So, I recently had a mishap with my gaming PC where rubbing alcohol was spilled on it and someone turned it on while it was still wet, leading to an electrical fire. To make matters worse, they tried to put it out with water. I finally bought a Dell Optiplex 7050 MT for $100 just to get back to work, but I'm wondering if any of my old parts survived, particularly my RAM, since this new PC only has 8GB and that's a bit tough to deal with. Can I check if my RAM can work in this new system? They technically meet the specs, so I'm hopeful! Also, I heard my SSD might have survived—should I check that too? Sorry for the long message, and I hope my question isn't too silly; I've never had to deal with a situation like this before.
3 Answers
Honestly, the RAM and the SSD are likely your best bets for recovery. Assuming everything is dry and clean now, you could definitely test them out without too much risk. Just keep an eye out while you’re doing it.
First off, you definitely need to ensure that everything is completely dry after that disaster. Let the RAM sit out for a few days so the moisture evaporates. Visually inspect it for any burn marks or signs of damage. If everything looks okay and it meets the specs, you could plug it into your new system, but be cautious—if it doesn’t work, shut it down immediately to avoid further issues. The SSD is less risky, so it might be a good idea to try connecting that first and see if the data is intact.
Haha, I’d love to give that person a piece of my mind too! Since it’s been a month, do you think I should still let the RAM dry out even longer?
Totally! Bad RAM usually just fails to function on boot, so crossing fingers it works for you.
It's hard to tell just from pictures, but your RAM looks like it could be fine. Definitely give it a good clean to be on the safe side. Just remember, if it works, it might not run as fast in your new Optiplex since it’ll probably default to slower speeds.
Yeah, I know it’ll be slower. I just really need the extra RAM for my work right now. I mean, I did the pics right after pulling it out, so I definitely want to clean it.
That’s reassuring! Just hoping the SSD isn’t toast—my new setup feels like a huge downgrade!