The Official "I spilled liquid in my MacBook, what do I do now?" Thread

chscag

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No, that's OK. So far so good, still keep those fingers crossed. :)
 
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update-

Okay so- finally turned it on. Booted right up, keyboard lit up normally, sound normal....all appears normal. Using it right now.

After my initial HUGE exhale....I now feel anxiety coming back. I mean, is it every really over? in the clear? Isn't that how this works? Once liquid is exposed to your mac in any way...it's like a ticking time bomb??

I feel very fortunate that thus far that all seems well...but still nervous. Any tips or advice on what to do or expect from here on out??
 

chscag

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First, relax and stop worrying over it. I know it's easy for someone else to say that to you but in truth, there's nothing you can do now except to press on. I don't think any coffee entered the machine otherwise you would have seen the result right away. And since the spill was over the lid while closed, it's unlikely anything seeped through especially since you said the keyboard was dry.

Here's a bit of advice: Buy a notebook stand and place your MBP on it while using it at home. A simple inexpensive stand can save a $2000 machine from instant destruction because of a spill.

I'm just as guilty as anyone about eating and drinking coffee around my machines - and I should know better having been a computer tech and repairman for many years. O:) Anyway, I'm happy that your machine survived its coffee bath. Have fun and visit us anytime you have a question.
 

pigoo3

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Any tips or advice on what to do or expect from here on out??

I think that the obvious tip is don't drink beverages or have any sort of liquid near your laptop.;)

Having the convenience of being able to drink a beverage while using the laptop just isn't worth the $1500+ cost of a new laptop. And if you choose to not follow this "rule"...then be fully responsible for the consequences (if liquid does get spilled on the laptop).

Don't look for some sort of "miracle fix" if a spill should happen again (which a lot of folks do look for after this happens)!;)

Most folks don't get a 2nd chance!:)

- Nick

p.s. As "chscag" mentioned...I am also guilty of drinking around my laptop(it's very rare)...but I am very very careful when I do it...and I never actually hold the drink over/above the laptop.
 
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Perform these 5 steps, described below:

Unplug
Invert
Clean
Air dry
Wait

Unplug: The first thing to do is to turn off the machine - you need to stop electricity from flowing ASAP, even the trickle power that is still there when a machine is off.

If it is a keyboard , then unplug it from the machine.

If it is a notebook, then turn it off and remove the battery.

Invert: Next, turn the item upside down to stop the liquid from penetrating into the circuits any more than it has.

Clean: Now you have a decision, which depends on the liquid involved. If it was pure water, you probably do not have to clean the equipment.

If it was soda pop, beer, wine, coffee, tea, etc., the sugars, salts and acids in the liquid (and the residues they will leave behind) will play havoc with your circuits.

If it is a notebook:

Disassemble the keyboard from the machine, using lint free towels and cotton swabs to soak up as much of the liquid as possible. Rinse the keyboard with pure water. Swab what you can reach of the inside of the computer with rubbing alcohol. Be extra careful with ribbon cables, they can tear or be pulled out of their connectors very easily.

If it is a keyboard:

If they will come off, carefully pry the keytops off the keyboard, and use pure water to rinse. If there is no pooling of water under the keys, don't introduce water there, go with an alcohol swab on the circuits rather than a rinse.

Some people advocate putting it in the dishwasher with no soap. If you try this, do NOT let it go through a drying cycle, the temperatures are too hot.

Air-dry: Once you have it as clean as possible, you need to air dry it. Place it in a warm, ventilated area (like the top of the fridge) and leave it there.

Wait: Now - WAIT.
 
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Trackpad gone haywire ...

Been reading the above posts with interest and some anxiety.

Mine is a self-inflicted wound caused by cleaning the trackpad, keyboard and case with an over-moist cloth. The machine was on at the time and, not knowing any better, I left it running.

When I started to use it immediately after the cleaning, I noticed that the response of the trackpad was sluggish and erratic. Then the cursor started to move rapidly all by itself along the dock randomly opening and closing applications!

However, the problem does seem to be confined to the trackpad. I’ve disabled the trackpad in Preferences and the MPB seems to be working fine with a magic mouse.

But should I try to clean or dry out the underneath of the trackpad? Would it help to disassemble the machine to let the air get to it?

The machine is a 15-inch MPB coming up for three years old.

