Question laptop doused with water, and...RIP?

[808dude]

It's been a few weeks since this episode happened while I was gone, but our three-year-old spilled a glass of water on wife's aging Dell Inspiron keyboard. She did what little she could to dry it out, but it's not booting. It's about 7 years old, so not a major heartbreak if it's just done - but here are some details:

1. there's a brief flash of backlight from screen on attempting to start, then black
2. fan runs only if I press-and-hold power switch (and then, briefly)
3. at charging port, power (white? shouldn't it be blue?) LED comes on at first, supplanted by yellow flashing light, then I think nothing after a bit
4. I get no sense of any vibration from 1TB HD (with my fingers on it to check)
5. no SSD was ever installed
6. new battery a few months ago...not directly relevant, but maybe a reason to work on this a little more

Would a new SSD or HD (or external?) at least get me to some kind of "no boot device" screen, thereby giving some assurance that it's salvageable - or alternatively, tell me that it's time for a decent burial?

If worth trying, what's the best drive type to try for this, considering it might be good money after bad?

 

[punkncat]

Put in a bag of rice? (I kid)

If the laptop was on at the time, it is probably done. Given its age it would be a great opportunity and excuse to get something newer.

 

[CelicaGT]

It's been a few weeks since this episode happened while I was gone, but our three-year-old spilled a glass of water on wife's aging Dell Inspiron keyboard. She did what little she could to dry it out, but it's not booting. It's about 7 years old, so not a major heartbreak if it's just done - but here are some details:

1. there's a brief flash of backlight from screen on attempting to start, then black
2. fan runs only if I press-and-hold power switch (and then, briefly)
3. at charging port, power (white? shouldn't it be blue?) LED comes on at first, supplanted by yellow flashing light, then I think nothing after a bit
4. I get no sense of any vibration from 1TB HD (with my fingers on it to check)
5. no SSD was ever installed
6. new battery a few months ago...not directly relevant, but maybe a reason to work on this a little more

Would a new SSD or HD (or external?) at least get me to some kind of "no boot device" screen, thereby giving some assurance that it's salvageable - or alternatively, tell me that it's time for a decent burial?

If worth trying, what's the best drive type to try for this, considering it might be good money after bad?

The only true way to dry it out was to disassemble it, or at least pull the top or bottom case. It's also important to remove or at least disconnect the battery immediately. At this point, pull everything out that can be pulled (Battery, HDD, RAM, WiFi card etc) and then let it dry properly. Then apply power and see if you get anything.

*I would not spend any money at this point and consider all the parts removed damaged/failed even if the machine boots. So tread carefully there if trying to reuse them.