HTC One M9- Alcohol Got Under Display When Cleaning - One (M9) Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Alcohol problems
So, I was rubbing off a sticker from the back of my phone using a small towel dipped in pure alcohol. This phone is supposed to be waterproof and I put my back cover on the front for extra security. But, after I was done, dried it and everything, I realized that some alcohol had gotten inside the screen, I have no idea why. The whole display was dark pruple-ish and covered in stains and some weird things like dark dark spots and lines. I researched it ans found out that it was okay because alcohol evaporates really easily, so I decided to use it for a bit, since I have huge overheating issues (often going up to about 45-50°C upon usage). After half an hour of usage (it had gotten pretty hot), the display seemed to become a little bit clearer and less dark, but I decided that I should stop using it in fear of moving some bubble or ruining my already dying screen, so I put it to charge and left it alone. I was relying on my country's hot weather to finish the job, and I was checking on it every once in a while. At first, it seemed to get better but suddenly, after about 2 or 3 hours, the screen stopped turning on at all. Neuther the display nor the touch were working anymore, but sound (modifying volume) and vibration (haptic feedback for holding down "power") worked really well. I tried to restarted (volume up + power), but nothing more than some vibrations and jingles. Currently, my phone is turned off (volume down + power) and I'll leave it like this overnight, to see if anything improves tomorrow.
So, I need to know. Is my screen ruined and needs changing, or simply evaporating the alcohol will fix everything? Also, if I have to change my phone, is there a way to use HTC backup to transfer data without the "old" phone?
Thank you in advance!

Laslas19 said:
So, I need to know. Is my screen ruined and needs changing, or simply evaporating the alcohol will fix everything? Also, if I have to change my phone, is there a way to use HTC backup to transfer data without the "old" phone?
Thank you in advance!
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Hello mate, bad luck with that happening..
First off the phone is not waterproof, it does have an ip rating but it's not up there with phones you can take with you for a dip.
As for the moisture, try a silica gel pack in an air tight bag for a few hours or over night, there are packs you can buy online for this specific treatment, if the alcohol has hit something critical then it could be game over..
Try the drying out techniques, you can find many of them online..
Drying the alcohol up shouldn't be hard but like I said if damage is done then it's done mate.
Just one question, why use alcohol on your phone? Wouldn't a baby wipe or a damp cloth do the same?

dladz said:
Hello mate, bad luck with that happening..
First off the phone is not waterproof, it does have an ip rating but it's not up there with phones you can take with you for a dip.
As for the moisture, try a silica gel pack in an air tight bag for a few hours or over night, there are packs you can buy online for this specific treatment, if the alcohol has hit something critical then it could be game over..
Try the drying out techniques, you can find many of them online..
Just one question, why use alcohol on your phone? Wouldn't a baby wipe or a damp cloth do the same?
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Click to collapse
First of all, thanks a lot for your help, I will try your suggestions and keep you up to date.
Second of all, by "game over" do you mean for the screen or the entire phone? Because the phone itself seems to work just fine apart from the screen.
And, finally, that was a really tenacious sticker that I tried to remove for days. I know it sounds stupid that I used alcohol but nothing else worked. Good thing I didn't resolve to boiling water first. There is one positive point about this whole story: the sticker is now completely gone.
EDIT: I forgot to say that I made a mistake: the phone is not supposed to be "waterproof" as I previously said, but it is clearly stated on its booklet that it is "splash proof". I guess that does make a difference and I ask to be excused from my dumbness.

How much alcohol did you use... You're only meant to damp a cloth an rub lightly.. It would seem to me you poured it on.
I wish I stole my HTC M9. It's a pile of ****.

shivadow said:
How much alcohol did you use... You're only meant to damp a cloth an rub lightly.. It would seem to me you poured it on.
I wish I stole my HTC M9. It's a pile of ****.
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Click to collapse
Well "rubbing lightly" surely isn't the word because it didn't work but I did damp a cloth and rubbed strongly enough for the alcohol to actually come out of the cloth and slide off the sides of the phone. I did meticulously dry it with tissues tho, but it must have been too late.
Oh, and by the way, I do hear my new email jingle coming out of it (because turns out power+volume down can't turn it off, I can just restart it with power+volume up) when I get an email notification from xda. So I am guaranteed that wifi, gmail and the speakers still work at least. I think the main problem is the screen.

I think something either controlling or part of the screen has popped by shorting out.
It's tough to call but the fact the phone still responds is promising!.
Give htc a call and just tell them it went off one day and wouldn't come on. Any evidence should have literally evaporated into thin air by then. Hopefully they'll arrange something.
I wish I stole my HTC M9. It's a pile of ****.

shivadow said:
I think something either controlling or part of the screen has popped by shorting out.
It's tough to call but the fact the phone still responds is promising!.
Give htc a call and just tell them it went off one day and wouldn't come on. Any evidence should have literally evaporated into thin air by then. Hopefully they'll arrange something.
I wish I stole my HTC M9. It's a pile of ****.
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Click to collapse
Thank you for your help! Unfortunately if I want to send my phone to HTC I'll have to send it to another country because there's not much support here and it will be really complicated. But, if I understand correctly, just changing the screen should fix the problem. It won't be cheap but definitely cheaper and easier than getting and setting up a new phone.
Thanks again for the advice!

Laslas19 said:
Thank you for your help! Unfortunately if I want to send my phone to HTC I'll have to send it to another country because there's not much support here and it will be really complicated. But, if I understand correctly, just changing the screen should fix the problem. It won't be cheap but definitely cheaper and easier than getting and setting up a new phone.
Thanks again for the advice!
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Click to collapse
Changing the screen should work, just as long as it is 100% the screen and not some controller on the motherboard. Personally I agree with the other user who suggested sending it to htc, in all fairness htc should help you out in this case, it's obvious that it shouldn't have went off in that fashion.
I've sent my prime off overseas before, I get it back in around 5 days, great service. At the very least, speak with HTC and see what can be done and expected timelines. Changing the screen even on a one x was a tedious process, I've broken a device in the process, wasn't even mine so please take care if you go down that road, not to mention it's not exactly cheap.
BTW when I said game over I was referring to a simple method not being available to fix your phone and lastly, if you swap out the screen, you will more than likely lose your warranty.
Click thanks to the ppl who've tried to help you BTW
---------- Post added at 08:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:06 AM ----------
shivadow said:
I wish I stole my HTC M9. It's a pile of ****.
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Click to collapse
? Can't think of a better phone out at the moment, in fact I know there isn't.. Maybe the one plus 2? Nah I'd stick with the HTC.