Comments appreciated …

M
 
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Note regarding the disabling of the trackpad when a mouse is present: this is done via Universal Access.

M
 

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A bit of a unique situation...

I keep my MacBook Pro on the floor most nights, as I set it there after using it before sleeping. Last night, a pipe broke, and my room was flooded about a centimeter or so with water. As far as I can tell, water did not even reach the keyboard (everything was dry when I opened the laptop), and when I turned it on (it was sleeping), everything appeared fine. But the bottom and sides of the Mac were definitely wet. I just don't know how high up; my boyfriend dried it off for me.

Anyways, after turning it on, I didn't turn the Mac off, just put it back to sleep. I was way more concerned with the general flooding. Now, I'm worried. If nothing else, I know it's been air dried, because it was in the direct line of the giant fan used to dry the room in general. But I didn't do anything else. =/

Will it help to turn the Mac off tonight (I'm at work right now)? What should I do? Also, I shouldn't invert the laptop in this case, right? Since water entered from below, not above?

Super worried because the Mac is new (less than 6 months)...:[
 

pigoo3

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Super worried because the Mac is new (less than 6 months)...:[

There's really no way of knowing if any water got into your MacBook Pro...unless the bottom cover is removed to investigate.

Keeping your laptop on the floor is a VERY BAD habit. Not only because of the rare possibility of flooding (as you've experienced)...but also because it is VERY easy for someone to step on it accidentally...or someone dropping something on it...damaging it cosmetically or functionally.

Good luck,:)

- Nick
 
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More anecdotage about water spilled in MacBook

Just joined the Forum precisely because I found it so helpful in a spillage last week (had never seen MacForum before) and am adding my experience in case helpful to others.

Last week I had a truly freak accident (like many I keep drinks well away from my laptop but failed to notice - yes stupid I know - a small vase of flowers on a chest of drawers on which laptop lay, playing music as I did housework. Vacuumed the room, left room, vaccuumed another, noticed vacuum cord was short. Tugged, tugged again. Not knowing cord had been wrapped around drawer handle and pulled drawer open leading to - disaster - vase knocked over Mac. Reason I'm mentioning this is that the liquid was odd - mostly water but also yuck from the flowers and whatever chemicals go into the little sachets of flower preservative...

Which makes the following miracle all the more miraculous.

First, being totally inexperienced, I did the stupidest thing possible - as the screen was white/grey/mottled and I was terrified I thought plugging the charger in would prove if it was still alive (as opposed to what I know now - which is - this sends currents through the machine that oughtn't to, and makes it all worse). Removed cord. Rang computer guy... found this website and others using another computer.... ended by taking battery out opf Mac, unscrewing back, and drying as well as poss (damage was on the upper right hand portion of motherboard, looking at it from the back). I then placed it with a large amount of uncooked rice on a big sheet of Press ' Seal, then sealed. Left it nearly 4 days. Removed, carefully dusting away rice.... there was clearly some damage.

Then taking advice from one guy on the web who said he used this method successfully, Apple, I took a soft toothbrush dipped in some denatured alcohol (meths that is) kept in the shed for something to do with tools and cleaned away, incredibly gently, the blue/green corrosion (or bacteria, suggested someone else?) near the bit of the motherboard that got wet, and also some of what appeared to be spider web-type fluff. Let it dry over night... then put it all back together (nb you need incredibly small screwdriver for this, and a steady hand).
It turned on fine, the picture on the screen was clear, the sounds worked but the touchpad didn't. Put a mouse in.... the pointer worked, but couldn't type. So I assumed the keyboard is gone, but I plugged in another keyboard and the machine worked fine. 45 minutes later, perhaps having warmed up, the keyboard and touchpad began to function again. Several days later it is still working fine, same as ever, no difference at all.

Like other post-ers, I don't know whether this means I'm still headed for trouble later on (and would appreciate it if other post-ers who've had 'miracles' like I have also post again if they experience trouble, logging how long it took to show up...

Just giddy with gratitude and thankfulness and was keen to let others know another low-cost success story (not that I in any way deserve it or am technically gifted, obviously, or I wouldn't have plugged it in...) but - these miracles happen. NB my machine is 3.5 years old, well out of warranty. I'm aware that taking the back off takes one out of warranty but heck, spilling a vase over it does too, so I felt I had nothing to lose.

