Yay, drink damage! What to do next.

[paranoid airbag]

Like a massive idiot I went and spilled orange juice over my laptop last night. I took it apart to dry and wiped away any visible muck, pressed the power button today and it will get into POST (not tried to actually boot from the hard drive yet), the keyboard is definitely fked so I've ordered a replacement. An equivalent spec laptop is about £500.

Should I:

• Take it to a repair shop once the new keyboard arrives, spending money and time for possibly little benefit;
• Run it as before, expecting it to start developing fatal problems at some point as any gunk I've missed gets to work (assuming I can get it to boot from the hdd in the first place, bear in mind I was considering swapping it for a ssd anyway)?

Cheers all

[mojitomax]

Don't they say put it in a bag of rice in the airing cupboard for a few days to dry it out and then see if it works?

[JREwing]

But orange juice has gunk it won't absorb, I think. I don't know what I'd do. I'd probably have it cleaned with an alcohol cleaner, depending on the cost.

[JREwing]

Also, what's the laptop? The keyboard style could play a part here.

[paranoid airbag]

chiclet style keyboard, no backlight (the model is dell l701x/702x if it helps)

[khushy]

and I thought this thread was going to be about the human liver!

[paranoid airbag]

Update: replaced keyboard and put it back together and it's currently doing pre-boot checks. The motherboard has a plastic sheet covering it so I'm thinking so far the worst is over? Hdd I can replace, ditto touchpad. I know the usb sockets work (well at least one) ad I was using a usb keyboard with it earlier.

[JREwing]

paranoid airbag said:

Update: replaced keyboard and put it back together and it's currently doing pre-boot checks. The motherboard has a plastic sheet covering it so I'm thinking so far the worst is over? Hdd I can replace, ditto touchpad. I know the usb sockets work (well at least one) ad I was using a usb keyboard with it earlier.

I think it seems like you're safe, based on this. Good luck anyway!