Related

A terrible terrible thing happened this morning..

So this morning, still half asleep I dropped my TP2 into the toilet while it was on. I grabbed it out of the toilet, and removed the battery as fast as i could (while a string of expletives came out of my mouth), let it sit under a lightbulb for a few hours.. then put it in a bag of uncooked instant rice, and left it in my warm car for most of the afternoon.
I never have been a very patient person so after about 8 hours of drying off, i put the battery back in and tried it. Phone boots up fine, everything seemed to work.. could see some moisture on the inside of the lcd still. Seemed I got lucky.. till i tried the keyboard. Some keys don't do anything, some make random crazy strings of letters.. oy. Took the battery out again, and it's back under the light bulb (sick of cleaning rice dust out of my phone).
Anyway, i'm wondering if anybody's had a keyboard on a phone screw up like that and work properly after completely drying out? I've had a few computer keyboards that screwed up like that but worked fine after drying a few days so i really hope the keyboard comes back, especially with USED tp2s still going for over 200 bucks on ebay.. yikes. Touchscreen works fine, was able to send a text no problem using the stylus.. but man i miss the keyboard!
Sorry for the novel.. any input would be appreciated!
if you can, take it fully apart so you can dry the back of the keyboard directly
as you said, i've had PC keyboards that worked after drying, but i always had to take them apart to properly dry the innards
Urgh!
I feel for you! I sit in the bath and surf and read on my TP2 and I am so careful! But accidents can happen!
Was the toilet water, err, fresh? I would suggest always leaving things with the battery out and in a warm place for at least 24hrs, as tempting as it is to power it up.
The keyboard membrane may dry out over a few days, I would suggest you don't use it for a few days.
Let us know how you get on.
aerotec said:
Urgh!
I feel for you! I sit in the bath and surf and read on my TP2 and I am so careful! But accidents can happen!
Was the toilet water, err, fresh? I would suggest always leaving things with the battery out and in a warm place for at least 24hrs, as tempting as it is to power it up.
The keyboard membrane may dry out over a few days, I would suggest you don't use it for a few days.
Let us know how you get on.
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Click to collapse
Unfortunately no, had a lil liquid waste in it.. i'm thinking about getting some rubbing alcohol to swish the phone around in.
to defaultdotxbe:
I would but i don't have the proper screwdriver, looks like a tiny little allen key type deal
meadams314 said:
Unfortunately no, had a lil liquid waste in it.. i'm thinking about getting some rubbing alcohol to swish the phone around in.
to defaultdotxbe:
I would but i don't have the proper screwdriver, looks like a tiny little allen key type deal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rubbing alcohol isn't absolutely safe. It's only 70% alcohol, for one thing, and the rest is water. So you're actually putting more water INTO your phone when you use it, even though the alcohol helps it to evaporate faster.
I tried cleaning my old BlackBerry keyboard and trackball with rubbing acohol. The keyboard went nuts for a while. Eventually, after many days, it settled down, but now the trackball has a distinct tendency to bounce -- send two clicks instead of one, which is a drag when you click Delete and it instantly sends the Confirm click as well!
There's probably something better than alcohol, like ether, but I dunno where you'd get it.
meadams314 said:
Unfortunately no, had a lil liquid waste in it.. i'm thinking about getting some rubbing alcohol to swish the phone around in.
to defaultdotxbe:
I would but i don't have the proper screwdriver, looks like a tiny little allen key type deal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its a torx 5, i have this screwdriver: http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
EWAdams said:
Rubbing alcohol isn't absolutely safe. It's only 70% alcohol, for one thing, and the rest is water. So you're actually putting more water INTO your phone when you use it, even though the alcohol helps it to evaporate faster.
I tried cleaning my old BlackBerry keyboard and trackball with rubbing acohol. The keyboard went nuts for a while. Eventually, after many days, it settled down, but now the trackball has a distinct tendency to bounce -- send two clicks instead of one, which is a drag when you click Delete and it instantly sends the Confirm click as well!
There's probably something better than alcohol, like ether, but I dunno where you'd get it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
most stores carry 91% alcohol too, and and some places will have 99%
although im always hesitant to put more liquid into the electronics, lol
Right.. i havent yet because it just doesnt feel right putting a 650 dollar piece of electronics into liquid. Heh.. Anyway, ran up to the local grocery store and all they carry is 50/50 alcohol/water. Leaning towards just letting the phone dry out now.. it has already been 14 hours since the dip in the toilet, and the water wasn't filthy just had a little pee in it (trust me, i stopped real quick when the phone hit the water, lol)
EDIT: So if it turns out the keyboard is shot, but the rest of the phone is fine.. is there any way of replacing the keyboard? I searched around online but all i could find was replacement lcd/faceplate/front keypads.. no keyboards.
Also.. unimportant but I thought it was kind of interesting, the water sensitive sticker on my battery is completely un-touched; looks good as new. However the one on the inside of the phone which couldnt be more than an inch away from the other sticker is completely washed out.
EDIT: (again lol) so on second thought.. the water in the 50/50 rubbing alcohol should be purified, correct? I'm really starting to worry about corrosion from the minerals in the toilet water and thinking it might be a good idea to wash it out with the rubbing alcohol. I've seen stories of people who left their phone underwater for long periods of time without a battery and once it dried out it was fine, one guy put a test phone under water for 3 days, then dried it out and it was fine. So that begs the question- take a risk on corrosion but let the phone dry out quicker OR get all the minerals/salts out of the phone but risk more water damage and deal with a longer drying time..
Note that Walmart sells 90% rubbing alcohol, and many pharmacies stock 99%.
(I don't have an opinion if washing your phone in this is a good or bad idea; just wanted to let you know where you can find it).
So after reading probably a couple hundred different "i dropped my phone in the toilet, ran it through the wash, or jumped in the pool with it in my pocket" stories and their outcomes...
Decided to put the phone back into a sealed container of uncooked rice (only because I couldn't find any silica gel) and leave it in a warm area overnight minus the battery. It'll have spent 30 hours drying in a desiccant come noon tomorrow so I'll fire it up and again and see what happens.
