Spilled Water While MacBook Was On...

Alright, on Sunday morning I spilled water on the keyboard of my MacBook while it was on and running. I immediately turned it over to get the water off and then wiped it down with a towel. It was still on and was continuing to play music so I thought it was fine. I foolishly listened to my boyfriend and didn't turn it off or flip it upside down because he said it was fine. Later that night the R and F keys stopped working and the next morning these keys and a number of new keys had stopped working. I also noticed that it wasn't holding a charge and got freaked out even though the rest of the computer was working fine. I've now turned it over and disassembled it as much as possible (I took out the battery and all of the keys and it's sitting on my window sill drying out).
My question is if there is anything else I should do to help the situation. I'm not going to use it again until Saturday and see if that helps but any tips/advice that you all could give would be much appreciated. I know that I've most likely already done damage but if there's anything else to recover or fix what I've done that would be helpful.
The last thing is that my period key doesn't work but it seems to be stuck because when I tried to use the computer and type something it would automatically start typing "...." Please let me know if you have any advice and cross your fingers!
Thanks

Let the MacBook dry out for at least three or four days, in a bag of dry rice if you can. If you can get it going again, back up immediately, and regularly thereafter, because at some point, you will get enough internal corrosion built up inside for it to stop working. It may be a few weeks, it may be a year, but liquid on metal and electronics is death.
It could have been much worse--water, at least, doesn't have sticky sugars or other additives that would really mess you up.
Good luck!

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Bloody moron - spilled water while it was on

Well, I've gone and done a most stupid thing, spilling half a glass of water on my very new MBP while I was using it. Lesson learned, clearly. Anyway, my MBP shut off as soon as the water hit (lower left keyboard was the prime area of impact), I flipped the thing over into a "tent" formation, and called AppleCare. The gent said to leave it in front of a fan and not turn it on for a few days, which I've done. Unfortunately in lifting the thing, I hit the power button, it made the lovely "powering up" noise but I held the button down until it turned itself back off. Clearly I don't want it turned on while it's still wet.
So really, I have three questions: 1) Is it a terrible sign that it shut down as soon as the water hit? 2) Is there anything else I need to be doing to help it along? 3) Did I do irreparable harm by even touching the power button? Thank you for the help, I'm off to plug in my old iBook and use that for a few days :P

1) Is it a terrible sign that it shut down as soon as the water hit?
Yes.
2) Is there anything else I need to be doing to help it along?
Just let it dry out good. Use a hair dryer to blow air in by the keys.
3) Did I do irreparable harm by even touching the power button? Thank you for the help, I'm off to plug in my old iBook and use that for a few days :P
It's hard to tell. You may need a new logic board.
You may need to stop here and buy a paddle on the way to the Apple Store.
Dave M.
MacOSG Founder/Ambassador  An Apple User Group  iTunes: MacOSG Podcast
Macsimum News Associate Editor  Creator of 'Mac611 - Mobile Mac Support'

Spilled water on Macbook pro while On.

So, spilled water on my macbook pro which was on then proceeded to shut off right after. This was last night, tried turning it on again today and still nothing. People have told me I need to take the battery out but I don't think you can do that with these computers? Help.

Just take it in for repair. Expect to pay a lot.

Spilled water on MacBook Pro, data/Hard Drive question.

I spilled water on my MacBook Pro while it was on, and I am pretty sure it is fried now, but I am letting it dry first. If worst comes to worst, is there a way to still check if the data on the hard drive is still salvageable and can be removed and stored into an external hard drive, or if the hard drive can be removed and replaced in a different MacBook Pro completely? I know Genius Bar more than likely wont be of any help since the latest backup does not include nearly enough of the files I am trying to recover. Any suggestions or knowledge would be greatly appreciated!

f worst comes to worst, is there a way to still check if the data on the hard drive is still salvageable
A hard drive is completely water-tight, so the data should be just fine. However, if the water fried the control circuits on the hard drive, then you've got some significant problems to deal with in accessing that data. You can remove the hard drive, assuming the computer is non-functional once dry, and put it in an external enclosure, then try to read it on another Mac. If that doesn't work, assuming the enclosure is a good one and the job of installing the drive in it was done correctly (it's actually kind of hard, but still undoubtedly possible, to mess that up in most cases), the control circuits are fried.
In the event that the drive can't be used any more, your only remaining option will be to pay an expensive data recovery service, like DriveSavers, to open up the drive and read the data directly off the platters inside. That should work fine in your case, but understand that there are no guarantees, despite the high price tag.
Of course, all this is off the table if your laptop actually has an SSD and not a hard drive. An SSD could be fried just like any other electronic components, and I'm not sure there would be any option for recovering your data in such an event.

HT5860 Spilled water on MacBook Air 11' 2011. Doesn't turn on instead it beeps three times. What's wrong with it?

