Basically I was cleaning a laptop screen with LCD screen cleaner and it seems a drop or 2 go into the screen case, it made a funny smell, and scary buzing noises. Any suggestions besides leave it off over night?
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
is it still working at all? If so, I;d wait overnight. If not, take it to a tech place NOW.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Hell, I'd wait to turn it back on until tomorrow, don't run any current thought it at all.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
The computer part is fine, its the screen part that does the fuzzy stuff, I turned it off and put it away.
Posted by Xann. (Member # 11482) on :
Ideally i would spend about three days with it off, that is what i have heard about keyboards at least. Since that probably isn't possible i would just make sure to blow on it alot and hope for the best.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Put it in a microwave oven for about five minutes.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
....
Your kidding.
Please tell me your kidding.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Personally, I'd have left it on (if I had the presence of mind to do so; my kneejerk reaction would probably be to power it down). I've had better luck with leaving electronics on while they dry than I have with getting them to come back up and run properly after drying out while off.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Not at all. Don't you know how a microwave works? It sends out electromagnetic waves whose frequency is close to the resonance frequency of water molecules; as it happens this is in the micrometer range, hence the name. The transfer of energy from the wave to water molecules is therefore huge, while the transfer to almost anything else is so-so. Therefore a microwave will make the water in your case evaporate without destroying the electronics, which won't absorb much energy.
Posted by The Genuine (Member # 11446) on :
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Well, I don't know what that's supposed to mean. My explanation of how microwave ovens work is quite correct. Now, if I had suggested he dry a cat off by putting it in the microwave, that would be moderately evil. But laptops, unlike cats, are not 80% water. So it is quite safe.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
buuuut I've seen metal spoons explode in microwaves.
Don't laptops have... metal in them?
The problem with keeping it on is that I think it would have been it worse as the screen was not only making a wierd noise but was flickering on and off and made a really bad melted plastic smell.
Also when I tried to turn it back on an hour later the backlite didn't seem to turn on right away*, the buzzing resumed when I plugged the power supply in.
*It turned on in a way when plugged it, with resumed flickering.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Oh, well, now that you mention it, it is true that metals are one of the few things other than water that are really good at absorbing energy from microwaves. (Or electromagnetic waves of any wavelength, really; it's because they are conductors and the electric fields make the electrons move about.) But nevertheless, the following facts are true:
* The microwave would certainly dry out the laptop. * Water absorbs microwave energy very well, and this is the principle by which microwave ovens work. * Putting cats in microwaves is evil. * Putting laptops in microwaves is quite safe, in that no people would be hurt; property damage only. * And finally, the Canadian economy needs consumer stimulus just as much as the American one. Only trying to help!
So you see, I did not make any false statements.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
KoM, you of all people should be aware that Blayne is vulnerable to such psychological attacks.
Hell, for a minute there I was thinking about how you might be right- except I couldn't get over the whole arcing electricity thing.
Incidentally I once spilled an entire liter of boiling hot tea on a dell laptop.
I set it on its side (screen open) for two days, turned it back on, and it was just fine.
I've been told that water with few impurities has little effect on electronic components unless there is current. Thus, one possible way of curing a small electronic device of water infestation is to submerge it in an oil solution like WD-40. The oil forces out the water (since they don't mix) and then evaporates. This is only in cases where dirty or muddy water (ie, corrosive liquid) is involved.
Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :
It sounds like Blayne got some water into the inverter circuit that powers the LCD backlight. That's the only high frequency component in the display area which is prone to make a buzzing noise.
If it were mine, I'd power it off and VERY carefully remove the bezel around the display in order to get to the liquid. Dab up any visible wetness with a clean cloth or paper towel and then leave it open to the air overnight. After that, put it back together and turn it on again.
Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :
quote:I've been told that water with few impurities has little effect on electronic components unless there is current.
