Urgent Help! Ram In Washing Machine

mikecheong · 01-24-2009, 09:59 PM

Hi all,

I need some urgent help and advise.

I Accidentally put my laptop ram into my washing machine
and only realized it after the washing was done.
Can the ram still be used? Is there anyway to save it?
Its a 2 gig kingston for laptops.

Thanks!
Mike

**jarod** · 01-24-2009, 11:21 PM

I wouldn't advise it.. the RAM could be damaged which may result in the laptop unable to start up but then again, it may cause your motherboard to fry as there may be water lodge in some of the RAM components..

Just get a new RAM. Its pretty cheap

**FreoHeaveho** · 01-25-2009, 01:12 AM

The only issue will corrosion really. Spray it in a high grade mineral oil, and wipe clean. I would try it...

Neurotica · 01-26-2009, 02:11 AM

I know this isn't going to help, but how exactly did you manage to put your RAM in the washing machine?

mikecheong · 01-27-2009, 12:39 PM

Well, i put it in my pockets and forgot to take it out. it was Brand new as well

**tosh9i** · 01-27-2009, 12:46 PM

Return it to the retailers saying that it was dead on arrival, and get a replacement.

**magnethead** · 01-27-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tosh9i

Return it to the retailers saying that it was dead on arrival, and get a replacement.

Thats what i'd do. if that doesn't go, next choice would be try it.

Here's the thing- as long as there's no shorts when installed, i dont know of any capacitors being on a RAM chip. water should not effect the operation of transistors, as a short with no power spplied does nothing. The only thing to worry about really is if water got in the IC's and affected the silicon.

Neurotica · 01-28-2009, 01:55 AM

What he said^^^

As long as the RAM(or almost any other component) isn't plugged in at the time, then no ammount of water will affect it. Just make sure you dry it out properly first.

darklord_v · 01-28-2009, 09:03 AM

before starting the pc dry it with a dryer(expose it for short interval of time to the dryer) or keep it in bright sunlight....

Eremon1 · 01-28-2009, 01:20 PM

It's very possible that the stick will still work. As for water concerns, I doubt it's an issue days later and should be more than dry enough. However, if you want to be on the safe side then just dose it with a half cap full of 99% isopropyl alcohol and allow to dry for 20 minutes or so. The alcohol will dehydrate any moisture that may be present and then will dry itself. As long as you avoid ESD during install, if the stick is bad, it just won't work simple as that. It will not damage your computer.

**nonamedsomebody** · 01-28-2009, 02:57 PM

stick it in a bag of rice it will draw the moisture into the rice.

Eremon1 · 01-29-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonamedsomebody

stick it in a bag of rice it will draw the moisture into the rice.

DONT do that!!!! Not only will the starch in the rice cake onto the RAM module, there is big risk of ESD<Electrostatic Discharge> doing that.

**nonamedsomebody** · 01-29-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

DONT do that!!!! Not only will the starch in the rice cake onto the RAM module, there is big risk of ESD<Electrostatic Discharge> doing that.

Yeah I guess this isn't a good solution for drying ram. It works well with cell phones though.

Eremon1 · 01-30-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonamedsomebody

Yeah I guess this isn't a good solution for drying ram. It works well with cell phones though.

Actually, that is a good idea. I never thought of doing that and have had to dry my cell a few times.

I wonder if they got the RAM to work or not....

Ackdam · 01-30-2009, 01:49 PM

I would get some distilled water and rinse it a bit just in case there is any soap under any parts. Then go for the alcohol after it dries to get any remaining water off. let it dry overnight if possible then you should be safe to try it out.

The only other thing to worry about would be any bumps it may have taken while banging around in the machine, or any high amount of heat or static from the dryer, if it made it that far.

Eremon1 · 01-31-2009, 10:24 AM

Good advice Ackdam...I think he said it went through the wash only. Could you imagine tho? The dryer would be a definite kill, I would think.