I spilled water in my MacBook Air. Not on my keyboard just over it. I dried it as much as I could and at first it wouldn't turn on. Then when I plugged it to charge it it did turn on but then it shut off. The light is green on the cable and instead of turning on it beeps three times then it pauses for a bit and it beeps three times again. What does this mean and what should I do?

1150900 wrote:
What does this mean and what should I do?
It means you pulled electrical power thru a WET computer system and caused compounded damage to what was already damaged.
The obvious has occurred in mixing water and electricity

When spilled water on MacBook Pro keyboard?

Ok, I haven't spilled water yet however, I just wanted to prepare for the accident so I don't have to lose my valuable investment.
I have done some research however, there were some controversies so I came to ask for the best answer from the Apple Support Communities people.
So what is the best course of action when spilled water on MBP keyboard?

There have been lots of posts about water (and worse) spilled on Mac portables. Turning upside down, covering the computer with uncooked rice and many other "cures" have been posted but, most of the time, fail to prevent damage, even if only "pure water" is the invader. The damage is done when the water hits the live logic board, so the usual interventions only prolong the inevitible--a complete rebuild or a new computer.
The bottom line is that , in the majority of cases, the computer is ruined, or the repair cost would almost buy a new one.
The absolute best proactive step is to have homeowners'/renters' insurance that covers accidental damage to computer equipment. AppleCare does not. Get a deductible low enough that you can cash-flow the deductible.
Other things to consider "before the fact":
---Don't eat or drink near your laptop.
---Don't let friends eat or drink near your laptop. Hide the computer when they come to visit.
---If you have friends with IQs lower than the legal speed limit in the US, give them a blessing and then go find some smarter friends.
---If you have a cat, be aware that many cats see an open notebook computer as a drop-off station for biological samples. At best they find the keyboard to be a warm place to sleep. Keep the lid shut, even if you walk away from the computer for only a few minutes. Most computer techs will not even look at a compuer that's been fouled by a pet; they view it as a biohazard.

Spilled water on MacBook Air - safe to use after a week?

Last Friday I spilled a glass of water all over my MacBook Air's keyboard. I jumped up, tipped the laptop over to get as much water off as possible, and dried off the outside. I took it in to Apple immediately and was told it needed so many repairs, that it would cost more than the laptop itself. The guy who looked at my Air was able to turn it on, but the monitor was flickering and had horizontal lines. He took it apart and said the motherboard was fine, but I would need a new logic board, speakers, screen, etc. and said I should be able to get my files off onto an external hard drive. Since it was such a costly repair that I couldn't go for, I didn't get a list of everything that had to be replaced.
When I got it home, I wasn't able to power it on like he could. I let it sit on my dresser all week, open and upside down, to let it dry and allow any extra water to drip out the front. Tired of looking at it, tonight I decided to try one more time and turn it on, and it did! I was able to email myself some important files that I thought I would never see again, so programs and internet worked. The monitor seemed completely fine, the brightness goes up and down normally, the speakers work, and I didn't notice any problems with the keyboard.
It seems to be completely fine, but I'm a bit worried about whether or not it's safe to use, and if there's anything I should be looking out for. At the Apple store I was told that it needed so much, but maybe it's fine for now? If I am able to use it, should I be thinking about replacing it anyway? I'll be wanting to use it next fall for school. Sorry for the huge wall of text, I thought it would be best to know as much as possible.
Thanks.

That's great news. I'm not a computer guy but I am very experienced in automotive. The way I see it is even when you took it in and they cleaned it there is no way to get all the water out if it's really bad. The water will cause shorts and all kind of thing will malfunction. Now that the water is dried I would take it in and get it retested. You see, the first test they did on it was not accurate because of the water (causing it to short). Now you can get a good test. Who knows, it might be just fine. I remember drying cars for weeks at a time. One thing to have them look for is any corrosion that might had formed. My guess (only a guess) is that if it's working good now you got really lucky and it will be fine.

Spilled water on macbook pro

I just spilled a water on my macbook pro, near the top by the esc key. I've turned it upside down, gently tapped to try and get remaining water out, and am hoping it will dry. Any other suggestions?

You did not say if it was running when the water was spilled, and if so whether or not the system shut itself down.
Do not turn on.
Leave unplugged from the wall.
Have the Genius Bar verify that nothing is damaged and that nothing is starting to corrode (I am not joking).

Spilled water on MacBook Pro many things are wrong is it a goner???

it thinks its december 31, 2000, the shift key is held down and nothing will save. is it hopeless?