To condense everything I've read in the past 4 hours: Water + electricity +electronics = bad, remove the battery immediately (duh). Let it dry, do not turn it on (you'd be surprised how many people turn it on right after towel drying, and leave it on till it fries). Taking the phone apart and cleaning with alcohol and a q-tip seems to help, as does completely soaking the phone in alcohol; however I saw quite a few people who said their LCD quit working after the alcohol bath so I'd use it as a last resort only if even after extensive drying the phone still won't work (might as well give it a shot then, right?) ...just try to keep it away from the lcd.
Anyway, gonna try the TP2 around noon tommorow.. I'll let ya know how it goes.
this is horrible, its like my worst night mare, but i just recently switched to at&t and specifically didnt get the iPhone because i am a very strong windows mobile user lol, but anyway, im selling my tp2 that i had, almost perfect condition, but if i can get it apart, i would sell you the keyboard, i didn get a sale on ebay, but i dont think the guy is gonna pay ((, but ill keep in touch, i hope all goes well
thesyntax said:
this is horrible, its like my worst night mare, but i just recently switched to at&t and specifically didnt get the iPhone because i am a very strong windows mobile user lol, but anyway, im selling my tp2 that i had, almost perfect condition, but if i can get it apart, i would sell you the keyboard, i didn get a sale on ebay, but i dont think the guy is gonna pay ((, but ill keep in touch, i hope all goes well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, I'll have to take you up on that if the keyboard doesn't return to normal. Coming up on 20 hours now it's been drying in rice at not quite 100 degrees.
Just checkin up on ya before I go to school. I'll be checkin the thread all day, im really interested to hear if you get it working again, if so, I think this post thread should stay in the archives as "Opps..."
Well it's been 30 hours.. crossing my fingers and powering it up...
Still some signs of moisture inside the lcd, but definately less than yesterday.. phone still boots up properly. Keyboard still doesnt work.. when i press the buttons i can hear water inside it. Thinking the rice doesn't work as well as silica gel would so today at work i'm gonna see if i cant find a few big packets of silica gel to let the phone sit in. Starting to get pretty impatient.. i need my phone!
Starting to seriously think about getting some 99/1 rubbing alcohol and dipping the keyboard in it for a few minutes too..
tempted to just put the battery back in and bring it to work with me.. can use the touchscreen no problem.. but ARGH dont wanna damage my phone!
Sigh.. guess it's going back in the rice and sitting in my car for another baking session I work till 10pm tonight, and go back at 6am tommorow so if the keyboard's still not working by the time i'm off tommorow i'm gonna run up to home depot, get a torx 5 and take the stupid thing apart to dry/clean it better.
Oh I wouldn't "dip" the phone into alcohol if I were you, that can only make the problem worse.. Best thing you can do is open the phone (if you have the appropriate screwdrivers) and try to make it dry with a hair dryer or something like that!
And yeah you should definately try the Silica gel!
Dude I feel so sorry for you, must be harsh to drop your phone into your own piss x'D
atticus182 said:
Oh I wouldn't "dip" the phone into alcohol if I were you, that can only make the problem worse.. Best thing you can do is open the phone (if you have the appropriate screwdrivers) and try to make it dry with a hair dryer or something like that!
And yeah you should definately try the Silica gel!
Dude I feel so sorry for you, must be harsh to drop your phone into your own piss x'D
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Click to collapse
Only problems i've seen caused by alcohol is with the lcd.. was thinking about dipping just the keyboard, but yeah.. thinking it might be better to get a torx 5 and take it apart.. water's been in there too long, dont want any corrosion.
meadams314 said:
So this morning, still half asleep I dropped my TP2 into the toilet while it was on. I grabbed it out of the toilet, and removed the battery as fast as i could (while a string of expletives came out of my mouth), let it sit under a lightbulb for a few hours.. then put it in a bag of uncooked instant rice, and left it in my warm car for most of the afternoon.
I never have been a very patient person so after about 8 hours of drying off, i put the battery back in and tried it. Phone boots up fine, everything seemed to work.. could see some moisture on the inside of the lcd still. Seemed I got lucky.. till i tried the keyboard. Some keys don't do anything, some make random crazy strings of letters.. oy. Took the battery out again, and it's back under the light bulb (sick of cleaning rice dust out of my phone).
Anyway, i'm wondering if anybody's had a keyboard on a phone screw up like that and work properly after completely drying out? I've had a few computer keyboards that screwed up like that but worked fine after drying a few days so i really hope the keyboard comes back, especially with USED tp2s still going for over 200 bucks on ebay.. yikes. Touchscreen works fine, was able to send a text no problem using the stylus.. but man i miss the keyboard!
Sorry for the novel.. any input would be appreciated!
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Click to collapse
Reminds me of the time my old Ericsson T28 went through an entire wash cycle. The battery was shot, but the phone worked fine once I got a new battery. That was a full 10 years ago, and phones were a bit tougher back then (though still not warranted to be cleaned that way)!
Good luck on the phone. I gather you don't have insurance on the TP2 through your carrier?
Also, if you are willing to extend your contract, you can get a new TP2 for under $200 with a two year extension.
da9th_one said:
why are you updating this tread every few minutes like it's a blog...???
never take you phone into a bathroom people...IT HAS 3 MAJOR WATER SOURCES...!!!
there are 3 places one should never take a phone: bathrooms, beaches, battlestar galactica...
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Hehe there are actually 4 places, because you forgot Chuck Norris! Never take your phone to Chuck Norris, he will roundhouse kick it out of your hands, right back into the toilet xD..
And some other tips that might help the guy with the broken phone:
- Give time for the phone to dry. Don't experiment with putting the battery back on to see if it works as this would risk damaging the phone with a short circuit.
- Be patient and wait. Yes - be patient! Let nature have its way; just leave it in a warm place and let the water evaporate.
- Place it on top of the vent of a cable box, monitor or TV for at least 24 hours (up to 3 days). The low heat emitted is enough to gently dry out the phone.
- Do not under any circumstances heat the battery - it could leak or explode. Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive. If you use an oven or hairdryer, remove the battery first.
- If you use alcohol for the drying process, only do so to the outside, and do not apply heat in any way shape or form, not even the gentlest of heat. Do not connect the battery until the alcohol smell goes away
- And, if it's not stating the obvious, do not put the phone into the microwave. You will fry the components and probably ruin the microwave!
atticus182 said:
- And, if it's not stating the obvious, do not put the phone into the microwave. You will fry the components and probably ruin the microwave!
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Click to collapse
I was more worried about a toaster oven...

