Thinkpads Forum

I bought an X200 and its more than a month old. I had the scariest experience yet with the keyboard. I thought I'd share in this group.

Last night I accidentally spilled softdrink (coke light) in my keyboard. The can was placed in front of the laptop, just close to the palm rest and a bit on the left. I could not recall what caught my attention but my left hand accidentally hit the can and spilled on the keyboard.

The X200 was still running, its Vista Business, and I shut down quickly and unplugged from the power. Then I placed one of my shirts on top of the keyboard and flipped upside down the X200. I don't if I was doing right. I read somewhere that the X200 keyboard has some sort of "drainage". I have examined it before and noticed 2 drains below the keyboard.

So now after flipping the X200 upside I got my screw drivers and removed the keyboard. 'Placed it slanting against a wall, with the intention that the liquid - if there still was - may drain down.

Then I placed the laptop on the table and examined the motherboard and surrounding edges if there were signs of liquid and there were none. So I left the X200 open the whole day in my room, hoping that any liquid evaporate.

While in the office I blamed myself, it was a mixed feeling of cursing yourself for being clumsy, stupid for placing, blah blah blah ... bottom line if the X200 dies its my fault.

So tonight I could not contain anymore my curiosity. I wanted to wait another day before I re-assemble it. So while cursing myself, scared but excited - I decided to re-assemble. Such an expensive machine and only less that 2 months. Anyways, I am happy that its still running. I am using it to type this story.

Danny Manabat wrote:.......Then I placed one of my shirts on top of the keyboard and flipped upside down the X200. I don't if I was doing right. I read somewhere that the X200 keyboard has some sort of "drainage". I have examined it before and noticed 2 drains below the keyboard.....

You were really lucky. No offense but you did exactly what you shouldn't have done!!!

There is a very comprehensive drainage system from kb down to a couple of drain holes below the palmrest. (you should notice if you remove the palmrest there is a funnel like plastic structure). You should just let gravity do the job of letting the liquid drain out thru the bottom. Then disassemble it to clean out the coke (this is to prevent ants) from the drainage, or easier is to pour more clear water over the kb (yes i would do that).

Flipping it over while there is liquid in the system may cause it to go exactly where you don't want it to... over your mainboard or other exposed stuff like your WLAN cards, HDD, modem daugher card etc.

Anyway, great that your thinkpad survived!

reflecting on what i have done, i may in the future - if and when it happens again - wait and allow the liquid to drain first before attempting to open. that i think is much better than what i did. i was just lucky. but more important, i will have to avoid having any liquid stuff with me while using the laptop.