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It's alive... IT'S ALIVE!

JPNor

Shared on Fri, 06/18/2010 - 21:20

I am writing this blog on the laptop that I blogged about yesterday, the victim of an unfortunate accident involving a kitty and a beer. If you didn't read yesterday's blog (scroll down for the whole story) my cat knocked a beer onto my laptop. HP quoted $400 to repair it.

For the last 48 hours, this thing has been sitting upside down with a fan blowing underneath the keyboard. I was going to call HP to schedule the repair but before doing do I decided to pop the battery back on and try it. Sure enough, it boots up and seems to be running fine.

The keys are very sticky, but I'm willing to either deal with it or figure out how to clean them if it means I save $400. But at the same time I don't know if I permanently messed this thing up, and the fact that I'm using it right now is just a fluke.

So I ask those of you with more technical knowledge than my own....... Is it worth just spending the repair money to be 100% sure I have a functioning laptop, or is it safe to assume that since it works now, that I didn't do any permanent damage?

Comments

Biznass's picture
Submitted by Biznass on Fri, 06/18/2010 - 22:09
It will get worse, once that beer turns to sludge. You're going to be at least replacing the keyboard at some point. $400 is WAY overpriced. I would look into a local shop that will tear it down and give it a good cleaning and replace the keyboard. I would assume (I know ass-u-me) it would run about half the price. Do you still have a warranty?
Fish66's picture
Submitted by Fish66 on Fri, 06/18/2010 - 22:35
It could still Short Out if there is liquid inside the housing, but the main problem is what the beer can (will) do in time. It can accelerate oxidation and can (will) form an insulated film on the exposed trace and conductive pads that make up the operating part of your keyboard, not to mention the springs. There is a chance it will just get a little stiff and loosen up after while, I'd give it a 30-40% chance of not needing to be replaced. The keys should pop off for cleaning, but STAY AWAY FROM CONTACT CLEANER! Today's electronics cant stand up to it.
Fish66's picture
Submitted by Fish66 on Fri, 06/18/2010 - 22:44
The Keyboard should be easy to replace, look online for a new one and that will be how much it costs if your not worried about the warranty.
JPNor's picture
Submitted by JPNor on Fri, 06/18/2010 - 22:54
The warranty is still active but this sort of damage isn't covered. The $400 quote is to replace the whole damn thing, I'm guessing a refurb like Microsoft's RROD replacements. It's a lot of money but I'd be willing to pay it especially if the damage is going to get worse and possibly render this thing useless.
YoYo's picture
Submitted by YoYo on Fri, 06/18/2010 - 23:29
What you should do is probably just order another keyboard. You can usually find them easy from a laptop parts wholesaler, While you have the laptop appart for keyboard replacement check the components just to make sure no liquids made it past the keyboard area. From there you can get a better idea of how far the $400 beer got into your laptop.
Biznass's picture
Submitted by Biznass on Fri, 06/18/2010 - 23:42
Tough call with the warranty hanging over your head. It's going to need a keyboard, be sure of that (or a deep ass cleaning that may or may not work). Will the rest of it go is a wild card. Could be months or years (and obsolete by todays standards) before anything major craps out. I spilled soda in my work laptop and it's still kicking a year + later. Really tough call if you're not willing to part with that warranty and/or you're not the type to say f' it and lay into it with a screw driver. If your interested I'll tear it down myself, I'm not looking for any sort of payment besides actual costs if needed. You'll get no warranty what-so-ever but I like to think this is my sort of expertise. I get paid to work on HP gear for the last 13+ years, and that's why I'll never buy another HP product ever again.
JHall55's picture
Submitted by JHall55 on Wed, 06/23/2010 - 16:09
Take the keyboard off and run it through the dishwasher.
Fish66's picture
Submitted by Fish66 on Sat, 06/19/2010 - 15:15
If its still under warranty replacing the keyboard would probably void whats left of it. Its a gamble, but if you aren't comfortable taking it apart at some point you should consider dropping the $400.00 for a replacement that should come with an extended warranty. Then set up a "Safe Zone" around it, no liquid or crumb producing shit within a one foot radius.

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