So, as it turns out, laptops, like most other things, don't like it when you throw up on them.
Damage assessment: There was just a bit of the aforementioned liquid on the back vent. Decided to make sure there wasn't anything deeper.
What I've already done: Took off topcase using ifixit.com, cleaned what I could get at with an alcohol-soaked q-tip without removing anymore hardware, let it dry a couple of days. (I should mention that when I was in there, there didn't actually appear to be any liquid inside. I wiped it down just to get rid of dust.) After it still wouldn't turn on, I brought it to my university's info services boys, who pretty much did the same thing, except took it apart a little more thoroughly to see if there was any evidence of corrosion on the logic board, and I guess applied some sort of heater to make sure all was dry. We both concluded that all the hardware looked perfect, connections seemed to be in place, but the machine would not power on.
The weird thing was, when I went to pick it up, it magically did power on! Everything seemed to be back to normal, charging and what have you. So I backed up my hard drive for good measure, took it home, and now it's dead again. When I turn it on, it goes to a gray screen for a second, then powers right back off. No fan, no hard drive (though I can hear it trying to come on and then stopping). Tried resetting SMC and PRAM, neither worked.
Is it possible that something is failing that neither I nor a supposed expert can see when we open it up? Thanks for reading this novel of a post, I appreciate some feedback if you've got anything more constructive than 'don't throw up on expensive electronics,' I've pretty much arrived at that one already.
Damage assessment: There was just a bit of the aforementioned liquid on the back vent. Decided to make sure there wasn't anything deeper.
What I've already done: Took off topcase using ifixit.com, cleaned what I could get at with an alcohol-soaked q-tip without removing anymore hardware, let it dry a couple of days. (I should mention that when I was in there, there didn't actually appear to be any liquid inside. I wiped it down just to get rid of dust.) After it still wouldn't turn on, I brought it to my university's info services boys, who pretty much did the same thing, except took it apart a little more thoroughly to see if there was any evidence of corrosion on the logic board, and I guess applied some sort of heater to make sure all was dry. We both concluded that all the hardware looked perfect, connections seemed to be in place, but the machine would not power on.
The weird thing was, when I went to pick it up, it magically did power on! Everything seemed to be back to normal, charging and what have you. So I backed up my hard drive for good measure, took it home, and now it's dead again. When I turn it on, it goes to a gray screen for a second, then powers right back off. No fan, no hard drive (though I can hear it trying to come on and then stopping). Tried resetting SMC and PRAM, neither worked.
Is it possible that something is failing that neither I nor a supposed expert can see when we open it up? Thanks for reading this novel of a post, I appreciate some feedback if you've got anything more constructive than 'don't throw up on expensive electronics,' I've pretty much arrived at that one already.