windexed the screen of laptop and screen went black

[amysulv22]

I lightly windexed the screen of my sons' laptop and the screen went black, the laptop is still running though.  I googled to find info and others said to try drying it with blow dryer and vacumming it. So, i did blow dry it on low and no heat for a long while while.  And i vaccumed it also.  It did not improve.  It happened 24 hours ago now.  ....in the past, i usually spray the water and windex in a cloth and then wipe the screen down.  But, I had not cleaned his laptop in over a month, and it was really dirty looking.  While i was cleaning it, i first wiped the keys down, with a cloth . Then i did the screen with the same way.  Still seemed dirty, so i lightly sprayed just the screen with the windex.....then i began to wipe it with a towel then the screen went dark.............DUMB!!!!!  I KNOW!!!   Please help!  Thank you for any help you can offer me, This was my autistic sons new laptop, he bought , with his hard earned money, from working for 2 years. I do not have the money to buy him a new one. (I had to stop working a 1 and half years ago due to a debilitating illiness)  He is so crushed!  I promiced him i will fix it.  And I will, somehow.  Someway..........So, please, please, if anyone, has suggestions on how i can fix his laptop, it would mean the world to me!  I feel like killing myself!  ----amy

[CarolinaPhotogu]

First things first. STOP castigating yourself. It is counterproductive and probably upsetting to your son. Now that we have that under control, let us know what the model number is of the laptop. We will take it from there.

Calm down. Everything will be ok. 

Message Edited by CarolinaPhotogu on 12-16-2008 06:47 PM

[amysulv22]

My sons laptop is a HP Pavilion dv9933d Notebook PC w/ 17in screen.  Your right, on that fact, I need to chill.  He keeps coming into my bedroom, where i have been working on his laptop, and searching for info on how to fix his laptop, and he is pacing back and forth.  Which he usually does when he wants to talk or tell me something,  but he can't get the words out. -due to his autism....   I just keep reassuring him that I am going to fix it.  I am trying to stay positive with him.  But, he is really worried.  And so am i......but........like you said, it will all be okay, in the long run.........  ---amy

[CarolinaPhotogu]

Here is what you need to do now. Go to the HP support website and download all of the manuals for his model laptop. At this point in time, you cannot possibly hurt his computer. Believe it or not, I do not think the screen is the problem. I think the video inverter may possibly be shorted out. If that is the case, then you do not have to remove the screen. But first, get the manuals downloaded for his computer. I'll talk at ya later. Be cool. Pete

[CherylG]

In the meantime,if the laptop is still running_shut it down by pressing the Windows logo key(between Fn and alt keys).Press the Windows logo key once,then press the right arrow key 3 times,and next tap Enter key..it should shut down.

Let it sit and dry for a couple of days.

For future reference_never clean a laptop or pc while it is powered on.

[frprinterwiz]

Also, (after it's been powered down and sat for a day or 2) if for some reason it doesn't fix it, you can attach an external monitor to the laptop.  Kind of buggers it for portability, but at least he will be able to use the laptop.  If you connect a monitor that you know works and it still doesn't display, then you cleaning it and it dying may very well have been one nasty coincidence.  Hopefully it's under warranty.

[amysulv22]

Thanks for everyone help!  Pete, Thank You so so very much for your wisdom and smart thinking!  I downloaded all of the manuals and read some of it.  I zeroed in on page 50 (Display inverter)  Chapter 4

removal and replacement procedures.........I printed off pages 50-55 seems, like those are the instructions for taking the computer apart, which are simple enough for me to do,.....so what should i do next, you think?  I really really appreciate all of your help.  Good karma is coming your way Pete--I promice you that!!!  Amy

[CarolinaPhotogu]

Here is the hot tip of the year. After making sure the laptop is powered down, just open it up and tip it on it's side with the dvd-rom drive facing up. Leave it like that for a couple of days. The idea here is to allow the unit to completely dry before you do anything else to it. With a little bit of luck, you may be able to get away with just doing this. Put the laptop in a corner of the room and leave it alone. Be patient. It'll all work out. Hope this helps. Pete

[Kalt]

I'd never recommend using Windex to clean an LCD Screen....you wouldn't want it to fade or discolor the plastics covering the LCD.

[Vaika]

Ouch!  Sorry to hear that!

Sounds like the other forum members have given you some good advise so far.

I'd agree with the "let it dry" sentiment-- it's possible that if you had sprayed the Windex that a little bit of moisture got somewhere it shouldn't be, and while electronics and moisture don't exactly mix, sometimes just letting it dry will fix the problem!  It's similar to the "Got your watch wet?  Put it in the oven!" fix, but without putting the notebook in the oven.

Let us know if you can get another monitor to work OK with it!