The Coffee Spill

Message

jimhoff · #1 Post by **jimhoff** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 8:49 pm

I can't believe I did it. And I can't believe the first thing I did after I unplugged the ac adapter, removed the battery & wiped up the coffee, was to refill my coffee cup and set it next to my upside-down T40 without even thinking.

The black coffee went in the upper left of the keyboard, about 2 ounces or so. The LCD and ext. monitor went out within 2 seconds. The smell came out in 30 seconds--not a really bad smell, I kinda liked it because it reminded me of my childhood record player or something.... The bottom was hotter than normal.

I got the battery out in 30 seconds. and unplugged the power adapter in 60 seconds. Usually I'm faster--when I dumped my cell in the toilet I got the battery out within 5 seconds and saved the phone.

I've got 18 months of warantee left. Any chance easyserv will take care of this?

If not, I'll disassemble as soon as I can find the instructions on the web--anyone know the link? I've fixed my 600X a few times.

My plan would be to dry everything really well and power it up. And then find parts needed.

I'm new here and need some guidance - please email me jimhoff@gci.net . Spam me too--I don't care.

MadeInJapan · #2 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 9:06 pm

OH....Sh*&%$......I have night mares of doing the same thing....don't have any answers but can sure sympathize.

#3 Post by **JaneL** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:09 pm

No and http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=1689 #8

Champ · #4 Post by **Champ** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 2:33 am

this is why thinkpad protection is worht the money =)

jimhoff · #5 Post by **jimhoff** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 5:21 am

I pulled the mainboard. There was an area on it that looked like it had quickly dried some drops of coffee. I used q-tips and distilled water to clean everything. I'm debating flushing the entire board. Maybe some chemical? I see no burned up parts.

egibbs · #6 Post by **egibbs** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 7:06 am

If you really want to flush it distilled, de-ionized water would be the solvent of choice. But if there are no visible stains I question the need.

You may luck out snce the coffee was black. I spilled coffee with cream and sugar into my T20 when it was a week old, and it cost me $900 to get IBM to fix it. The machine actually still worked but the keys, the pcmcia slots, etc. were all gummy. They wound up replacing a bunch of stuff that I probably would not have bothered with if I tore it apart myself, but at the time I was brand new to TPs and didn't know any better.

Just follow the HMM and do a complete disassembly. Clean up any stains, look for any burned traces or components, check the action of the keys, make sure the fan isn't stuck, etc.

Let everything dry completely before you put it back together. Then cross your fingers and power it up.

Good luck,

Ed Gibbs

Thinker · #7 Post by **Thinker** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 11:42 am

Jim,

I know how you feel. I almost ruined a laptop in the past in a similar fashion, but was lucky enough that the water (I was drinking water, not coffee) spilt on the side of the laptop, and I was quick enough to move it and avert disaster.
Man is an animal of habits (as you verified by immediately refilling the coffee seconds after the spill). The best advice I can give you is to get a chair by your side and get used to put your coffee on top of it, instead of by your ThinkPad. Putting it farther on the table might not be enough (Murphy's Law sucks

), but if you put it on a level below the table that should take care of it.
Good luck with that and let us know how things work out for you and your laptop.

Ruben

jimhoff · #8 Post by **jimhoff** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 7:02 pm

It's working - no fried parts.

There was one leftover part I couldn't see where it goes - It's a
black soft rubber tube 1/2" long and about 7mm O.D. with two "legs
on one end - one leg is offfset 8mm.

I cleaned everything thouroughly with q-tips and distilled water,
dried with compressed air and left on a warm monitor overnight.

This whole thing cost me 5 hours.

Gotta go--coffee's on.

MadeInJapan · #9 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 12:18 am

You're a very lucky guy! Don't drink to much coffee...it makes the keys on your Thinkpad shiney.

Thinker · #10 Post by **Thinker** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 2:25 am

Congrats. About the coffee, haven't you learned anything?

ian · #11 Post by **ian** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 2:32 am

Sure he has - now he knows what's inside his laptop...and how to take it apart.

raisindot · #12 Post by **raisindot** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 8:36 am

Hee hee hee. As I'm reading this now I'm looking over at my TP, resting in its docking station, and realize that my filled coffee cop (and my coffee maker--I use my own at work since we don't have 'floor' coffee) are RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

I challenge any of you to look next to yours right now. I'll make a bet that at least HALF of you got that cup perched right near it, eh? C'mon, admit it!

There must be some kind of force of physics (the Force of Stupidity, perhaps?) that compels people (all right, men, really) to keep their coffee cops right next to their keyboards.

Jeff in Boston

ian · #13 Post by **ian** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:16 am

Pure logic - we work while we drink - and vice versa, and as such are more than likely to have a cup in close proximity to a keyboard.

As I am no longer allowed to be stupid on this forum, might I suggest the following - that we all buy the USB Keyboard with Ultranav, then simply raise the Thinkpad on a book - this way we still use the laptop, but coffee spills are limited to a (somewhat cheaper) keyboard...

Go on, shoot me down then...

