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[Robot Parade Leader]

My 2nd computer monitor got dripped on for a few hours last night from the plumbing above it. I went to bed at 3 or 4 am and woke up at about 11am, so that's the time frame of when the dripping could have happened.

It wasn't a whole ton of water, but it was enough. The back area of the monitor got dripped on over what I can only assume is a vent that goes all the way along the length of the monitor.

I tried to turn my computer on this morning, and only one monitor worked, the second would not start and the "on light" refused to light despite turning it on and off a couple times. Then I discovered the leak from the ceiling.

Can the monitor be salvaged?

I have unplugged it and set it on an out of the way table to dry. Is there anything else I can do to increase the chances of making this monitor useable again?

[Arx]

Well, the standard suggestion is rice, which is hella' absorbent. Maybe you could do something with that?

The fact that you've already tried switching it on bodes ill, since short-circuits only happen when there's a current flow. There may well still be hope, though.

[Robot Parade Leader]

I appreciate the insight.

I don't think I even have enough rice for it though assuming that'd work. http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&product=4121893

Cheapest replacement I've found is $90. That's less than I originally paid for it because it's on sale. I'm pretty sure my parents aren't going to pay for it (their plumbing that got to it).

I'm really hoping this isn't going to end up a very expensive paperweight.

[Thief^]

Yeah if you tried to turn it on while it was wet (or even if it had standby current running through it when it got wet) it's probably dead. The bit that'll have died is most likely power regulation circuitry, maybe even simply an internal fuse. But unless you have the electrical knowhow to repair it yourself, it won't be worth the cost of repairing it.

If you're lucky and it's got a resettable fuse, drying it out and trying again may work.

Otherwise, sorry.

[Robot Parade Leader]

Welp, update time.

I have successfully managed to turn on the monitor with a sustained power and video input. Problem. All the monitor shows is three overlapping colors of white, light gray and darker gray with little parallel lines. It looks somewhat like an extreme close up of a flannel shirt.

I imagine this is not a good thing, but I figured I'd ask if there was any way to figure this one out.

Ideas, or am I hosed on this one?

Edit: I expect the answer is "hosed" but meh, asking.

[Thief^]

Sounds like a pretty fried control circuit.

[gimlet]

You're crazy for trying to turn it on so quick - let it dry for at least a few DAYS and then see, even a week wouldn't be out of bounds.  Although now any damage is probably done, still, wait and *then* try it.

[Robot Parade Leader]

Yeah, it's fried I think. Dad seems to think that there is a guy who might look at it, but I don't know. If he can make it work, great.....

My parents have finally felt bad enough for frying my old computer monitor to let me use one of their old monitors as a second monitor (they aren't using it anyhow.

Some slight issues:

Before, I had two identical monitors. It was perfect. Now, it is clear these two monitors were not meant to work together. I have managed to get over their height differences (put a book under one).

The real issue is that, they show at what I guess are different resolutions. I can drag a window from one monitor to another and it's like going from one mirror to another. The text and graphics appear larger on one screen than another. It's like having a regular mirror and a fun house mirror right next to one another and passing from the regular to the funhouse mirror.

Is there a way to make the different monitors show the same resolution (or perhaps it is aspect ratio? Something else?)?

[dwarf_reform]

I'm assuming the leak snuck up on you, which is tragic I also got to come home once and find my desk catching water from a fresh roof leak :| Tons of my old drawings and books totally destroyed, though no electronics :|

Did you buy the monitors on your own? Are you a solid, workin' robot? I'm not much of a workin' robot myself, but if you are I'd tell your parents (assuming they've got a comfortable amount of money to their name, since mine don't, bahaha..) they should replace it for you, especially if 90 dollars isn't a life-or-death power-will-go-out amount of money for them (because it is for me, bahaha again)..

Just saying because I've seen drunken irresponsible idiots wrap brand new muscle cars around trees only to have their parents replace them :| I usually have -400 dollars in the bank :> You had nothing to do with that leak! If they were landlords and you took it to Judge Judy she'd gavel out a new monitor!

Anyway, thats a tough break, man :| Untimely death of healthy electronics is always tragic..

[Robot Parade Leader]

I guess I'm asking how to recalibrate the other monitor to match the first one so they display the same picture (size) at the same time?

[Thief^]

You can possibly alter the resolution in Windows' settings, but if the two monitors are natively different resolutions or sizes (more accurately, different DPI) you won't be able to get them displaying the same thing at the same size.

What are the two monitors?

[Astral]

If you're willing to take it apart, generally speaking most computer components aren't adverse to being cleaned with 99% isopropyl alcohol. It will help remove any moisture that rice will miss (and it will miss it; while rice is fairly absorbent, it's not particularly effective compared to other options).

Use a Q tip dipped in it to clean off the wetter looking bits. It will evaporate on its own shortly after, leaving no residue. I wouldn't recommend dipping the monitor circuit board in there though.