Spilled beer on my PC, inevitable damage. Need help narrowing down the problem.

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by cptfalco, Dec 28, 2012.

  1. cptfalco

    cptfalco Private E-2

    Specs:
    MB: Gigabyte 880-DM-D2H
    CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition (3.2Ghz)
    Graphics: XFX AMD Radeon HD 6770
    RAM: Patriot 1600Mhz RAM 8GB
    PSU: 750W Power Supply
    HD: 7200 RPM 500 GB with a low cache (Not sure, it's an old HD though)

    Alright, I will try my best to explain my story in order.

    I've been keeping my case Open because of bad airflow in my computer case (Fans kick into overdrive, screaming, trying to keep my PC cool). So I have been keeping on side panel open. Before doing this, however, my Windows would freeze up (Graying out, unclickable, every program running does the same). I would reboot the PC, and it would restart to perform a Disk Check. It got worse and worse, so I decided to re-install windows (Which worked). I also kept my case open, so I didn't have to hear the fans setting off a nuclear holocoast.

    *Sometimes, before I reformatted, I would have to try different SATA Sockets just to get my motherboard to read the Hard Drive. There are no specific 'broken' SATA Sockets, I just have to keep plugging my HD into a different one until it finally boots up and is recognize by my motherboard.

    Just try to keep in my that Windows, or something, was crashing like that. I was unsure what the problem was, but I figured it was because my Case was getting extremely hot, which means my CPU and Graphics Card wasn't getting proper cooling.

    Now comes the dreadful night when I decide it would be smart to play League of Legends after a long night of drinking. While sipping on more beer, and raging at the game, I lift my hand in anger, and knock over the beer into my case. With cat-like (which, actually, were rather slow) reflexes I grabbed the beer and moved it away as soon as possible. While still in League, and the Computer still working, I tried to continue the game. I instantly got black screened while the PC was still running, but the screen never came back. So I shut it off, I just went to sleep, was drunk and didn't want to figure it out.

    A few days later (I tried my best to let it dry out, I don't know if that was smart or stupid) I was having errors reading my Hard Drive, I would have to plug it into different SATA Sockets and hope for the best. It eventually worked. So I left it as is, without cleaning the case, or trying to get any beer residue off of anything.

    My problems continued. Disk checks, Memory Tests, Motherboard can't read the HD, etc. etc.

    Now, that happened over the time period of the 2 months, just re-formatting once every week, or every 2 weeks. Still doing random, required, Disk Checks, and the rest of the likes. It seemed to do the trick, but eventually my Windows would start crashing again.

    So I decided to buy a new Hard Drive, not thoroughly thinking through what the actual problem might be.

    Now, last night, I cleaned out everything. The case, the motherboard and other Hardware devices, wiping off any nasty thing I could see (There was a few that I had to scrub hard to get out, about 2 spots on the Motherboard). While I did this, I got all the dust out, like it's pretty damn spotless.

    Got it pretty damn clean, even though I have a new Case coming in. Played a few games at 4:00 AM This morning, had no problem (Even though we all know it's inevitably short lived). My Hard Drive showed up today, so I instantly tried to get Windows installed on it, and ready to roll, but it wouldn't "Expand Windows Files" (Crashing, giving errors at 0% to 1%, no higher). So I said, **** it, I'll wait till I get my new case before I plug in the old Motherboard I have. Because right now, I'm pretty damn sure that it is my motherboard.

    With that in mind, my Games seem to Black Screen for a few seconds every 10-15 minutes. I haven't played enough to get an actual pattern or anything, but it only happens when I'm in game. Not on Windows, browsing Chrome or Files.

    So, right now, I'm freaking out. I don't make much money, I have spare parts (MB/RAM/Graphics Card) but they are considerable downgrades. So I would like help narrowing down the problem.

    TL;DR - Had Disk Checks, Memory Test, and Random Window Crashes. Reformatting was a temporary fix. I spilled beer on my PC, eventually ordering a new HD. I cannot install windows on the new HD. I want to narrow down the problem, but I almost guarantee it is the motherboard.


    *I am also more than happy to describe any other things, and try things too to help narrow down the problem. I would just like outside expertise, because I know I do not know everything about hardware.

    Happy Holidays!
     
  2. gman863

    gman863 MajorGeek

    Depending on where the liquid landed, I suspect the built-in hard drive controller on the motherboard now has issues. Unless the board got totally soaked, I suspect the CPU is OK.

    If you can find the identical motherboard it will be an easier fix. If not, you'll have to reformat the drive and reinstall Windows.

    Hope this helps.
     
  3. david canfield

    david canfield Private E-2

    umm if the mobo likes amd it wood help but thats a re install of win the gpu is ushuly lprittey touf and the cpu its under a heat sink so new mo for you good man
     

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