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Parrothead

Laptop took a swim yesterday

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Parrothead

We were headed up to the farm yesterday (Monday) to meet with the contractor. It's time to start building the (pressurized) toilet (including a bum gun for yours truly). We are also adding a roof over the front, later to include a porch area of 5 meters by 2.5 meters.

 

As I am sure many here may already know, we are just getting past some major rains, in turn major flooding - throughout Cambodia. Battambang is no exception.

 

It just so happens that the farm has a minor glitch during rainy season. You see, there is this dyke that, when the rains are right, turns into the Mississippi River. Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a bit. But, this dyke does fill for part of the year. Just now, as we are nearing the end of this years rainy season, it happens to be dropping. In fact, it had dropped quite a bit, until recent rains filled its thirsty gullet again. Anyway, we have to cross this every time we go to the farm. (Yes, another project for the future. House first, though. Proper crossing later.)

 

Anyway, there was - yes, friend and neighbors - was a little bridge that I have crossed dozens of times. It spanned much of this dyke. By much, I mean you could use the bridge as long as the dyke had no more than about one-third of the water capacity in it. After the one-third mark, well, you might as well pull out the ol' swimmers and sun tan lotion.

 

So, we arrived yesterday morning, oh, about half nine or so, to meet the guy. He is also the one who helped us sort the rainwater harvesting system, by the way.  We took a tuk tuk out ($12 bucks for all day, including waiting) for the first time. We arrive. I got out of the tuk tuk - computer in hand. Fortunately for me, nothing was in my pockets. 

 

I walked down into the dyke, and began crossing the little bridge. When I got a bit past the half way point, two timbers collapsed, me on top of them, into the water. I was completely submerged. The laptop was completely submerged, although for only a brief moment. I had not leg go of the laptop bag, and immediately raised my hand from the water.

 

I handed it to Chan, who immediately got a towel (where she got that from, I had no idea) and began wiping it off. I had her hand back to me, as soon as I finished my (involuntary) swim. I'm still not sure how much water got on, or into it.

 

Later that day, I posted on our super private, special members only, Facebook group, as it was the only thing I could log into, via Chan's super duper smart phone. Richard posted a very helpful reply. Fortunately, most of what was offered on the webpage for assistance, I had already done, immediately after the machine was dunked. I have yet to try to power it back up, and will not do so until later this morning. So, hopefully it will be okay. If not, off to the damned computer store we go.

 

You know, I had crossed that dang bridge dozens of times before. It was just the day before, when the family had warned us that the bridge was getting weak, and we should exercise caution when crossing it. I should have taken the warning a bit more seriously.

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Parrothead

Thanks, by the way, Richard. I don't know if I replied last night, or not, to your post on Fb. I was so pissed off, even at that time, that I couldn't think straight. First time in ages that I had come home and went to sleep by half nine or so.

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jimmyboy

dayum!

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dicey eye

Might consider 2 options:

1. hermetically seal computer in plastic before traveling

2. have Chan carry it over precarious walkways/bridges. She's likely more nimble.

 

Sounds like you took decisive action, probably will work fine. Read on internet that burying wet cell phones and computers in rice dries them out.

Edited by dicey eye

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Parrothead

Well, like I said, on our Cambodia: The Good, The Bad, & The ugly group, I have done what I feel I can do at this juncture. No tools here to disassemble it. So, I will give her a try here in a bit, to see if it will fire up - or blow up.

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Parrothead

It was this afternoon before I finally got the ol' girl connected back up. Initially, it ran really odd, rebooting by itself and doing all sorts of odd things. I am under the impression it still had some water somewhere inside. It ran for some time, anyway, until it was fairly warm. I was hoping that would help dry it out a bit more.

 

After letting it sit for a while afterward, I tried again. Crossed fingers, toes, and pressed the start button. She fired up and roared to life. 

 

First thing I noticed was the display on the monitor had obvious water damage. (See below.)

 

IMG_0119.jpg

 

But, since I use a 24" external monitor for my main display anyway, not a big issue. (I will think otherwise, the first time I take the laptop somewhere to work outside my home.) 

Anyway, it continued to boot, and run fine. It still is, as of this minute anyway.

 

I will go ahead and pull all important data off this drive, juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuusst in case of something happening. That way, if / when it does fail, I won't be in the dark. I will go ahead and start looking for a replacement computer, too. 

 

All in all, I am pretty lucky, I would say.

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dicey eye

Don't turn it off, keep it running, the fan and the natural heat of the computer will solve its drying issues. A competent computer technician can solve the screen fogginess for a couple of bucks. I recently bought a laptop (Acer) newish for $75 cause the screen had the same H2O damage as your photo shows - the tech guy cleared up 85% for 10,000 riel.

When I lived in the jungles of Central America we had to keep our computers going all the time due to the humidity. Otherwise the dampness would foul everything up.

Edited by dicey eye
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wdwflash

Ziploc makes bags in one, two and three gallon size. The three gallon size is wonderful, but hard to get even in the US. I have some sent to me once in a while as you can pack clothes, roll up the bag and zip it with no air. They are also good for electronics of you are taking a boat trip or unexpected swim.

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worldadventurephoto

You have any pictures of this rickety bridge across the dyke?

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Parrothead

You have any pictures of this rickety bridge across the dyke?

 

Nope. But, the display cleared up, finally. Can't tell it had ever done the back stroke. :) 

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  • Similar Content

    • Parrothead
      By Parrothead
      About mid November, I posted where my laptop had taken a swim when I was at the farm. Here is the thread regarding that.
       
      Anyway, I have been wanting to take a moment to show what happens when you are really lucky, after such an event. 
       
      Here is the monitor just after its swimming lesson:
       
      Here is an image of the laptop display a few minutes ago:

       
      It dried out, with little physical damage to the display. 
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