Leon · #14 Post by **Leon** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:32 am

BANG!

gcchatel · #15 Post by **gcchatel** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:51 am

Coffee cup sitting next to it and it's loaded with cream and sugar, although after reading this it has been moved to the far end of the desk...but that won't last. Bad habits don't change!
Gael

JHEM · #16 Post by **JHEM** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 2:26 pm

My classic Aladdin 20oz travel mug bearing my company logo is not only sitting next to my T40, it's touching it!

Perhaps the fact that it has a lid on it gives me a false sense of security.

I guess that, like most big men, I am a bit more careful and deliberate in my movements and I can't recall the last time I accidentally knocked something over.

My wife, who is "normal" sized (5'5"), rarely has a day go by when she doesn't knock something over! Last night it was her wine at dinner.

Must be because she's constantly running at flank speed while I'm normally running on a slow bell.

Regards,

James

MadeInJapan · #17 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 7:47 pm

I actually have a USB keyboard that is covered in rubber....you can spill anything on it and it doesn't care...maybe I'll start using it.

Plinkerton · #18 Post by **Plinkerton** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:38 pm

I'm too paranoid to put anything next to my TP. I have accidental damage, but I really don't want to risk anything. I can't afford to spend any money on fixing it, or a replacement, etc.

So, my TP is the most protected thing I own. It's my baby!

KillaByte · #19 Post by **KillaByte** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 7:42 am

Plinkerton wrote:So, my TP is the most protected thing I own. It's my baby!

That does sound familiar

egibbs · #20 Post by **egibbs** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:04 pm

Computers run on electrons, but computer users run on caffiene.

That's why all Computers have those slide-out cup holder things.

Ed Gibbs

Daniel · #21 Post by **Daniel** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 3:06 pm

egibbs wrote:Computers run on electrons, but computer users run on caffiene.

That's why all Computers have those slide-out cup holder things.

Ed Gibbs

We need a visual.

The cupholder on my Thinkpad is almost useless. It's more like a strawholder as it doesn't have the big hole in the middle.

Thinker · #22 Post by **Thinker** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 6:23 pm

egibbs wrote:Computers run on electrons, but computer users run on caffiene.

That's why all Computers have those slide-out cup holder things.

Ed Gibbs

When I run on caffeine I run on CocaCola. But never (ever) within 2 yards of my precious ThinkPad.

About the slide-out cup holder things

I think Homer Simpson deserves to be acknowledged as the first human (he is human, and whoever disputes this will meet me at noon tomorrow in the town square) to ever come up with the idea (yes, the same episode where he is looking for the "Any" key.

Ruben

JHEM · #23 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:11 pm

Thinker wrote:About the slide-out cup holder things I think Homer Simpson deserves to be acknowledged as the first human (he is human, and whoever disputes this will meet me at noon tomorrow in the town square) to ever come up with the idea (yes, the same episode where he is looking for the "Any" key.

I'll have to dispute that contention on both points! "The Simpsons" started in 1989 and I have a little utility from around 1984 that, when run, will pop open the CD tray on a PC. The utility is named "A Free Cupholder for You".

As to Homer's humanity, or lack thereof, he's definitely sub-human, so I'll see you at the Gazebo in the Town Square tomorrow AM.

Bring a lunch!

And dinner!

And many, MANY friends!

Regards,

James

Thinker · #24 Post by **Thinker** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:35 pm

JHEM wrote:
Thinker wrote: I'll have to dispute that contention on both points! "The Simpsons" started in 1989 and I have a little utility from around 1984 that, when run, will pop open the CD tray on a PC. The utility is named "A Free Cupholder for You".

As to Homer's humanity, or lack thereof, he's definitely sub-human, so I'll see you at the Gazebo in the Town Square tomorrow AM.

Bring a lunch!

And dinner!

And many, MANY friends!

Regards,

James

James,

HEHE Ok, you got me on that one. So Homer didn't invent the computerized, ejectable cup holder. (At least it seems T.A. Edison didn't beat him to it this time).Although disappointing, this fact doesn't detract from his many other fine qualities. For example...EHEM...COUGH COUGH. I got it: Homer never screwed me out of my money in eBay (which is pretty good, even for a fictional character with yellow skin and four fingers)

Actually, being the hardcore Simpsons fan that I am, I have wondered for a while how many people around here like the series also.

Regarding Homer's sub-human qualities, although it is true that he often gives himself to base instincts and his Deadly Sins scorecard has been full for a while now, you can't deny that the guy always comes through when the time is right. Actually, that's what makes him so human in my mind.

Sorry about lunch and dinner, but after my T23 debacle I have been on KrustyBurgers and onion rings for a while now, since that's all I can afford.

Regards,

Ruben

DavidNZ · #25 Post by **DavidNZ** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:30 am

Ralph: "Hi Principal Skinner. Hi Super Nintendo Chalmers."

Thinker · #26 Post by **Thinker** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:17 pm

LOL There are so many great characters in The Simpsons. Ralph is one of them. I especially like two of the episodes where he is a main character.
The one where Lisa unwittingly becomes his Valentine and then breaks his heart on TV (and then Ralph issues a great theatre performance playing George Washington). The other one is when Marge makes it her business to have Ralph be Bart's play buddy and they steal Chief Wiggum's master key.
Such a great show...

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