laptop computer/coffee not a good mix-help
 

This morning I spilled coffee on the numbers keypad of my Toshiba laptop. Fifteen minutes later various keys stopped responding :mad:. I turned it off for 2 hours and tried again.Some keys work and some do not. I am using the computer to type this but using the on screen keyboard. Did I ruin my computer. Anything I can do.

After a spill you should turn the computer off, unplug, remove battery, then dry thoroughly. Continuing to use the computer is a bad idea, risks damage. Water alone isn't usually harmful to circuits, water plus electricity is. Anyway, do that now, turn computer off, set it on its side, blow a fan at it overnight. If that doesn't work, take the keyboard out (usually can find directions online), wash it with water (rinse with distilled ideally), dry with fan overnight, then reinstall and see. If no luck but computer otherwise works, order a new keyboard and replace.

Well I turned off the computer and decided to try a hair dryer. Used it for about a minute on heat moving side to side and up and down. Then used it on cool for about 3-4 minutes. Turned it back on and get a Windows startup error but none of the keys respond so I can't start in safe mode or recovery mode. What a stupid mistake this was. I'll leave it off for the rest of the day and try it tonight. I'm on the wifes computer now.

Plug a usb keyboard into it and go from there....AFTER DRYING TIME

Good luck, you are probably going to need it.

Toshiba keyboards are cheap and easy to replace. If need be I can tell you where to get it for under 50 bucks and even how to change yourself it if I have to. Or send it to me and I will repair it for you for only the cost of the keyboard. less than 50 bucks.
easy stuff................

Thanks for the offer we'll see what happens. I currently have it upside down in a " A " style over a heat register with the battery removed. I looked at the bottom of the laptop and removed the covers over the hard drive and memory sticks. No evidence of anything. I removed the battery and no evidence there either. I don't think it was that much as I bumped the table and the cup runneth over :D. I see there are about 15-20 small screws aroiund the perimeter is that how you crack it apart ? Can you give me a basic rundown of the procedure ? Thanks for any advice you can provide.

I recently dried out a wet phone by putting it into a sealable plastic bag with dry uncooked rice inside. The Rice acts as a desicant and pulls the moisture out. You might try that as a means to dry it out.

what model toshiba is it..they vary a little from machine to machine

It is a Satellite L505-S5998.

laptop computer/coffee not a good mix-help
 

I have found that almost all electronic devices perform better without coffee spillage. The operator of said device should consume the coffee for best performance.

FlightAware > Coffee spill causes diversion for US flight

On a 505 you wont have to remove every screw out of the bottom but since you already did that's ok.
Now to remove the keyboard there is a strip of plastic just above the keyboard that is about 1/2 inch tall and runs the length of the keyboard. you will see a gap at each end of the strip.
Take a small regular screwdriver or something and GENTLY pry it up from the end and run the length of it until it is out. It just snaps in place. Once its out it will reveal 3 small Phillips screws that hold the keyboard down. remove those. from the top carefully lift the key board up high enough to remove the ribbon cable from its connector. you will probably have to gently pry the retainer clip away from the cable at both ends to release it. Once the cable is out slide the keyboard toward the screen and it will lift out. Its that easy. Give it a try and let me know if you aren't sure about something. Its too easy to pay someone else to fix it for you

I apologize for the abuse but I can't resist:
I always wondered why they put things like "Do not attempt to use your electric hair drier while in the bathtub" in the instructions. :D
In all fairness, we've all had our share of "what was I thinking? moments. I hope it works out to be an easy fix. (Besides, what a waste of perfectly good coffee).

the main thing with laptops is take your time and be gentle, the parts are fragile and easily broken.

Tyr cleaning up puke from the keys.:eek:

My daughter yakked all over me AND part of the keyboard last week. I couldn't move fast enough between 'Daddy, I'm not feeling so good" and actual yakking event.


nasty

After drying most of the day I plugged in the battery and it booted up. But the keyboard is not working. I will let it dry a little longer but I think the keyboard is shot.

This happened to me a few months ago. My dog bumped my arm and a whole cup went right on the keyboard of my Mac. $800.00 later I'm typing this. :(
It needed all new innards.

a customer spilled wine on my wifes mac, they wanted a 1000$, I said no they came back with 350.it came back brand NEW..... doesn't matter if u let it dry it will eventually go out. The spillage will bake and eventually fry

I have removed the keyboard from the laptop, wasn't too bad. After removing the keyboard there is no evidence of coffee in the machine so I think it was contained in the keyboard. I'm going to pick up some denatured alcohol and distilled water tomorrow and see if a good rinse will make it work. If not I'll need to know where to get another keyboard. Thanks everyone.

the coffee will go away, the problem is the sugar and cream.