[Q] Rubbing Alcohol = Blotchy LCD screen, ruined???

I would greatly appreciate any insight as to how screwed, or not screwed i am. I poured 50% rubbing alcohol into my phone where the usb plug is on the bottom because the connection has been bad or loose. I was not thinking about the "touchy" nature of LCD screens, i just knew that rubbing alcohol was good for almost everything else. I dried the phone off, of course had the battery out the whole time... and let it sit for 13 hours. I turned it on, and after that, the screen is a lot darker (in certain spots, actually most spots) and you can see all these blotches inlaid into the screen. IS THIS PERMANENT? Can i use a blow drier with success? put the phone into rice? stick the phone right underneath a dehumidifier?? ive also read crazy things like spraying WD40 in there will displace the liquid, sounds dumb to me though. Please offer me some insight, is this happening because there is liquid in there still? or because the chemical nature of the alcohol permanently ruined or stained the LCD components? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
No responses? I've gone with inserting the phone into a vent of a dehumidifier, on high, with a space heater a foot away to help with evaporation further. if this doesnt fix it, nothing will. Can anyone who has better knowledge of LCD's then me (obviously) tell me whether or not there is any hope?, waiting to see what happens is driving me crazy.
Nice troll attempt, but looks as if it isn't going to work.
No human being who's able to type is actually that stupid.
as if i dont feel like an idiot. so moisture voids a warranty, insurance with ATT doesnt care right?
I had the same problem with a blackberry.
I used a contact cleaner to clean the usb port and some of it entered into the layers between the lcd glass plates. I make circles and cloudy lines across the screen. What I did was place the phone on the dash of my car on a hot sunny day. After the day in the sun the contact cleaner had started to evaporate from under the screen. Rubbing alcholol has a very high evaporation rate as compared to the liquid used to suspend the liquid crystals. I would try a hot light buld placed 6 to 10 inches above the phone to heat it slowly and evenly. The rubbing alcohol should eventually evaporate/dispurse to the edges of the lcd glass plates and remove itself. The hairdryer may also work on medium heat. If it is no longer hot where you live the dashboard techniques may not work for you. I may take a day but it worked for me.
Good Luck.
Thanks very much for a glimmer of hope. I appreciate that. Its no longer warm here in the northeast so im resorting to methods similiar to what you said, and actually had a light bulb on the phone that i use to keep my reptiles warm, earlier today. I really appreciate your response. The thing that worries me is that it was 50% isopropyl alcohol, so the other 50% percent is water, obviously i feel like an idiot and was slightly buzzed, not thinking. Im hoping the water aspect of the solution doesnt screw me, id rather have dumped 100 percent alcohol on it. what did this cleaning solution you used consist of? Once again, thanks for your response because the stupid feeling of "im an idiot" has been eating at me all day, now i feel some hope. and possibly less stupid. once again, i do know im a freakin dummy for not thinking about this first, etc. thanks for the responses.
If you have insurance in addition to your warranty, as you stated, AT&T should cover the water damage just the same. You could just called them and ask them to confirm or deny that they would cover it, though. Otherwise, if you're using the light bulb, Make sure to keep an eye on it so you don't damage the digitizer. Plastic does melt.
I SINCERELY appreciate all the input guys, as opposed to giving me the run around. GREATLY APPRECIATED, THANK YOU! Will post the results of this in due time.
Well, after 24 hours of first putting the phone under a heat lamp, then literally shoving the phone into a dehumidifier, with a space heater nearby to aggravate evaporation, turned the phone on after all that and the screen seems improved but still far from acceptable. So i came across the old "put the phone in rice trick" im goin balls to the wall, phone is submerged in rice, multiple silica packets, and to top it off i put a heat lamp 10 inches above this rice/silica concoction, after an hour of doing this i already saw a considerable amount of water condensing onto the inside of the rice bag. Will post the results, ive heard 6 hours works for people, 24 hours, 3 days, and a couple weeks in extreme cases, most seemed to resolve. I think ill wait 24 hours, most people dont use rice AND silica AND a heat source. And ill take another dig at myself: I know most people (the majority of people) dont pour liquid onto their phone intentionally.
Just keeping the community informed. And again, thanks for the helpful responses.
ITS NOT AN OLD WIVES TALE OR AN URBAN LEGEND!!!!!
After 24 hours of my phone being in a bag of white rice, with silica packets, and a warming bulb 8 inches above, the screen looks freakin amazing! there are only a small amount of pixels at the bottom of the screen that look wet, i 99 percent have my screen back! NO NEED FOR A NEW PHONE NOW!!! Just letting it shake and bake for a little more to get that tiny remainder out. When i first heard about rice working (after having tried a dehumidifier) i thought theres no way in hell that is going to work. I was a skeptic, used this as a last resort (should have been my first resort and will be in the future), and am definitely no longer a skeptic about this method. IT WORKS!
I AM AMAZED.
You should have posted before, during, and after pics of this little experiment. It would have been interesting. Perhaps you could spill some water on it and try again with pictures.
Hope for solution
The solvent that i used was a cleaner with a lubricant in it. All fluids had evaporation rates that vary on their molecular size and shape. The alcohol with evaporate first because it has a higher evaporation rate than water. Mine took a while-approx a week- of slow applied heat. If you can't get it repaired under warranty and are willing to risk it you can try this. I had a plantronics earpiece that fell into a cup of coffee. I filled a glass with rubbing alcohol %70 and dropped in the earpiece. This dillutes the water and rubbing alcolol (iso-propyl) alcohol will bond to the remaining water and increase the evaporation. You can also used denatured alcohol (methanol) avalable at Lowes. It contains no water and evaporates even faster than isopropyl. Test spot first. Make sure it doesn't damage the case. Danger is my earpiece did not have a screen. I still use the earpiece today. Make sure you take the battery out during this process and leave out untill dry. Ware flowing air will be the best thing to blow over your phone to help it dry.
Good Luck.
I have nothing to gain by saying this worked : ) only you do.
Thank you for the info, I will consider it in the future. I dont mean at all to be rude, I appreciate your time and efforts, but to me right now, my phone is as good as 100% golden!
CAJUNFLAVOREDBOB, i wish i had taken pictures of this to prove the results, but to be perfectly honest as i said, i did not expect this rice method to work whatsoever. I was completely skeptical, so to me pictures were pretty much pointless. I've had retarded anxiety for two days now thinking about buying a new phone and reloading an appreciable amount of data. So considering how much anxiety I suffered, while I am confident that if I did get my phone wet again, and take pictures of the whole rice process, it would prove it works.. I am not willing to deal with the anxiety of waiting more then six hours for my phone, I'm not a gambler, and Unemployment is a ***** lol. I was skeptical, but I have my phone back as I knew it, thats all I can say : )
This will only help you, blast me all you want
I think everyone should read this thread and save themselves from a lot of anxiety after getting their phone wet by putting it in the washer, toilet, whatever. People are gonna get annoyed because I brought this thread back to attention but guess what. I DONT HAVE STOCK IN ANY RICE COMPANIES OR SILICA MANUFACTURERS. I have nothing to gain by bringing attention to the fact that this really works, and incredibly. Hope I help someone out there. And if you have crap to spew about me posting this. I DIDNT SQUEEZE YOUR HEAD, keep it in.
I'd like to help someone. Read this thread and keep this solution in mind for the future. Thats all. Here comes the groaning because I brought this thread to the top of the list, whatever, its with nothing but good intent.
Happy New Year. Read this thread for your own benefit if you run into some kind of moisture scenario this year.
if people get mad at me for posting in this thread again, karma will come and splash water all over your phone. I dont have stock in any rice companies, nor do i know any asian people (and thats not by discriminatory choice at all) this thread is meant to help YOU. Not me.
If everyone would bump their thread to the top all the time, we'd have lots of threads with completely useless additions in the last x number of posts (so far, 4 in this thread).
ok.. good point... anyone reading this thread: There is no reason to read past post #13. everything after that isnt really important, but read everything up to post 13.
Bumping the thread once a month or so is fine, but once a week is excessive if you aren't adding any new information. Plus it gets mod's attention as spamming the board. This thread does have good information, but it would be best if you wouldn't bump it more than once a month.

