC>
Best of luck.
Thank you so much! I think the PSU is toast for sure but I can't test anything without a working PSU. I already gutted and cleaned the entire system with rubbing alcohol, and nothing is happening. I'll order a PSU to test with, I'm pretty sure the components are fine, it's just that the sprite went right into the PSU and gfx card. Oh and the power buttons and headers also got wet so I think those are toast (the headphone jack wasn't working even before the computer was wet). If the new PSU doesn't work then I'll get it means the motherboard got toasted. And if I replace both of those and I get a black screen, that means the GFX card shorted out. The entire back of the motherboard was sticky so that isn't good (it isn't anymore) aswell as the GFX card and the inside of the PSU was drenched as well. I'm hoping that things turn out to go well!
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If the on-off switch on the case was flooded, and you didn't remove it and clean and dry it, that could be another problem.
You can jump the two contacts for the power switch, on the mobo, without the leads attached to see if it starts (I think someone else stated that in this thread).
Good luck. Please repost here and let all of us know how it turns out and if you need any more suggestions.
You can jump the two contacts for the power switch, on the mobo, without the leads attached to see if it starts (I think someone else stated that in this thread).
Good luck. Please repost here and let all of us know how it turns out and if you need any more suggestions.
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nickw1235
July 11, 2014 12:53:46 PM
nickw1235
July 11, 2014 5:51:09 PM
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Actually not a bad offer for a mobo destroyed by an accident. See if they will cover shipping, at least to you. That $50 is probably fairly close to what a retailer would have to pay for the board that they sell for $120-$130. Only other choice would be a completely new mobo and that would probably be a lot more $$ then $50.
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nickw1235
August 31, 2014 11:15:33 PM
nostall said:
Actually not a bad offer for a mobo destroyed by an accident. See if they will cover shipping, at least to you. That $50 is probably fairly close to what a retailer would have to pay for the board that they sell for $120-$130. Only other choice would be a completely new mobo and that would probably be a lot more $$ then $50.So I ordered a new motherboard today, the same one as I had (ASRock Z77 Extreme4) and I'll expect for it to come within a few days. Also another question, since my graphics card got a bit wet, do you think it is safe to test it? I cleaned it off completely, I just don't want to fry my motherboard with a short in the GFX card or something. What do you think will happen if I test it? Any thoughts?
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nickw1235
September 6, 2014 10:46:21 AM
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nickw1235 said:
Ok so I got the new motherboard and I plugged everything in, aaaand NOTHING....... What is the deal here??? This is really starting to piss me off, I invested 200 dollars just to get the thing running and I get nothing. WTF, I'm starting to think that everything in my fucking system just broke.Evening Nickw. Sorry for no replies, but have been very busy with work and other problems. Try "bread boarding" the PC.
Take everything out of the case; put the mobo on a cardboard box or other surface that is ABSOLUTELY non-conductive. This will eliminate the possibility of a short between the mobo and the case and any fans that might be messed up.
Connect the power, one stick of Ram, the CPU and cooler, and connect the monitor to the onboard/CPU graphics - then see if it will boot. If it works it should boot to the BIOS and tell you there is no OS.
If it doesn't boot: First try a different stick of RAM. If it still doesn't boot, it is probably the CPU that is toast.
If it does boot, then shut down and add the video card. If it doesn't even get to the BIOS there is a good probablilty the video card is shot. To test the video card withOUT your PC, try it in a friends PC: This is actually a better test as your friends PC will have an OS running it and not only should their PC boot up but the card hopefully will work properly. (Sorry to mention this, but it could be ruined from the soda and electricity but you won't know until you try it.)
IF you can get your PC running, especially on the CPU graphics on the "breadboard", then you can try adding one piece at a time to see if they all work. If you add something (say, andother stick of ram or you hook up the HDD) and it doesn't run, then shut down and remove that item and try to fire it up as it was the last time it ran.
One more thing: I realize you replaced the mobo with an identical mobo, but there is the slight possibility that you will have to reinstall Windows; But let's get the thing running first.