**nonamedsomebody** · 01-31-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Could you imagine tho? The dryer would be a definite kill, I would think.

yep especially if it was in there with some fuzzy blanket or coat some bad esd haha

01-24-2009, 09:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
mikecheong Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Win XP	Urgent Help! Ram In Washing Machine Hi all, I need some urgent help and advise. I Accidentally put my laptop ram into my washing machine and only realized it after the washing was done. Can the ram still be used? Is there anyway to save it? Its a 2 gig kingston for laptops. Thanks! Mike

01-24-2009, 11:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
jarod TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Malaysia, Klang Posts: 519 OS: Win XP service pack 2 My System	Re: Urgent Help! Ram In Washing Machine I wouldn't advise it.. the RAM could be damaged which may result in the laptop unable to start up but then again, it may cause your motherboard to fry as there may be water lodge in some of the RAM components.. Just get a new RAM. Its pretty cheap __________________ Optimus Prime: Were we so different? They're a young species. They have much to learn. But I've seen goodness in them.Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. You all know there's only one way to end this war. We must destroy the cube. If all else fails, I will unite it with the spark in my chest.

01-25-2009, 01:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
FreoHeaveho TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 3,227 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 64 SP2, Windows XP Professional SP3, Mac OSX Leopard My System	Re: Urgent Help! Ram In Washing Machine The only issue will corrosion really. Spray it in a high grade mineral oil, and wipe clean. I would try it... __________________ PC Wizard-VGA 2009 Charts-Power Supply Info-Multi/Single Rail PSU?-Speedfan-Driver Sweeper

01-26-2009, 02:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Neurotica Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sunny Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 8 OS: Vista 64-bit	Re: Urgent Help! Ram In Washing Machine I know this isn't going to help, but how exactly did you manage to put your RAM in the washing machine?

01-27-2009, 12:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
mikecheong Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Win XP	Re: Urgent Help! Ram In Washing Machine Well, i put it in my pockets and forgot to take it out. it was Brand new as well

01-27-2009, 12:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,836 OS: Windows XP	Re: Urgent Help! Ram In Washing Machine Return it to the retailers saying that it was dead on arrival, and get a replacement. __________________ Tosh

01-28-2009, 01:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
Neurotica Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sunny Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 8 OS: Vista 64-bit	Re: Urgent Help! Ram In Washing Machine What he said^^^ As long as the RAM(or almost any other component) isn't plugged in at the time, then no ammount of water will affect it. Just make sure you dry it out properly first.

01-28-2009, 09:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
darklord_v Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: pakistan Posts: 335 OS: xp professional sp3 My System	Re: Urgent Help! Ram In Washing Machine before starting the pc dry it with a dryer(expose it for short interval of time to the dryer) or keep it in bright sunlight.... __________________ team work is essential it gives them other people to shoot at

01-28-2009, 01:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
Eremon1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 188 OS: Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Build 6.1.7000 My System	Re: Urgent Help! Ram In Washing Machine It's very possible that the stick will still work. As for water concerns, I doubt it's an issue days later and should be more than dry enough. However, if you want to be on the safe side then just dose it with a half cap full of 99% isopropyl alcohol and allow to dry for 20 minutes or so. The alcohol will dehydrate any moisture that may be present and then will dry itself. As long as you avoid ESD during install, if the stick is bad, it just won't work simple as that. It will not damage your computer.

01-28-2009, 02:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
nonamedsomebody Obama I's my father Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: USA Posts: 403 OS: Windows 7 Professional My System	Re: Urgent Help! Ram In Washing Machine stick it in a bag of rice it will draw the moisture into the rice. __________________ Intel E8400 Evga 8800GT OC Edition 2GB G-skill DDR2

01-30-2009, 01:49 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ackdam Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 90 OS: XP SP 3	Re: Urgent Help! Ram In Washing Machine I would get some distilled water and rinse it a bit just in case there is any soap under any parts. Then go for the alcohol after it dries to get any remaining water off. let it dry overnight if possible then you should be safe to try it out. The only other thing to worry about would be any bumps it may have taken while banging around in the machine, or any high amount of heat or static from the dryer, if it made it that far.

01-31-2009, 10:24 AM	#16 (permalink)
Eremon1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 188 OS: Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Build 6.1.7000 My System	Re: Urgent Help! Ram In Washing Machine Good advice Ackdam...I think he said it went through the wash only. Could you imagine tho? The dryer would be a definite kill, I would think.