There is nothing more heartbreaking than accidentally knocking a glass of water over your laptop or leaving it out on your patio only to discover an hour later it is raining heavily. Repairing laptop water damage can be a very tricky task as it is a device that has many electrical circuit boards and other components which would be adversely affected if in contact with water.
If, unfortunately, you have had an accident that has resulted in water entering your laptop it is essential to take prompt action. The sooner you can take remedial steps the better chance there would be of you saving the machine from serious harm. Understand that a laptop or netbook is made up of individual modules or components, though each of these in itself is replaceable you may find the water has found its way into every area.
The instant you have realized what has happened you will need to switch the device off. This does not mean just unplugging it from the mains, you also need to physically turn off the computer to make sure no current is flowing thorough the circuit boards. Unplug your laptop and then switch it off to also prevent being electrocuted. Once you know it is off, turn the device up side down to stop liquid seeping into more parts.
If your machine is still under warranty, immediately call up the customer service helpline and see what action they suggest. You may find that a repair can be carried out by an expert at no cost to you. If on the other hand the warranty has expired it will be up to you to try and remove the water. Get hold of an absorbent fabric such as a cloth or paper towels and place as many of these under and on top of the laptop as possible.
Depending on the extent of the liquid that has entered your computer the next step will vary. If you know it was only a small amount of water your best option would be to place the laptop in a warm room and in direct sunlight. This will allow for the moisture to evaporate quickly and naturally, if it is a grey and cloudy day you could achieve the same effect by positioning the device next to a radiator or in your airing cupboard close to the central heating boiler.
If you know that the amount of water that entered the casing was considerable, before doing the above mentioned step you are better off undoing the screws that hold everything in place to expose the inside of the machine. If laptop water damage shows visible signs of liquid you should take a cloth and wipe these away and then place the device in a warm location.