Possibly.
Immediately disconnect all peripherals, power cord & remove the battery. Turn the computer over with the lid partly open and the hinge facing upward to let the liquid drain. Do not flop it over and lay it flat - you want to separate it from the moisture. Place paper or cloth towels under the machine to sop up the mess.
After the computer disgorges whatever you spilled on it, don't turn it on for 72 hours or longer. You want to computer to dry out completely before turning it on again.
Some users here swear by hairdryers. Blow drying the innards may bake whatever was in the liquid onto delicate computer components. Better to let the computer air dry.
Use plain tepid water to clean out the computer. If you spilled iced beverage more than likely this ice fried the hot motherboard.
Sugary, acidic or milky drinks will almost always cause problems later on as the residue starts slowly corroding the computer innards.
Swab down any sticky parts with distilled water or denatured alcohol.
If none of the above works, you will need to take the computer to a repair shop. Apple Care does not cover liquid or food damage.
How to clean Apple products
How to remove and clean your Macbook Pro Keyboard
Cleaning Macbook keys after a spill

Spilled water on MacBook Air and won't turn on...

Two days ago, I spilled a glass of water on my MacBook Air. I tried very hard to get as much water off, but the water spilled directly on top of the keyboard (no cover) and underneath the laptop itself. I cleaned off as much as I could, but it didn't seem to turn on. I usually close it and open it and it turns on (kind of like a sleep mode) but it didn't do that. I'm pretty sure the laptop fried the motherboard as it tried to turn itself on (without the power button).
I then tried hitting the power button, but it wouldn't turn on.
It's been a couple days and it still won't turn on. Several computer science majors who work at the IRT department at my university said the motherboard is most likely completely fried.
I want to take it to Apple to have them look at it, but I'm unsure whether it would be pointless at this point or worth it. It would probably cost more to replace and fix everything (if they can) than just buying a new laptop. I'm just unsure what to do, and unfortunately I don't have much time either.
Any ideas or help??

"I want to take it to Apple to have them look at it, but I'm unsure whether it would be pointless at this point or worth it. It would probably cost more to replace and fix everything (if they can) than just buying a new laptop. I'm just unsure what to do, and ..."
I'm inclined to ask how old you are, but I'll refrain. Take it to Apple, and let the Genius assess the damage.

So my iPhone 4s got wet with salt water while I was at the beach.

I didn't turn it on after it got wet. I let it dry before I tried turning it on but it did not work. Is there a fix that I can do? Also, how can I open up my iphone? The screws on the bottom are shaped sorta like a flower.
And please do not suggest that I send it to Apple. Thank You

KiltedTim wrote:
emubiklly wrote:
And please do not suggest that I send it to Apple. Thank You
Do whatever you want then. It's probably never going to work again.
amazing isn't it? "hey i messed up my phone, can you tell me what to do, except don't tell me what to do". i live 5 minutes from the beach and i'm there all the time but my iphone never gets near there. not just the salt water, it's practically impossible to keep from getting sand in it.

I spilled water on my MacBook Pro. What do I do?

Immediately after spilling, I wiped down my MacBook Pro. The keyboard has a rubber cover so I'm hoping the keyboard was protected; however, my trackpad began to react slowly to my touch.
After 5 minutes or so, the trackpad began responding better, but to be safe I turned it off as directed. What I did not know is that you're not supposed to turn it back on.
Since I was unaware of that fact, I stupidly turned it back on. It functioned funny and was gray for a while, but everything ended up coming together and everything seemed fine; however, I noticed my fan turn on.
Worried, I turned it off immediately.
After shutting it off for the second time, I learned that I should keep it upside down, opened, with a towel under the keyboard and trackpad. For the past 15 minutes it's been like that.
I only bought this laptop, ironically, on the day Steve Jobs died. My mom definitely will be ******. Is there any hope that my laptop will be okay? Or any other suggestions?
As of now, I cannot open the laptop up because of the 10 tightly bolted screws.

Liquid spills, why your MacBook chassis is a one-way valve for spills
After a substantial spill many people will turn their notebook upside down and shake it, not only does this not work, but it spreads liquid havoc throughout your machine and makes things often as bad as possible.
The keyboard itself acts like a one way valve in the case of a substantial liquid spill. While liquid pours into the bottom chassis easy, it does not come out easily at all, and in the case of any spill, most of it will not come out by turning it upside down. Disconnect all power and contact Apple for diagnostics and repair.
Do not attempt to, after a spill, ‘dry out your MacBook’ and test it
After a spill most people invariably try to “dry out” their notebook by various methods, including hair dryers and otherwise. This both does not work, and after a substantial spill of any magnitude, even if the liquid was water, residue is left behind.
There are additionally many very tight places inside your notebook where liquids will linger for a very long time, and cause corrosion or worse.
Immediately unplug your notebook and contact Apple for in shop diagnostics and parts replacement.
In the case of very minor spills people will “dry out” their notebook and feel success that their notebook is working ok, however invariably in nearly all instances after 4-14 days an error / fault pops up and is usually followed by more.
Yes, when you said "it worked well for a while".....99 times out of 100 thats the case (see above)!
Is there any hope that my laptop will be okay?
In case of a spill, damage estimates are impossible,.....ANYTHING CAN BE FIXED , PERIOD........the question is costs.....if you spend say, $600 + to repair a $600 (value) laptop (as an example) , then it becomes almost futile.
contact Apple for in shop diagnostics and cost estimation ....possible parts replacement.

