NationStates Jolt Archive

how possible is it to save a laptop's hard-disc when it has been broken by spillage?

also do laptops come bundled with software or does that have to be bought seperately?

You spilled something on it AGAIN?


*shakes head*

You are soooo hosed, dude . . .

1. probably. depends if the liquid has leaked into the HDD
if not then yes, just take it out and put it in a 2.5" HD USB enclosure

2. depends on the software and/or who you bought it from. which software in particular?

You spilled something on it AGAIN?


*shakes head*

in a way....

turns out it's not indestructable as i thought. well it was going to die soon anyway, but i really want a new one. using a computer at the library at the moment and apparently it's about to close. doh! i will have to check back to this thread tomorrow, unless i can find my way into the 24hr computer lab, wherever that is.

1. probably. depends if the liquid has leaked into the HDD
if not then yes, just take it out and put it in a 2.5" HD USB enclosure

2. depends on the software and/or who you bought it from. which software in particular?

ah, thanks.

i was mainly thinking of microsoft word, or any other word processor. what i really wondered was, if software is not mentioned in the specs, does that mean that it is not included or what?

1. probably. depends if the liquid has leaked into the HDD
if not then yes, just take it out and put it in a 2.5" HD USB enclosure
Seconded.
If the HD is ATA (long double row of pins, 40 or more) you can get an adapter to desktop ATA even cheaper than a USB enclosure. We're talking $5 instead of $50.
Are laptop HD's ever SATA? Pretty rare and high-end I'm guessing.

Seconded.
If the HD is ATA (long double row of pins, 40 or more) you can get an adapter to desktop ATA even cheaper than a USB enclosure. We're talking $5 instead of $50.
Are laptop HD's ever SATA? Pretty rare and high-end I'm guessing.

thanks :)

I laugh at people who use a laptop as a desktop. Laptops are optimal in one and only one situation: you don't have mains power where you want to use a computer. E.g. travelling.

I hosed a keyboard a few days ago. It started spewing gibberish every time I pressed a key, so I unplugged it and got a slightly less defective one out of the big cardboard box of obsolete computer junk. Didn't even need to reboot.

Compare that to "one thousand bucks down the drain" and you see just one part of why laptops are made of lose.

I laugh at people who use a laptop as a desktop. Laptops are optimal in one and only one situation: you don't have mains power where you want to use a computer. E.g. travelling.

I hosed a keyboard a few days ago. It started spewing gibberish every time I pressed a key, so I unplugged it and got a slightly less defective one out of the big cardboard box of obsolete computer junk. Didn't even need to reboot.

Compare that to "one thousand bucks down the drain" and you see just one part of why laptops are made of lose.

aye, well i would get a desktop, but my living situation is far from secure and not likely to be for a while and i don't have any means to move or store a lot of stuff, so small and portable are top of the list for my computing needs.

maybe in the future if i have a permanent home i will have a desktop.

Heh, laptops are kind of sweet. I'm probably just bitter because I can't afford a decent one ;)

Did smoke come out of the laptop or something? You turned it off right away I hope? Take the battery out is a good idea too - lithium and water can be explosive. What I'm getting at here is that the laptop might still be fine, or might just need a replacement keyboard. You have to dry it out thoroughly before putting power to it, and that means opening it up, mopping up any excess liquid, then leaving it open in a dry warm place for a week or so. Depending on the liquid (sugary stuff is bad) it might need to actually be washed off.
Sounds completely insane, I know. Open it up and wash any bits which have conductive (eg sugary) liquid on them. Moving parts like a CD/DVD drive might be stuffed for ever, but I can't see any reason the circuitry would die just from being wet. Even the HD should be ok, they're pretty well sealed but look out for liquid between the circuit-board on the bottom and the casing.

On second thoughts, rescue your data first. If the HD got wet, make sure it's thoroughly dry before putting power to it.

Here's the post I was making when I spilt wine on my keyboard. I think it's pretty funny: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12509896#post12509896

I laugh at people who use a laptop as a desktop. Laptops are optimal in one and only one situation: you don't have mains power where you want to use a computer. E.g. travelling.

