Member Avatar for jukebox77

i have a toshiba satellite a45s151 laptop, and recently i left it outside while it was sprinkling (outside is the only place i can pick up wireless). when i realized it was raining, i ran to my computer, brought it inside and immediately started wiping everything down. i took off each key and attempted to dry off the area underneath, and I also disassembled everything i could -- the battery, dvd drive, harddrive and cooling unit. systematically, the keys started to not work...
I placed everything next to a fan to dry it out, and the next morning it was able to start up just fine. The keys were still shot, so I purchased a separate keyboard. Later that night I turned it off again, and the next morning it wouldn't "start up". The fan would start spinning low power for 2 seconds, then go on full power. A continuous beep sounds about 5 seconds after i start up the computer, but the screen would show nothing, regardless of the fan power and the beeping. I disassembled everything, and again I put the parts next to a fan overnight. The next morning it worked, but then I turned it off later to see if I had actually fixed any problem with turning it back on, and when I tried turning it back on, it didn't work again.
I've been airing everything out for 12 hours so far since then, and though I've repeated what seemed to work before, my laptop just won't start up again. The fan spins full power and the beep stays consistent, and both continue for as long as I have the laptop "on". Still, the screen shows nothing.
I'm a college student who really can't afford to buy a new -- or even used -- laptop right now. I know i couldn't afford to make such a horrible mistake in the first place either, but now I need to focus on a solution. Is there anyone who has ANY idea what I should do?

thanks...

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by DarkRubicant

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A few practical, prioritized suggestions for and anyone who finds this thread later. As asked, knowing the exact model and parts helps for diagnostics and parts pricing. As pointed out, drying is important — but drying alone often is not enough once liquids have contacted the motherboard or connectors.

First priorities (do these in order)

  • Stop powering the machine. Repeated power attempts while moisture or corrosion is present makes damage worse.
  • Remove all power sources and removable parts: AC, battery, hard drive/SSD, optical drive, RAM, Wi-Fi card, and any PCMCIA/ExpressCard. The drive is the highest priority for data rescue: put it in a USB enclosure or adapter to copy important files from another computer.
  • Give the electronics time to dry (48–72 hours) in a ventilated, low-humidity place with silica gel if available. Avoid heat guns, ovens, or direct high heat.

Cleaning and simple repair steps

  • Inspect the motherboard and connectors for discoloration or powder (green/white/brown). If comfortable, clean corrosion with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol and a soft brush; let the alcohol evaporate fully. Compressed air on low setting can remove debris. Clean connector pins and RAM contacts gently.
  • Reassemble to the bare minimum when testing: one RAM stick, no drives, external monitor if possible. Reseat RAM and test sticks one at a time. Count POST/beep patterns and consult the service manual for that model (beep codes indicate POST failures like memory or video).

When to get professional help

  • If cleaning and minimal-configuration tests fail, the motherboard or power circuitry may be damaged. Professional diagnostics are often worth it for data recovery or if a replacement board is economical. For students, campus IT, repair cafes, or local shops can be cheaper options than dealer service.

Final note: even if it powers up, corrosion can cause later failures. Prioritize backing up the drive now, and avoid continued use until the board has been inspected/cleaned.

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Member Avatar for FragFighter

can you give me ALL the system specs?

Member Avatar for FragFighter

Ok, having done a little bit of reading it sounds like you have totally screwed yourself (pardon my language) but I will ask around to my more experienced tech buddies and see if they know of anything.

Member Avatar for DarkRubicant

I'd say what you tried to do, airing the laptop out completely was probably your best bet, if it still isn't working now, I'd say that the laptop is probably done for. However that's just common sense, someone might be able to get it to work if you took it into a repair shop and they somehow fixed it. Maybe something short circuited. Who knows. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

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