[Q] Dropped my HTC Desire Z in the water

(I know there is some topics here in similar subject, but I'm having desire z with lid structure and the phone was in the water only for a short time)
I know it's not smart to take expensive smart phone to toilet with you, especially when the phone is on your hand. Well, I wen't to take a leak and the phone slipped off my left hand and dropped straight to the dirty water in the toilet seat. Picked it up immediately, it was in the water about 1-3 seconds.
The screen was on before getting wet and turned immediately off, the lights on front flashed couple of seconds and I took battery and simcard out immediately. Shaked it a bit and tried to dry it with paper and left it on the towel which was on the warm radiator.
I have googled now a long time and got very different solutions... I'm not going to try any of them since some of the solutions are clearly by trolls. I'm not going to put my phone to the water or sack of rice, I'm not going to use hair dryer since I don't have one. I don't think I have rice either...
What is to be done here? Is my phone dead and gone... ? I had it about a month and I'm scared if it doesn't work any more. I use it both in work and home and this is really bad situation for me.
I made first mistake and tried turn the phone on too soon, about under an hour since the accident. As soon as I put the battery on I got the dim orange led light, the screen was black. When pressed the power button it vibrated three (3) times and nothing happened. I then took the battery and SIM off again and put it back on the radiator. Now I'm going to have it there until tomorrow morning I go to work. If it's still not working, I have to use my Nokia E90 since I get it fixed or.... I have to buy the new phone... damn it.
While waiting, any solutions available? Warranty is not covering this for sure.
And please, do not start conversation about "why phone in the toilet?" or things like that. The accident already happened and there is no point thinking "why"? I learned my lesson and this is the first time in my gadget history when something dumb like this happens... I feel like I have won in the lottery, same chances...
I had rooted Virtuous and I'm from Finland if it counts something...
rollex said:
I have googled now a long time and got very different solutions... I'm not going to try any of them since some of the solutions are clearly by trolls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What makes you so sure? Don't knock the bag of rice trick. A ton of people on here have advocated its use, and swear by it. Its supposedly a natural desiccant. Rice is cheap, and it really can't hurt at this point, can it?
The "dirty water" might contain salt... if so the salt will short out the components ... I had a old WM 6 phone that dropped in to the ocean.
The keypad for it stopped working had to take it apart and clean off the salt from the ribbons and components, you can clean with a Q-tip and some rubbing alcohol (worked fine after that).
Whatever you do don't use a blow dryer it will melt the components in your phone.
Try letting it dry naturally. or the Rice Idea.
The rice is not a trick -- it really works for getting the moisture out.
luckye Smartphones are not so expensive these days.
If I dropped my phone in the toilet I would get a new phone for exsmpe a HTC Sensation 1.2GHz dual-core, qHD display, and Sense 3.0 or evo 3D
Thanks for the comments! @redpoint73, Some of the tips sounded really bizarre to me, like dropping the phone again to full bowl or glass of water or even alcohol, letting it fully drown to water and alcohol and leave it there for certain amount of time...? or put it in the freezer for hours? or in the oven for too long time? what??
Now when I think of it, the white rice sounds ok. But I still don't feel that easy to use the tip even if I could borrow the neighbour's.
I decided from the start I let it dry naturally. It seems very dry from outside, not much water came out from the start and it was "under water" (I don't think it fully drowned even yet) only 1-3 secs like I said, that's why I tried it on in the first place... my mistake.
I hope I have not bricked the phone. I will keep you posted.
rollex said:
Now when I think of it, the white rice sounds ok. But I still don't feel that easy to use the tip even if I could borrow the neighbour's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me ask you this: is it easier than buying a new phone???
redpoint73 said:
Let me ask you this: is it easier than buying a new phone???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice question, got me thinking. I meant there is just too much those answers around "just let it dry naturally" and because this is new situation for me I try to avoid damaging it more, which I've may have already done by trying to start it again, but anyways, doh...
Anyways, I found basmati/eastern white rice and put it to rice bag on the rice. I'm afraid it might get inside the phone. The phone will now be on the rice overnight.
enp82003 said:
The "dirty water" might contain salt... if so the salt will short out the components ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If there were piss or similar, it contains sulfuric acid and other mild acids. That might not have very good effect to htc desire z electronics...
