Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a panic here. I accidentally spilled half a glass of vitamins juice on my boyfriend's company laptop (a Dell Latitude 5450), and he's understandably upset. We tried to help by turning the laptop upside down with the keyboard facing down for about an hour while we wiped it up. After a couple of hours, he charged it, but now the screen is black even though the keyboard backlight is on. The charging light is blinking amber and white (2,3). I know we really need to wait for IT to look at it since it's a work laptop, but I'm worried it might be ruined. Is there any hope for fixing it or am I really in trouble? I've even promised to cover the costs if it's beyond repair.
3 Answers
From my experience in corporate IT, this needs to go back to the company’s tech team for proper handling or replacement. Accidents are common, and companies usually have warranties or protection plans for such situations. If this is the second or third laptop, it might be a bigger issue, but often they'll just swap it out.
I’ve been in the IT field for over a decade, and trust me, these things happen! Your boyfriend's company will probably just issue a new laptop if this one can't be fixed. If possible, try connecting an external monitor to see if any display comes up, which can help access files that aren’t saved online.
First off, don't power it on again until the IT department checks it out! Powering it on while there's still liquid can cause serious short circuits. Keep it upside down in an A-shape (like a tent) in a warm, dry spot to help drain the liquid. Avoid heat sources like hair dryers since they can damage the laptop further. Just let it sit for a couple of days – drying could take 48 hours or more. Hang in there until Monday when IT can take a look!
He just got this laptop in October 2024, so I really hope it's still under warranty! What do you think the worst-case scenario could be?