I will try to get back on the forums more often and will try to get back to you a bit sooner then this time.
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nickw1235
September 21, 2014 1:46:21 PM
nostall said:
nickw1235 said:
Ok so I got the new motherboard and I plugged everything in, aaaand NOTHING....... What is the deal here??? This is really starting to piss me off, I invested 200 dollars just to get the thing running and I get nothing. WTF, I'm starting to think that everything in my fucking system just broke.Evening Nickw. Sorry for no replies, but have been very busy with work and other problems. Try "bread boarding" the PC.
Take everything out of the case; put the mobo on a cardboard box or other surface that is ABSOLUTELY non-conductive. This will eliminate the possibility of a short between the mobo and the case and any fans that might be messed up.
Connect the power, one stick of Ram, the CPU and cooler, and connect the monitor to the onboard/CPU graphics - then see if it will boot. If it works it should boot to the BIOS and tell you there is no OS.
If it doesn't boot: First try a different stick of RAM. If it still doesn't boot, it is probably the CPU that is toast.
If it does boot, then shut down and add the video card. If it doesn't even get to the BIOS there is a good probablilty the video card is shot. To test the video card withOUT your PC, try it in a friends PC: This is actually a better test as your friends PC will have an OS running it and not only should their PC boot up but the card hopefully will work properly. (Sorry to mention this, but it could be ruined from the soda and electricity but you won't know until you try it.)
IF you can get your PC running, especially on the CPU graphics on the "breadboard", then you can try adding one piece at a time to see if they all work. If you add something (say, andother stick of ram or you hook up the HDD) and it doesn't run, then shut down and remove that item and try to fire it up as it was the last time it ran.
One more thing: I realize you replaced the mobo with an identical mobo, but there is the slight possibility that you will have to reinstall Windows; But let's get the thing running first.
I will try to get back on the forums more often and will try to get back to you a bit sooner then this time.
Me and my cousin attempted this a while back ad we concluded that the new motherboard is faulty. So I sent an RMA to newegg, they accepted it, and now I await another replacement motherboard. I plan to do the same with the CPU. After I RMA the CPU, I am going to buy a brand new GPU, and when I get all three parts, I will throw everything together and it WILL boot. If it doesn't I am going to explode. Also, me and my cousin also tested the RAM, and the RAM is fully working, we even did some gaming with it, and it did just fine, so the RAM survived the spill.
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nickw1235
September 21, 2014 1:48:43 PM
nickw1235 said:
By the way, what exactly should I tell Intel when I try to RMA the CPU? Should I tell them that the CPU naturally went out? What exactly should I tell them?I would wait until you get the new mobo. If it won't boot with the new mobo, using the intel graphics of your current CPU and a stick of your RAM (I wouldn't even plug in the hard drive yet) then the CPU is probably dead. What you tell Intel is entirely up to you. I can't advise you regarding that. I have found that the truth usually works best, but by all means tell them you have done troubleshooting and replaced everything (psu, mobo, tested RAM in another PC and gamed with it) and it still isn't working/booting. And how frustrated you are - just for emphasis.
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nickw1235
September 26, 2014 3:26:23 PM
Great news everyone, the gaming PC is up and running again! It turns out the mobo WAS faulty, as the computer posted completely and went to the BIOS. As soon as I found out the CPU was working, I proceeded to install the GPU, and with a surprise, it worked as well! Now I can get back to gaming! Thanks to all who have helped me out in this situation.
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nickw1235 said:
Great news everyone, the gaming PC is up and running again! It turns out the mobo WAS faulty, as the computer posted completely and went to the BIOS. As soon as I found out the CPU was working, I proceeded to install the GPU, and with a surprise, it worked as well! Now I can get back to gaming! Thanks to all who have helped me out in this situation.Congratulations!!! Now, please, going into the future, do not leave liquids near the PC.
I'm really glad she finally fired up, and you didn't need a new CPU.
GAME ON!
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