stian230 said:
luckye Smartphones are not so expensive these days.
If I dropped my phone in the toilet I would get a new phone for exsmpe a HTC Sensation 1.2GHz dual-core, qHD display, and Sense 3.0 or evo 3D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What toilet did you drop your G2 in? *grabs gloves*
if you saw $100 in a toilet would you pull it out?
rollex said:
Nice question, got me thinking. I meant there is just too much those answers around "just let it dry naturally" and because this is new situation for me I try to avoid damaging it more, which I've may have already done by trying to start it again, but anyways, doh...
Anyways, I found basmati/eastern white rice and put it to rice bag on the rice. I'm afraid it might get inside the phone. The phone will now be on the rice overnight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah trying to power it on prob wasn't the best idea... sorry for the generic trying to let it dry naturally if you don't have rice. I am just going by my own experiences with cell phones the last 10 years since back when Nokia Candy bar style phone were the norm. If you just let it naturally dry for a day with the battery out and then try turning it back there is a 70% chance it might turn back on.
"60% of the time it works every time "
I would take the battery out, then leave the phone in a bowl of pure alcohol
After a couple of minutes swishing it around I would leave it in a bowl of rice to get ALL of the moisture out
enp82003 said:
if you saw $100 in a toilet would you pull it out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see the workings of a new candid camera or punked or some sort of tv show with this idea... XD
But that sucks, man. Good luck. I hope the phone doesn't smell after this.
Soaking it in isopropyl alcohol 99% will clean all of the electronics and draw out the water and piss.
Then bury it in a bag of white rice for 24 hours, alcohol evaporates extremly fast, but after 24 she should be clean and dry.
I say this because I am an electronic tech by trade and have used this method successfully numerous times. The even better thing to do is to completly disemble the phone, clean with alcohol and dry but most people find it easier to just drop it in a bowl then a bag of rice.
Good luck dude
Sent from my HTC Desire Z/G2 using XDA Premium App
Okay, it has been in the rice now overnight and everything works except the touch screen. I put it back to rice and let it be there for a days or so, in the mean time I think I will call my local store and ask what to do. And tell my boss (I use this phone as work as well). I have to use my old Nokia while gettin the solution...
Thanks for the precious tips!
ptesmoke said:
Soaking it in isopropyl alcohol 99% will clean all of the electronics and draw out the water and piss.
Then bury it in a bag of white rice for 24 hours, alcohol evaporates extremly fast, but after 24 she should be clean and dry.
I say this because I am an electronic tech by trade and have used this method successfully numerous times. The even better thing to do is to completly disemble the phone, clean with alcohol and dry but most people find it easier to just drop it in a bowl then a bag of rice.
Good luck dude
Sent from my HTC Desire Z/G2 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry had to ask ever since i heard this idea... submerging it in a bowl with alcohol.... wouldn't that kill the screen? since the screen it's liquid crystals? Sorry ahead of time for not understanding...
enp82003 said:
... submerging it in a bowl with alcohol.... wouldn't that kill the screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking exactly the same, but was too afraid to ask it
Screen should be sealed..
Sent from my HTC Desire Z/G2 using XDA Premium App
Wow, my first post here gets to be about dropping my G1 in the toilet.
Except my G1 sat in the bottom of the toilet for a good 2 hours. Let me tell you, that was quite the shocking discovery when I went back in the bathroom to take a leak! Well after 2 hours of sitting in water I wrote it off and headed straight out and got my G2. I did immediately pull the battery out and rinsed it off under fresh water and wiped it down with disinfectant. When I got back from purchasing the G2 I put the G1 in a bowl of rice and it sat there for at least 3 days before I thought to try turning it on. And of course it works flawlessly now.
The key I thing is that I didn't even bother trying to see if it still worked by powering it on after a few hours. Made that mistake with prior phones, and that is probably what kills most phones that have been submerged. So resist the temptation to check and see if it still works and just let it sit in a covered bowl of rice for a few days.
My 8 year old now plays with the G1 which she calls the "toilet phone". :d
ptesmoke said:
Screen should be sealed..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to know exactly what you're doing before trying it... for me it sounds too dangerous.
I have decided to let my phone be in rice bag until Thursday morning, if it does not work by then I will boot it to recovery mode and nandroid backup all my data and then take it to repair service... I hope it works and it does not cost much...
Thanks for hanging with me.