Water kills electronics two different ways - by creating electrical shorts and by corroding metalic components. Water with few impurities, such as distilled water, will not cause shorts but the risk of corrosion is still there if you don't get it dried out fairly quickly.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
quote:Originally posted by MattP: It sounds like Blayne got some water into the inverter circuit that powers the LCD backlight. That's the only high frequency component in the display area which is prone to make a buzzing noise.
If it were mine, I'd power it off and VERY carefully remove the bezel around the display in order to get to the liquid. Dab up any visible wetness with a clean cloth or paper towel and then leave it open to the air overnight. After that, put it back together and turn it on again.
This would probably void the warranty on said laptop.
Posted by Starsnuffer (Member # 8116) on :
Ah, I was going to ask why not just let it sit and dry until it is dried.
Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :
quote:This would probably void the warranty on said laptop
Spilling liquid on a laptop has the same effect.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
Not spilt, I was cleaning the screen as per instructions.
Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :
I'd be very surprised if the laptop included screen cleaning instructions that suggested spraying the screen with a liquid substance. Perhaps the cleaner instructions say that...
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
Ah, well then, leave the cleaner out over night until it is dried, and then attempt to turn it back on. If this does not work, put the cleaner in the microwave.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Just let it dry in a warmish dry place before you do anything else more drastic.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
I'd leave the laptop off but open. It might help to direct a fan on it but absolutely do not apply any heat. Warm room air is OK but don't set it in front of a heater or a fireplace, use a hair dryer on it or anything like that. Heat will damage the LCDs and possibly other components.
If letting it sit by a fan for a day doesn't help and it is still under warranty -- take it to a shop and let them open it up to dry out.
Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :
quote:If letting it sit by a fan for a day doesn't help and it is still under warranty -- take it to a shop and let them open it up to dry out.
If it is still under warranty, then there's a good chance that the warranty will end the moment you tell the shop staff that you got liquid inside the bezel. In general you only take the laptop to the shop if a) the warranty has already been voided and you're going to pay for the repair, or b) the warranty is in effect and you are confident/hopeful that the shop will not detect any warranty-voiding damage or tampering.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:If it is still under warranty, then there's a good chance that the warranty will end the moment you tell the shop staff that you got liquid inside the bezel.
I certainly wouldn't tell them you got liquid under the bezel. Tell them, "My screen started making this buzzing sound, can you check it out?" If they ask when the problem started, say " Monday". If they ask what you were doing when it start, say "I was cleaning the screen as per instructions with highly recommended cleaner X."
If they find evidence of liquid inside the machine when they open it up they may ask you if you spilled something on it, at which point you say "No never", I did use some liquid LCD cleaner on the screen but other than that there has never been any liquid anywhere near it.
And certainly, let it sit for a day in front of a fan before you try anything else.
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
Or just admit you broke it and only attempt to get warranty service if that situation is covered.
Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :
quote:Originally posted by scifibum: Or just admit you broke it and only attempt to get warranty service if that situation is covered.
Your ideas intrigue me and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
quote:Originally posted by Teshi: Just let it dry in a warmish dry place before you do anything else more drastic.
PSH, that's just stupid. You're a stupid person, obviously. What's needed is a steamy bathroom, preferably with incense burning. The hotter and wetter, the better. After all, when it's steamy, it's because there's liquid in the air, and why is there liquid in the air...? Because it evaporates when it's steamy!
Also witches are made of ducks.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
lol
I don;t see any issue with going in and telling them it made noiae, myself, as Blayne didn;t spill anytihng and only assuming he got liquid in the case. It;s probable, but he doesn't now that fir sure, and he MAY have even been using the product as recommended.
Don't lie, just answer any questions asked honestly and you may be surprised. If you were spraying as recommended (which I honestly doubt, as most products say to spray the cleaning cloth directly, not the screen for this very reason) and it caused this it MAY still be covered.
Let us know if it works when dried out, I am curious. I just bought a laptop myself, and wonder if that will work. Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
I think the real lesson is that just because a product exists (e.g. LCD cleaning solution) doesn't mean it's a good idea to use it.
Baby products might be the best example of this principle.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
True.
You know, I added water to baby powder lots of times, and not ONCE did I get a baby?
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