Read the Safety First precautions above before continuing with this section.
- IF a machine is visibly damaged and the data it contains is mission critical (see Triage chapter) – STOP RIGHT NOW and go to the data recovery chapter. DO NOT SWITCH ON MACHINES OR TRY TO DRY OUT DISKS YOU INTEND TO HAVE PROFESSIONALLY RECOVERED.
- For hardware you intend to get working yourself, clean and dry your hardware. Don’t attempt to plug in or operate a computer until it’s completely dry and free of mud and dirt. Your computer may be just fine, but turning it on prematurely can destroy an otherwise healthy, though wet, computer. Take the time to open up the chassis of your computers, to make sure they are clean and dry, inside and out. If there is any debris, remove it carefully so the computer won’t overheat from reduced air flow. Wear an ESD wrist strap or work on an anti-static mat if you need to touch or put your hand or tools near any part inside the computer. If you don’t have a wrist strap or mat, touch a grounded object (such as metal water pipes) before you touch the computer. Before you open the computer's case, be sure all the power is off, the computer is unplugged, and laptop batteries are removed.
- For other devices, such as routers, switches, and printers, make sure they are dry before powering them up. If possible, do not attach peripherals and cables to computers unless you are sure the equipment is working properly.
- Check your components twice. Even if a computer doesn’t work right off the bat, put it aside to check on later. Once you’ve got some idea of what is working, and what is not, you may be able to build a few “Frankenstein� computers, using functioning parts from otherwise broken computers. Use your triage list to focus your efforts where they will make the most impact.
- For devices that won’t start, check out our troubleshooting tips in Appendix B.
- Once you get a computer running, back it up, if possible.