Can't remove the battery cover

Hi,
I can't remove the battery cover, which I will need to be able to do as I want to install a custom rom, but if it gets stuck in a boot loop I'll be completely stuck.
And I know the design is poor (i.e everyone has issues), but only one person has ever been able to do it (something like the 15th person, in the 6th shop I took it to, cause you need to take the cover off to unwrap the battery on first boot).
Any techniques or anything? It literally seems stuck. The guy that did it took it out the back and came back with it off.
Tamen said:
Hi,
I can't remove the battery cover, which I will need to be able to do as I want to install a custom rom, but if it gets stuck in a boot loop I'll be completely stuck.
And I know the design is poor (i.e everyone has issues), but only one person has ever been able to do it (something like the 15th person, in the 6th shop I took it to, cause you need to take the cover off to unwrap the battery on first boot).
Any techniques or anything? It literally seems stuck. The guy that did it took it out the back and came back with it off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
I also would like to know if there is special way to do it.
I once drop my phone and the battery cover come out a little bit from its position. I try to put it back into its position. BUT couldn't do so. Than I try pull out the cover. Than BAMMMM!!! its broke!!!
Buy new cover, but costly..
Buying a new cover is only any use if you can get the original off. And although I don't know the technique, even people that did couldn't get it off - I was shown 2 other DHDs that could be done with a minimal amount of fiddling (i.e. mine is way worse than it should be). I had about 10 people say "oh yeah mate it's easy, you just do thi.. wait... wow, that's like glued on or something".
The battery cover is a good design. Had to take out the battery number of times and it always goes off and on as intended to, perfect.
I had another mate try to do it and he just couldn't figure it out. Wtf has this world come to??
If you look there is a little space where you put your nail and then pull it out with a bit of force and putting it in is even easier!
Honestly, so many threads/posts about this...
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
ErOR22 said:
The battery cover is a good design. Had to take out the battery number of times and it always goes off and on as intended to, perfect.
I had another mate try to do it and he just couldn't figure it out. Wtf has this world come to??
If you look there is a little space where you put your nail and then pull it out with a bit of force and putting it in is even easier!
Honestly, so many threads/posts about this...
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not thick, you would have to be stupid to not realise there's a place for your nail - the problem is that my cover wouldn't budge (clearly you didn't read the OP - I took it to 5 different PHONE SHOPS - and only one guy could do it. I've opened other DHDs, just not mine. Until today...
Got a friend to try - he spent about 5 minutes but couldn't, but he must have budged it as I could get my nail into the corner - (to the left of the bit you're supposed to do) and hook it up from there - sorted
eeeeehhh RELAXXX lol
one moment...... are you talking about you can´t open the battery cover of your DHD?
REALLY YOU CAN´T?
I'd be darned if people find the DHD battery hatch to open easily... I even got the under side of my nails(the index finger) bleed trying to pry it open the first time I tried to charge the phone.
SERGI.3210 said:
eeeeehhh RELAXXX lol
one moment...... are you talking about you can´t open the battery cover of your DHD?
REALLY YOU CAN´T?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldn't, now can I felt really embarrassed going into a shop saying "I can't take the cover off" But then they were like... neither can we haha. It's been loosened now and can be done with a bit of technique.
It can be that it sounds absurdity but here I leave the guide of DESIRE HD, there it is written like to remove the cover.
In a Spanish forum i was read that there are people who helps herself with a credit card or a small screwdriver...
i think its solved
http://dl4.htc.com/web_materials/Manual/HTC_Desire_HD/HTC_Desire_HD_WWE_UM.pdf
plskillme said:
I'd be darned if people find the DHD battery hatch to open easily... I even got the under side of my nails(the index finger) bleed trying to pry it open the first time I tried to charge the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can remove the battery cover from my DHD with one hand - although I end up flicking the cover several feet.
Don't get me wrong, when I first got mine it was so tight I nearly snapped it. It's by no means loose now but it has got a little easier.
I don't like my fingernails to reach some ugly lengths(like girly nail lengths) I usually keep my fingernails short b/c I have some sort of OCD... ):
plskillme said:
I don't like my fingernails to reach some ugly lengths(like girly nail lengths) I usually keep my fingernails short b/c I have some sort of OCD... ):
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Um, ok, thanks for sharing that. Useful to know.

I'm an idiot ..

