I've noticed a sweet, chemical-like smell coming from the keyboard of my ThinkPad L490. This smell only seems to appear after the laptop has been on for about an hour. I'm concerned if this is something that needs to be repaired or if it's still safe to use it like this. I'm a bit strapped for cash and really hope it can still be used as is.
2 Answers
That smell isn’t a good sign. It could be a problem with the wiring inside the laptop. You really should be careful because it might mean there's something burning or damaged, and you don’t want it to catch fire.
Honestly, it's probably not safe at all. The sickly sweet smell can often indicate a leaking battery, which is dangerous. You should take it outside and away from people or pets just to be safe. Better to be cautious than to risk a fire!
I took off the battery to check it, and fortunately, it doesn’t have that smell at all!