Emergency Computer Repair Help

Power Off Immediately

Do NOT check if it still works — this can cause fatal short circuits. Hold the power button down until the device is completely powered off (usually 5-10 seconds). Every moment the device stays on increases corrosion risk.

Disconnect All Power and Peripherals

Immediately unplug the charger, power cable, and all connected devices including: USB drives, external hard drives, mouse, keyboard, and any other accessories. This prevents electrical pathways from conducting water to sensitive components.

Remove the Battery (If Possible)

If your laptop has a removable battery, take it out immediately. This completely cuts power to the motherboard and is the most effective way to prevent short circuits. For MacBooks and ultrabooks with sealed batteries, skip to step 4.

Drain and Position for Drying

• Laptops: Open the lid to approximately 90 degrees and place the laptop keyboard-side down on a dry, absorbent towel. This allows liquid to drain away from the motherboard.
• Smartphones/Tablets: Gently dab with a lint-free or microfibre cloth. Avoid shaking the device as this spreads liquid further inside.
• Desktop PCs: If liquid entered the tower, place it on its side with the access panel facing down.

What NOT to Do After Water Damage

• Do NOT use rice — Rice dust and starch can penetrate ports and cause corrosion. It's also ineffective at removing moisture from internal components.
• Do NOT use heat — Hairdryers, ovens, and microwaves warp components and melt adhesives. Heat also forces moisture deeper into the device.
• Do NOT shake — Shaking spreads liquid to previously dry areas and can cause shorts.
• Do NOT power on — Wait until professionally cleaned. Even if it appears dry, invisible moisture can cause failure days or weeks later.

Secure Broken Glass Immediately

If the screen is cracked with loose glass fragments, cover the entire display area with clear packing tape. This prevents:

• Glass shards from falling into the keyboard and causing further damage
• Sharp edges from cutting your fingers during use
• Cracks from spreading due to screen flex

Test with External Monitor (Important!)

Connect your laptop to an external monitor or TV via HDMI (or DisplayPort/USB-C). If the external display shows a perfect image, this is excellent news:

• Your motherboard and graphics card are undamaged
• Your data is safe and accessible
• Only the display panel needs replacement (significantly cheaper repair)

Minimize Movement and Pressure

Avoid closing the laptop lid — pressure on a cracked screen can cause the damage to instantly spread across the entire display. If you must transport the device:

• Keep the lid open at 90 degrees
• Place screen-side up on a flat surface
• Avoid placing anything on top of the keyboard area

Backup Your Data Immediately

If the device is still functional enough to use, backup your important files now. Even if the external monitor test passed, the laptop's structural integrity is compromised and further damage can occur at any time.

Disconnect from the Internet Immediately

Turn off Wi-Fi and unplug Ethernet cables NOW. This critical step:

• Stops malware from sending your personal data, passwords, and financial information to hackers
• Prevents the virus from spreading to other devices on your home network
• Cuts off command-and-control servers that may be controlling your computer

Stop All Sensitive Activity

Do NOT log into or use:

• Online banking or financial services
• Email accounts (especially password reset emails)
• Social media or shopping accounts
• Work-related systems or VPNs

If you were logged into any sensitive accounts when infected, change those passwords from a known-clean device (like your smartphone).

Boot into Safe Mode with Networking

Restart your computer and enter "Safe Mode with Networking":

• Windows 10/11: Hold Shift while clicking Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced → Startup Settings → Restart → Press 4 or F4
• Windows 7: Restart and press F8 repeatedly before Windows loads

Safe Mode prevents most malware from automatically starting, allowing you to run security scans and backup files.

Run Trusted Security Scans

Use one or more of these trusted tools to identify and remove the infection:

• Microsoft Safety Scanner — Free, removes viruses and malware (works in Safe Mode)
• Windows Defender Offline — Built-in Windows antivirus, scan from boot media
• Malwarebytes Free — Effective against malware that traditional antivirus misses