If the contaminant was pure water, all may not be lost.  Steve's advice about allowing electronics to dry out thoroughly before applying power is very important.  I would open the cases and put a fan to them to speed things along.  We once salvaged a monitor that spent a week on the loading dock under heavy July rains.  Used it for a year before the problem that put it on the dock in the first place got so bad that we junked it.  I have also resorted to giving keyboards a good scrubbing under running water when they are so gross that the only alternative is discarding.  They have all worked after drying out.

Even if you are successful, there is no saying how long it will be before corrosion resulting from the dunking takes its toll.  I would not want to put salvaged hardware back into critical use applications.

--Steve Barner, South Burlington
http://vtacad.net

>>> [log in to unmask] 12/30/03 09:14 AM >>>
All,

Hi, two days ago a hot water pipe burst in a video lab and water
found its way in the the library and my office (server room). A
number of computers were on the ground and got wet. Can anyone give
me advice on what to do with these computers? The video lab received
a lot of steam and I don't believe anything is salvageable in there.
Maintenance people said monitors were full of water. The library was
very humid (over 86% when I arrived the next day). Any suggestions
would be appreciated. Please advice on keeping current computers.

Thanks,
Bryan
--


Bryan Thompson
Technology Coordinator
Winooski School District
60 Normand Street
Winooski, VT 05404
Phone: 802-655-2555
Fax: 802-655-6538
AIM: bryantg3
mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://www.winooski.k12.vt.us