as the title says, i was applying the ZAGG invisibleshield wet screen protector to my gnex, had to apply the liquid a couple of times since i didn't position it right in the first try, the phone worked ok for like 1h, after that started freezing, when i take the battery out and reboot, it gets to the enter pin screen then freezes there, sometimes i manage to get to the homescreens, but that's the far i can get , coz it freezes again, i just put it in a bag of dry rice and will leave it for a day or 2, not sure how much liquid got in and if it can be fixed anyways. does anybody have a better suggestion? or any tip i might try? i'm pretty sure the liquid got into the speaker when i was using the squeegee. damn.
Take the battery out. Put the phone in a cup of rubbing alcohol for ~5 min. Take it out. Take it apart and blow dry it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
let us know if the alcohol works. i've always been curious about this. would the alcohol get under the screen and maybe leave some particles or residue behind? esp if theres some glue or something inside the phone that would get dissolved.
neotekz said:
let us know if the alcohol works. i've always been curious about this. would the alcohol get under the screen and maybe leave some particles or residue behind? esp if theres some glue or something inside the phone that would get dissolved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well rubbing alcohol will evaporate REALLY fast. Just make sure everything gets dried before you turn it on.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
I would not dunk my phone in alcohol. Just blow dry it for a while then leave it in rice for a week.
Putting your phone in rubbing alcohol (or any alcohol really) is a bad idea. You know how it is sold in 70% or 90% purity levels? You know what that other 10-30% is? Water. I would put it in rice for a day and hope for the best, take the battery out and put it in the bag as well, along with the back cover.
Had you followed the instructions for the ZAGG invisible shield, you would have taken the battery out and left it out for the installation and another 12-24 hours after installation to avoid an issue such as this. Live and learn though. I've installed them 4 different times and have done the same each time, leaving the battery out for at least 12 hours, though usually closer to 18-20 hours and the first time, a full day.
i dont know why people use those type of screen protection. it gives orange peel feel.
any way, you can always call custom support and told them your phone keep freezing and reboot. they will send u a refurbish one. if your phone is rooted or running other rom, dont do it.
lol dunking your phone in alcohol, have you even done that yourself?
zeke1988 said:
any way, you can always call custom support and told them your phone keep freezing and reboot. they will send u a refurbish one. if your phone is rooted or running other rom, dont do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, commit fraud AFTER posting about it online. If you ever wonder why devices and insurance costs are going up (and then you complain about them), this is the reason right here.
Go to hobby lobby and buy some silica or what ever its called. The stuff that comes in new shoes to collect moisture. Put in a zip lock bag with that stuff for a couple days. It'll works better than rice.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
ddgarcia05 said:
Go to hobby lobby and buy some silica or what ever its called. The stuff that comes in new shoes to collect moisture. Put in a zip lock bag with that stuff for a couple days. It'll works better than rice.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This and rice will leave tiny particles under the screen unless u rinse it first...... which will negate the whole process anyways. Isopropyl rubbing alcohol will work. Look for the 100% stuff
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
imnuts said:
Yes, commit fraud AFTER posting about it online. If you ever wonder why devices and insurance costs are going up (and then you complain about them), this is the reason right here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phones are getting more expensive because someone returns it after it stops working, after applying a screen protector? Are you sure it's not from the advancements in technology and the increasing demands for rare minerals.
Please tell us more
Sent from my HTC One X
imnuts said:
Had you followed the instructions for the ZAGG invisible shield, you would have taken the battery out and left it out for the installation and another 12-24 hours after installation to avoid an issue such as this. Live and learn though. I've installed them 4 different times and have done the same each time, leaving the battery out for at least 12 hours, though usually closer to 18-20 hours and the first time, a full day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i turned the phone off and took out the battery for the installation, but i powered it on like 30min after that, i didn't a warning anywhere where it said to leave it for additional time off, plus all these people on youtube apply it without even turning the phone off.
i didn't do the alcohol trick though, as my phone didn't fall into a swimming pool, i'm kinda hoping the amount of liquid the entered was not that big, plus it's not water, it's that special solution that comes with the screen protector, it usually has a bigger density and also evaporates quicker than water, so i'm hoping the corrosion won't be big. anyways, it's stilll inside a closed bag of rice, it's been in there for ~21hrs , will keep it maybe for an additional day just in case. the problem is i powered the phone on when it started freezing a couple of times, instead of putting it right away to dry.
Phones are not getting more expensive due to "insurance fraud". Load of crap.
The simplest reason is because we pay.
Good luck with your phone.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
Rubbing alcohol? I presume you're trying to make sure the guy's phone dies completely so he can get a new one.
rayiskon said:
i turned the phone off and took out the battery for the installation, but i powered it on like 30min after that, i didn't a warning anywhere where it said to leave it for additional time off, plus all these people on youtube apply it without even turning the phone off.
i didn't do the alcohol trick though, as my phone didn't fall into a swimming pool, i'm kinda hoping the amount of liquid the entered was not that big, plus it's not water, it's that special solution that comes with the screen protector, it usually has a bigger density and also evaporates quicker than water, so i'm hoping the corrosion won't be big. anyways, it's stilll inside a closed bag of rice, it's been in there for ~21hrs , will keep it maybe for an additional day just in case. the problem is i powered the phone on when it started freezing a couple of times, instead of putting it right away to dry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "special" liquid is just water and soap...
zeke1988 said:
i dont know why people use those type of screen protection. it gives orange peel feel.
any way, you can always call custom support and told them your phone keep freezing and reboot. they will send u a refurbish one. if your phone is rooted or running other rom, dont do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
XO screen protector here with no orange peel, and feels much smoother than a dry apply. You were saying?
The rubbing alcohol has drying properties. It evaporates very quickly and takes the water residue with it
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
justin94 said:
This and rice will leave tiny particles under the screen unless u rinse it first...... which will negate the whole process anyways. Isopropyl rubbing alcohol will work. Look for the 100% stuff
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Consumers can't buy 100% pure alcohol, even if you could, I still wouldn't use it as alcohol isn't that chemically different from water, so it would still be bad for the internals of the device.
ChongoDroid said:
Phones are getting more expensive because someone returns it after it stops working, after applying a screen protector? Are you sure it's not from the advancements in technology and the increasing demands for rare minerals.
Please tell us more
Sent from my HTC One X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UltraBoykj said:
Phones are not getting more expensive due to "insurance fraud". Load of crap.
The simplest reason is because we pay.
Good luck with your phone.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People returning phones that they knew they had broken and voided the warranty is why companies make it that much harder to get warranty replacements now. You think that Sprint, VZW, and Asurion raised the cost of insurance plus the deductible just to make extra money? How naive are people? I also like the fact that three different people suggested returning the phone after it almost certainly had water damage. If the water set off one of the indicators in the phone, then the OP would be screwed and get charged full retail for the replacement.
i agree with the rubbing alcohol theory, it helps against possible future corrosion issues, but as my phone didn't fall into a swimming pool or washing machine i didn't want to go extreme on it, so i picked the rice method, looked all over for silica gel bags, i know i have them somewhere ,but couldn't find them, so i only ended up with the rice method. i took the phone out now, after being 25 hrs in the rice package, it powered up well, got passed the pin screen (where it used to freeze) with no problems, and so far so good, tried the speaker it worked, also tried calling myself from another phone and in-call speaker is also working. will keep an eye on it, hopefully i won't have any wifi or signal issues (like other people reported), my only fear is corrosion on the long run, but getting it to work now with no issues would satisfy me at the moment.
edit: the water indicator still looks like this , so hopefully not a lot of liquid entered..

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