The laptop is functioning properly, though my memory capacity is limited.
The laptop is functioning properly, though my memory capacity is limited.
I own eight cats and in the last five months these two have taken over my office, causing drinks to spill onto my desk and messing with my PC three times. Once the drink hit my PC, it completely destroyed it and its GPU, which I managed to get a warranty for. After that, half my RAM got lost into the system memory. I’m unsure what to do now since I’ve checked everything and don’t have an internal GPU. Luckily, I managed to save my PC after the last spill. I should also mention I didn’t realize the first incident until the next morning, as I was asleep and the PC was rebooting overnight. My specs and photos will be shared. I also considered the OS might be the problem, so I upgraded to Windows 11 but it still had issues. Yes, I looked into the BIOS and found nothing there either.
Consider removing some filled mugs from your desk. About RAM, try taking out two matched sticks, boot, then the other two, and see if they all function properly.
I don’t store any beverages on my desk anymore. I’ve given that up, and it seems to consume half my memory regardless of how many containers I use or where they are placed. Maybe I should consider replacing the system I built in 2021 with an old card while serving in the army—it’s clearly out of its prime.
After the initial spill, it would have been wise to adjust the behavior and fix the issue. My cat once dropped a big monitor on my desk—though it wasn't completely secure. Luckily, the monitor is still functional, but I quickly made the necessary changes. A valuable lesson learned; we can now stop giving unsolicited advice. Disassemble the device, check for water damage, clean with alcohol, dry it thoroughly, and retest. If it still fails, it’s likely time to replace the hardware—possibly the motherboard, RAM, or CPU. It probably isn’t worth purchasing new vintage parts to try to identify the exact failure.
Liquid spills can severely affect a PC. If the spill reaches your memory slots or motherboard, it can cause damage. Any liquid exposure risks corrosion and potential component failure. Turn off the computer and let it sit for at least 24 hours before attempting repairs. Do not restart until completely dry—disconnect it from power during drying. Once dry, inspect components carefully for spots or corrosion using 90% isopropyl alcohol and a soft brush. Allow them to dry briefly, then retest. If RAM remains unresponsive or other parts fail testing, consider replacing the motherboard.
Hey there! This forum is a bit chaotic with all the cats around. Sorry about that. Do you have space on your desk for the tower? Yes, but it'll take a while to dry. Plain water works if it's not too mineral-heavy, though I prefer iso because it doesn't conduct electricity and dries quickly. I usually use CRC electrical contact cleaner, but it's a bit risky—it could cause sparks. Also, it's not good for breathing. Still, it's really effective and great for cleaning charging ports. Just remember to spray the cleaner, then use canned air, and let it breathe.
I thoroughly disassembled it again and checked for any hidden water damage. I spotted a few areas and cleaned them up, allowing them to dry completely. Still, I’m losing about half of my RAM in Windows. I tested each stick separately in every slot, and I consistently lost half my memory, regardless of the pattern or stick I used. It might be time to upgrade to a new PC once I have the funds.
Did you remove the CPU from its socket? That’s probably the source of the problem. Take it out and clean it.