Or you have a very small home and no room for a desktop+monitor.
Or consider it a waste of money to buy both a laptop AND a desktop while the laptop in principle can do everything you want.

I've got two desktops and two laptops (one desktop is work one).
I've never spilled liquid on a keyboard especially corrosive Coke or soft drink.

The only bad thing about a laptop is that their power cables seem to be sadistic; at least with me. I'm on my second one already and that's failing after only six months...
Speaking of which, I need to make a thread to get advice about that. Damn.

The only bad thing about a laptop is that their power cables seem to be sadistic; at least with me. I'm on my second one already and that's failing after only six months...
Speaking of which, I need to make a thread to get advice about that. Damn.

Nah, just ask it here.
I really believe there should be a persistent thread for "help, PC trouble!"

Nah, just ask it here.
I really believe there should be a persistent thread for "help, PC trouble!"

But, that wouldn't be very spammish.

Should I ask for help here or not? I thought we were meant to stay true to the OP.

The only bad thing about a laptop is that their power cables seem to be sadistic; at least with me. I'm on my second one already and that's failing after only six months...
Speaking of which, I need to make a thread to get advice about that. Damn.
Yeah, laptop power cables can be a bitch. I'm on my third right now, although both the previous ones lasted for 18 months each. This one'll probably die around the end of the year. By which time I'll hopefully have a new computer anyway.

Yeah, laptop power cables can be a bitch. I'm on my third right now, although both the previous ones lasted for 18 months each. This one'll probably die around the end of the year. By which time I'll hopefully have a new computer anyway.

I just wish I knew why they're so damned prone to failure. This one keeps requiring that I get it in just the right position for it to charge at all, and sometimes it's not possible to keep in that position.
Thankfully I'm getting a newer and better laptop at the end of the year, but that won't help if it dies in the meantime.

Heh, laptops are kind of sweet. I'm probably just bitter because I can't afford a decent one ;)

Did smoke come out of the laptop or something? You turned it off right away I hope? Take the battery out is a good idea too - lithium and water can be explosive. What I'm getting at here is that the laptop might still be fine, or might just need a replacement keyboard. You have to dry it out thoroughly before putting power to it, and that means opening it up, mopping up any excess liquid, then leaving it open in a dry warm place for a week or so. Depending on the liquid (sugary stuff is bad) it might need to actually be washed off.
Sounds completely insane, I know. Open it up and wash any bits which have conductive (eg sugary) liquid on them. Moving parts like a CD/DVD drive might be stuffed for ever, but I can't see any reason the circuitry would die just from being wet. Even the HD should be ok, they're pretty well sealed but look out for liquid between the circuit-board on the bottom and the casing.

On second thoughts, rescue your data first. If the HD got wet, make sure it's thoroughly dry before putting power to it.

Here's the post I was making when I spilt wine on my keyboard. I think it's pretty funny: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12509896#post12509896

no smoke that i remember but unfortunately i was blind drunk at the time and just left it and passed out. opened it all up yesterday evening and the battery was wet through and there was liquid in the HD compartment although the thing itself didn't seem to be that wet. well, i've set the HD aside to air and i've decided to get a new laptop cuz the thing was on it's last legs anyway and i can just about afford the expense as long as i can get some decent hours in at work.

@Ilaer and IV Stalin: i've had the same power cable for my laptop since i got it 4 years ago with no problems but by all accounts i have been lucky. one of my flatmates last year had sparks spitting out of the power socket on her laptop, and pretty much everyone i know with a laptop has had problems with them.

no smoke that i remember but unfortunately i was blind drunk at the time and just left it and passed out. opened it all up yesterday evening and the battery was wet through and there was liquid in the HD compartment although the thing itself didn't seem to be that wet. well, i've set the HD aside to air and i've decided to get a new laptop cuz the thing was on it's last legs anyway and i can just about afford the expense as long as i can get some decent hours in at work.

@Ilaer and IV Stalin: i've had the same power cable for my laptop since i got it 4 years ago with no problems but by all accounts i have been lucky. one of my flatmates last year had sparks spitting out of the power socket on her laptop, and pretty much everyone i know with a laptop has had problems with them.

You have indeed been lucky. Either that or God loves you.
*is envious*
:D