Water spilled in monitor fried cpu?

[Kathy]

My son spilled water in his monitor. Thought it neede a new monitor, so
I bought one. The monitor seems to work -- it shows video and shows
"no signal" when turned on while disconnected from cpu -- as it should.
When hooked up to the cpu, it shows nothing. What should I look for
in trying to fix this? The unit will power up, but shows no video.
Would a new video card work? Or is the entire unit dead in the water
(so to speak)?

Kathy So

 

[Guest]

My son spilled water in his monitor. Thought it neede a new monitor, so
I bought one. The monitor seems to work -- it shows video and shows
"no signal" when turned on while disconnected from cpu -- as it should.
When hooked up to the cpu, it shows nothing. What should I look for
in trying to fix this? The unit will power up, but shows no video.
Would a new video card work? Or is the entire unit dead in the water
(so to speak)?

sci.electronics.repair is a better source of information about water
damage.

The monitor doesn't hook up to the CPU but to the video adapter, which
may be a card that plugs into the motherboard or something built into
the motherboard. The video adapter may have been damaged when the
first monitor became wet, so borrow another adapter of even a whole
computer to test for this. If the motherboard has a built-in adapter,
further damage may have occurred, requiring the motherboard's
replacement.

Always unplug the AC before working on the computer system, even if
you're merely replacing a monitor, since computers never shut down
completely when left plugged in, and even connecting a cable can cause
a damaging surge of current. Also take precautions against generating
static electricity, at the very least by not wearing shoes, socks, or
stockings and by touching bare metal on the computer case just before
handling anything.

 

[kony]

On 1 Oct 2005 23:34:51 -0700, (e-mail address removed)
wrote:

Also take precautions against generating
static electricity, at the very least by not wearing shoes, socks, or
stockings and by touching bare metal ...

LOL

Barefoot computer repair doesn't seem all that popular, have
you seen anyone who was able to attribute damage to wearing
shoes but not to other clothing, or did you mean totally
nude computer repair?

 

[Guest]

On 1 Oct 2005 23:34:51 -0700, (e-mail address removed)

LOL

Barefoot computer repair doesn't seem all that popular, have
you seen anyone who was able to attribute damage to wearing
shoes but not to other clothing, or did you mean totally
nude computer repair?

Those other choices don't work as well as working barefoot since it's
the method most likely to drain charge to ground, by far.

There used to be a mail order RAM dealer in Oklahoma that claimed to
have its stockroom employees work barefoot, and a co-worker of mine who
once picked up a will-call order from them confirmed that claim.

 

[philo]

My son spilled water in his monitor. Thought it neede a new monitor, so
I bought one. The monitor seems to work -- it shows video and shows
"no signal" when turned on while disconnected from cpu -- as it should.
When hooked up to the cpu,

<snip>

hey folks...sorry but I can't help it.

the monitor must get connected to the video card...
not to the cpu


(yes, I know)


Reminds me of a machine i was working on for a woman I know.
It froze up before it finished booting...
so I ripped it apart looking for a hardware problem.

Finally gave up and said "it's got to come into the shop"

When I gathered it all up...I picked up the keyboard and a whole lot of
coke dripped out of the keyboard onto my pants.

Well, I guess I found the problem!

She just glared at her drunken boyfriend who had been watching me working
on the machine as said: Did you spill a coke into the keyboard!!!!???

He ( I guess truthfully) replied: Not that i recall <shrug>.

 

[Jon Danniken]

Those other choices don't work as well as working barefoot since it's
the method most likely to drain charge to ground, by far.

There used to be a mail order RAM dealer in Oklahoma that claimed to
have its stockroom employees work barefoot, and a co-worker of mine who
once picked up a will-call order from them confirmed that claim.

That's how everyone in Oklahoma is; there are only a few pairs of shoes in
the entire state, and they all have to share them.

Jon

 

[Jamie]

Some people call the CPU what we would call, case, tower, chasis etc, so
more then likely this person means it is connected to her videocard or her
motherboard given it has onboard video. Interesting theory about barefoot
repairmen though lol

 

[Guest]

That's how everyone in Oklahoma is; there are only a few pairs of shoes in
the entire state, and they all have to share them.

They actually walked on a floor covered with anti-static rubber.

 

[Michael C]

Those other choices don't work as well as working barefoot since it's
the method most likely to drain charge to ground, by far.

I'd rather risk damaging my PC than risking shock by grounding myself as
well as possible

Michael

 

[Michael C]

My son spilled water in his monitor. Thought it neede a new monitor, so
I bought one. The monitor seems to work -- it shows video and shows
"no signal" when turned on while disconnected from cpu -- as it should.
When hooked up to the cpu, it shows nothing. What should I look for
in trying to fix this? The unit will power up, but shows no video.
Would a new video card work? Or is the entire unit dead in the water
(so to speak)?

Hi Kathy,

Maybe you're new monitor isn't as good as the old one and doesn't support
the resolution or refresh rate of the old one. Does it work when it starts
up but then stops when you get into windows?

Michael

 

[John Corliss]

They actually walked on a floor covered with anti-static rubber.

All it would take is for one worker to have plantar's warts and then
everybody would catch them. Guess the boss never heard of grounding
straps for the wrist.

 

[John Corliss]

My son spilled water in his monitor. Thought it neede a new monitor, so
I bought one. The monitor seems to work -- it shows video and shows
"no signal" when turned on while disconnected from cpu -- as it should.
When hooked up to the cpu, it shows nothing. What should I look for
in trying to fix this? The unit will power up, but shows no video.
Would a new video card work? Or is the entire unit dead in the water
(so to speak)?

Two most likely problems are that you either-or:

1. the new monitor has a defective data cord.

2. fried your video card -or if you have integrated video (video is
handled by the chipset on your motherboard)- your motherboard.

Try another monitor first. If that doesn't work, then it's probably the
second item.

Be sure to disconnect all power cords and ground yourself by touching
the case on bare metal before working on any boards.

 

[Kathy]

Michael,
Actually, it does turn out that, in a case of bad luck, the new (used)
monitor is also bad -- hooked it up to 3 different machines (to the video
cards, I know .... Just speaking untechnically.) - with the same result.
Swapped out the monitor. Borrowed a friend's monitor and hooked it up and..
Voila! So, I'm taking it back today. Shop said it had been tested, but I
can't imagine how they must have tested it.

Thanks to all for help, advice and miscellaneous input.

Kathy

 

[Michael C]

Michael,
Actually, it does turn out that, in a case of bad luck, the new (used)
monitor is also bad -- hooked it up to 3 different machines (to the video
cards, I know .... Just speaking untechnically.) - with the same result.
Swapped out the monitor. Borrowed a friend's monitor and hooked it up
and.. Voila! So, I'm taking it back today. Shop said it had been tested,
but I can't imagine how they must have tested it.

Standard test is to put it up for sale, if someone buys and doesn't come
back then it worked

Michael

 

[Guest]

(e-mail address removed) wrote:

All it would take is for one worker to have plantar's warts and then
everybody would catch them. Guess the boss never heard of grounding
straps for the wrist.

Every time I ordered RAM from them I'd get anti-static chip tubes
wrapped in foil with a sticker warning about ESD plus 5-10 pages of
precautions and explanations about ESD.