RedSky@Night

Q: MacBook Pro just got wet, is it possible to save the hard drive?

Hi there, we just had part of a MacBook Pro get submerged in water for 10 minutes yesterday. It was the non-charger side of the laptop. My best friend tried drying it off, and then he tried turning it on and the screen turned whitish gray and had a folder on it with a question mark before it turned off. He's traveling in a very remote area and we can't get the laptop to an Apple store for another 7 weeks. At this point, we just care about the hard drive and the data on it.

 

Is there anything we can do to save the hard drive and data? Should he try to take the hard drive out himself? It seems like that would prevent further water damage, but he doesn't have a drive case, so he would really be improvising on how to store it safely for the rest of the trip. Or do we need to try to find a way to mail it back to the U.S. so a professional can remove the hard drive? Or should we just wait the 7 weeks until he's back? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks!

MacBook Pro

Posted on Oct 2, 2016 2:37 PM

Close

Q: MacBook Pro just got wet, is it possible to save the hard drive?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Oct 2, 2016 4:35 PM in response to RedSky@Night
    Level 7 (23,796 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 2, 2016 4:35 PM in response to RedSky@Night
    tried drying it off, and then he tried turning it on

    Turning it on was not the thing to do.

     

    I would leave well enough alone and wait till you have a contingency plan in place , upon your  7week return.

     

    Since you do not say what Mac you have there is little to say about pulling the HD/SSD.  I suspect it will be better protected in place.