Out of kindness, we should all make sure to educate new laptop owners (even if they think they are careful and will never suffer liquid damage or even 'frozen laptop damage') of the crucial first aid steps as many I've talked to have done stupid things as I have (including a Canadian I know who ALSO plugged in her laptop after leaving it in a car in - 40 degrees overnight - ...)
Will be infinitely more careful in future!
 
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Macbook Problems

Ok I have had my macbook pro for 2 years now. Until recently it was working fine but it started just randomly pushing keys down and turning my volume off without me touching any keys! I took it to Apple and they wanted to reboot the system and see if that fixed it and it didn't so I came back thinking I would need to get my keyboard replaced. Well when I took it in they said they found liquid in my macbook pro which means I need a tier 4 replacement which would cost me $750. I don't recall an incident where there was liquid spilled on it. Any help would be so nice!
 
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Sorry to read about your problem.

The symptoms sound just like mine, as described in my posts of 07-16-2012. Glad to say that my MPB is working fine with an external mouse now that I've disabled the trackpad. From time to time, I tentatively try the trackpad and it is more stable than before, but not perfect.

Try the above and see if it works for you.

M
 
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Well, further to my post above, I've just used the trackpad for half an hour and (touch wood again) it does seem to be OK. In fact, I much prefer the magic mouse but obviously need the trackpad when I'm away from my desk.

BTW, I did not attempt to remove the casing or try any form of external heat to speed up the drying process.

M
 
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Well, further to my post above, I've just used the trackpad for half an hour and (touch wood again) it does seem to be OK. In fact, I much prefer the magic mouse but obviously need the trackpad when I'm away from my desk.

BTW, I did not attempt to remove the casing or try any form of external heat to speed up the drying process.

M

Ok thanks, but what about for my keyboard? Would you suggest just getting a wireless keyboard as well?
 
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cwa107

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Ok thanks, but what about for my keyboard? Would you suggest just getting a wireless keyboard as well?

I would suggest checking your options for repair before you go and do that, effectively negating the point of a notebook computer.

The Apple Store is not the only place your computer can be serviced - there are literally hundreds of eager Apple Authorized Repair Centers. If it just has a bad keyboard, you shouldn't be looking at more than $200 or so (that's what I would charge).

I would check out TechRestore.com and Powerbookmedic.com as a start. Both have stellar reputations.
 
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I would suggest checking your options for repair before you go and do that, effectively negating the point of a notebook computer.

The Apple Store is not the only place your computer can be serviced - there are literally hundreds of eager Apple Authorized Repair Centers. If it just has a bad keyboard, you shouldn't be looking at more than $200 or so (that's what I would charge).

I would check out TechRestore.com and Powerbookmedic.com as a start. Both have stellar reputations.

I probably should have mentioned this in my first post but they said it was a tier 4 repair. Which would cost me $750, originally I thought it would only be $200 to replace the keyboard. but that isn't so.
 
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cwa107

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I probably should have mentioned this in my first post but they said it was a tier 4 repair. Which would cost me $750, originally I thought it would only be $200 to replace the keyboard. but that isn't so.

I would get a second opinion. Remember, the Apple Store has a greater incentive to sell you a new laptop than to repair your old one.
 
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Ok thanks, but what about for my keyboard? Would you suggest just getting a wireless keyboard as well?

and the reply from cwa107

Well, I guess that Denny just wants to know whether his MPB will still function.

In my case, the portability of the MPB is a major advantage but I would be able to limp along with the help of an outboard keyboard if absolutely necessary; as things stand at present, I hardly ever use the trackpad apart from the odd occasion when I use the MPB away from home.

Denny, perhaps you can borrow an external keyboard; even an old USB keyboard would be enough for a test.

M
 
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External Battery

First time poster, hoping for some help. I spilled liquid on my macbook about 9 months ago. I was lucky, it still works. The only problem I have is that the computer no longer recognizes a battery. I've brought into the genius bar they say it could be the motherboard (i think, it was a while ago) and that it would probably not be worth it to fix it.

So is there any other way I can use this macbook without having to be connected to a power source at all times? Would an external battery such as the Hyperjuice one, work with this damage I have? Amazon.com: HyperJuice External Battery for MacBook/iPad/USB (100Wh) MBP-100: Computers & Accessories
 
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