totse.com | Weird laptop problem - Broken power button?

MrSparkle · #1 2008-10-23, 17:11

I spilled tea on my laptop a few months ago and it was fucked for at least a month it wouldn't turn on at all but after about a month I turned it on and it worked fine (apart from the keyboard) and I was using it with no problems for about a month there. What I noticed though is if I have to manually shut it down by holding down the power button then it stops working and I usually have to wait a day or 2 before I can turn it back on.

Same thing just happened there so I'm positive it was because I shut it down by holding down the power button. What happens is I press the power button and it appears to be starting up (fan starts, LEDs light up) for about 3 seconds then it just shuts down.

What could this problem be??? Does this sound like a heating problem or what? I don't know enough about computers to identify the problem. I know its linked to the power button. A strange thing that happens when its in this broken phase is if I touch the touchpad area just next to the power button (the one that controls volume and video commands and all that bullshit) it acts as the power button and the computer tries to start up.

Definitely a problem related to the power button but what is it. Why would it shut down every time I hit the power button but if I wait a day or two it starts working again?

HektikNinja · #2 2008-10-23, 22:24

It could be a short somewhere, but it could be anything. I'd contact your manufacturer if you have a warranty on it. Also google your computer to see if anyone else has had your existing problem.

Eagle Bay · #3 2008-10-23, 22:34

Well you should probably stop trying to turn it on to start with. Since tea is sticky, you can't expect all the residue to evaporate like water. If you feel confident enough, dismantle, inspect and clean it. There are plenty of instructional videos on youtube for dismantling various models, and if it happens to be a dell, service manuals are available for free on the dell website. Generally all you need is one or two screwdrivers, and maybe some clean cloths and canned air. It's really not too difficult to do once you've seen how it's done.

When you take it apart, make sure you remove the battery and do not plug the battery back in until you're sure each component is fully dry and clean again, it's worth waiting an extra day or two just to be sure all the moisture has gone away. If you're still having similar problems with it then post back here or something.

MrSparkle · #4 2008-10-24, 10:23

Its working again. I just held it upside down to look at the screws then flipped it back over hit the DVD button on the top bar touchpad (thats not meant act as a power button I don't know what the hells going on there) and it turned on normally. I turned it off properly (let the OS shut it down) and turned it back on this morning and its working fine.

The cause of the problem definitely has something to do with holding down the power button and for some reason holding the laptop upside down fixes the problem.

I'm gonna take it apart and have a look anyway because I'd say this could turn into a serious problem if I don't fix it. Its a HP Pavillon dv9000 and its insanely hard to get the screws out. I only have one screwdriver thats small enough but fuckin hell they're screwed in tight.

Would you say I'd be able to see the tea stains or should I just wipe everywhere I can? Would I be better off getting a bottle of distilled water for this?

My logic tells me the problems just tea residue lodged under the power button because thats one of the points where the tea seeped into the laptop. It was spilled right on the front of the laptop so the tea got into the keyboard, power button and the right and left click buttons on the touch pad. More keys on my keyboard start to work as time goes by. How the hell would the tea residue dissipate by itself though?

Eagle Bay · #5 2008-10-24, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSparkle View Post

Its working again. I just held it upside down to look at the screws then flipped it back over hit the DVD button on the top bar touchpad (thats not meant act as a power button I don't know what the hells going on there) and it turned on normally. I turned it off properly (let the OS shut it down) and turned it back on this morning and its working fine.

The cause of the problem definitely has something to do with holding down the power button and for some reason holding the laptop upside down fixes the problem.

I'm gonna take it apart and have a look anyway because I'd say this could turn into a serious problem if I don't fix it. Its a HP Pavillon dv9000 and its insanely hard to get the screws out. I only have one screwdriver thats small enough but fuckin hell they're screwed in tight.

Would you say I'd be able to see the tea stains or should I just wipe everywhere I can? Would I be better off getting a bottle of distilled water for this?

My logic tells me the problems just tea residue lodged under the power button because thats one of the points where the tea seeped into the laptop. It was spilled right on the front of the laptop so the tea got into the keyboard, power button and the right and left click buttons on the touch pad. More keys on my keyboard start to work as time goes by. How the hell would the tea residue dissipate by itself though?

Just wipe all plastic and metal surfaces with a clean moist (not sopping wet) cloth, including the underside of the touchpad and the power switch. I think you can use alcohol to clean the components, but you should look into it first or wait for confirmation that alcohol is safe to use on components. Don't use any solvents of course. Plain warm water works pretty good though.

SLice_760 · #6 2008-10-24, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle Bay View Post

Just wipe all plastic and metal surfaces with a clean moist (not sopping wet) cloth, including the underside of the touchpad and the power switch. I think you can use alcohol to clean the components, but you should look into it first or wait for confirmation that alcohol is safe to use on components. Don't use any solvents of course. Plain warm water works pretty good though.

Alcohol is safe, I've used it to clean parts of my PSP after taking that apart and I have also used it to clean the contacts on computer parts such as RAM and PCI or PCI-E expansion cards. I usually wipe whatever I clean down with water again after though..

MrSparkle · #7 2008-10-25, 11:15

I took off the keyboard and switch board on the laptop and I think I found the problem. There was some brown stains on the power board cable ZIF connector. I disconnected the cable and cleaned it and wiped the whole area around the power button board cuz there was little tea stains all over.

I'm gonna let this dry and see if it works before I take the whole laptop apart to fix the left click button.

MrSparkle · #8 2008-10-25, 14:10

Shit I was about to screw the harddrive back in and I accidentally dropped the screw in a gap. I can't get it back out now. Does this mean I have to disassemble the whole laptop and find the fuckin thing? Will a lose screw definitely cause a short?

SLice_760 · #9 2008-10-25, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSparkle View Post

Shit I was about to screw the harddrive back in and I accidentally dropped the screw in a gap. I can't get it back out now. Does this mean I have to disassemble the whole laptop and find the fuckin thing? Will a lose screw definitely cause a short?

Loose screws = bad.

Get that shit out before you power it up again just in case. I wouldn't risk it. Try using a LOW POWER magnet or a magnetic screwdriver to get it out if you can. Dropped screws can be a real bitch.

MrSparkle · #10 2008-10-25, 15:24

Yeah thats the screwdriver I'm using but the screw fell into a gap and like an idiot I tilted the laptop to try and get the screw somewhere I could grab it but I lost it completely. This is my first time dismantling a laptop you have to disassemble all sorts of stuff before you can take the cover off and get access to the insides of the laptop.

Right now I'm trying to figure out how to get those little plastic jacks out of connectors without breaking the things. One of those pliers with the thin tips would be ideal but I don't have one.

The laptops repair manual is complete shit. It assumes you have knowledge of all this stuff. It says "disconnect the display cable from the system board" but they don't tell you how. I don't wanna break anything so I can't just play around with it to figure it out. This cables wrapped in this black fabric shit so I can't see how it connects to the system board. I don't know if I'm meant to take the black shit off or not.