I spilled a little water in MacBook-typing in all caps and booting in safe mode. Any hope?

I spilled a little water into my MacBook. It worked fine after but a couple hours later,it began typing in all caps. It now only boots in safe mode and still types in all caps. Is there any hope for it if I leave it turned off to dry? How many days should I do this for before I give up?

No. Sounds like you powered it backup while it was still wet. If so the damage is done. Problems will only get worst as corrosion sets in.
Suggest you take it to Apple and ask them for the cost of repair it.
Allan

Spilled water on my MacBook Pro. What do I do?

I spilled water on my 2010 MacBook Pro the other night. I immediately turned it off, drained the water out of the keyboard and dried the laptop. I tried turning it back on and got the apple startup white screen, but would freeze and not go anywhere. I turned it off and tried again a couple hours later. This time, the screen will not turn on and doesn't seem like the laptop is powering up. The sleep mode light turns on, but nothing else. I tried again this morning, same thing happens but the laptop gets severely hot within 10 minutes. I figure that I have probably done damage by trying to turn it back on, but I am wondering what I do from here. I am a college student and need my laptop working. Does it seem like the laptop is done for and damage repair costs will probably be too expensive and would be better to replace it? Or will it be better to take it somewhere to fix it?

dont dare turn it on again, water / liquids migrate.
Turning it back on is BAD, damage A can lead to B leads to C etc.
Also water migrating around, especially while on, can wreck havoc worse than initial damage.
Nobody here can speculate on damage on something they cannot see.
Having repaired laptops in the past, even IF you got it completely dry, rresidue from water (iron particles etc), and wet spots under fine contacts is nearly impossible to "dry out", its just doesnt work that way.
Lots of people try to "dry it out", most to learn little was solved in doing same, and sometimes further damage occurred.
Make appt. with Apple store fore repair / diagnostic.
dont turn it on again. Sorry about the spill

Please help! Spilled water on opened MacBook and kept it on for 3 hours!

Okay...so today I was just setting up my printer and I accidentally spilled water onto my MacBook keyboard and the top hung where all the holes are. I immediately rubbed all the water off but I left it on. I didn't know what'll happen. I left my MacBook on sleep, but closed and inserted into y laptop case. After I finished cleaning my room, I decided to restart my MacBook (after 3 hours) BUT it didn't restart. I did look at others post but couldn't find someone's problem he same as mine. I tried bootin it over and over again. No response whatsoever...and what's worse, it's only 2 weeks old. Please help , I don't know what to do:(

Well, I don't know if you brought it in to the apple store yet, but if you did, I'm sure they told you they would fix it for a $755 flat fee. Since your liquid sensors were probably tripped, your warranty is basically void, at least for this instance.
You can diagnose the problem yourself though. Although from the sounds of it the worst probably happened, you can do a few things to check out if you have any hope.
You dont need to "bring it to the apple store" to figure out whats wrong with it as many others have told you is your only option. The service manual that an apple technician uses to diagnose and fix the macbook pros is readily available online.
If you don't want to spend money and your insurance won't cover this here is what you should do.
First check and see if the battery is acting normally, as in it charges and if you press the indicator button it shows you how full it is. If it is working, you are one step closer to being lucky, if its not, don't expect this next step to work unless you are even more lucky. Now take off the bottom case and try to dry any remaining water with a fan or low heat hairdryer. You might even want to wait another week for it to dry. If you are really ambitious you can buy some electrical contact cleaner and do the same and wait another few more days.
Then, on the bottom left on the logic board, near the keyboard connector are 2 larger silver pads. They usually have a power symbol next to them. Mine look like this
They are to the left of the tiny capacitor things and underneath the chip, basically dead center in the picture. Now you want to take a fork, or paperclip, and touch it to one or both of these "pads" (I only had to touch one of them). If you are really lucky, the machine will power on. If it doesn't, disconnect the keyboard ribbon cable which is right next to it and try it again. If it doesn't work, your logic board is most likely dead. If it does power on and your trackpad works, that means you need a new keyboard/power button. (those two are one in the same in a macbook pro) You can buy a replacement keyboard for $50 and while it is not easy to replace, it is not impossible and you could probably find someone to do it for less than $755.
Hopefully yours isn't too different. mine is a late 2010.

Spilled Water While MacBook Was On...

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