Fluid damage

[J33P]

So here's what happened, I booted my Toshiba laptop. It booted up just fine, but the keyboard was inoperable. I noticed some residue on the keyboard that appeared to have been liquid at some point, possibly coffee, beer or even saliva (as I am a smokeless tobacco user). It was totally dry and if I had any sense I probably could have plugged in a USB keyboard and been fine, but NO, not me!
I immediately shut down the computer, removed the keyboard and thoroughly cleaned it. I waited several hours, prior to learning that I should have waited several days, before replacing the keyboard.
When I got the keyboard back in and plugged it into the computer, I started the laptop and the screen looked like a work from an impressionist artist with multi colored swooshes and squiggly lines.
Of course I instantly turned the computer off.
That was a month ago and I haven't touched the computer since! Something obviously shorted, but I don't know where to start.
Any suggestions regarding how to determine which component may be damaged or how to proceed from here would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank y'all for this forum and the help provided!

 

[plodr]

Remove the keyboard and look at the connector to the monitor. Perhaps it was loosened or got pinched when you put the keyboard back into the case.

If it isn't fixed, connect and external monitor and see how the image appears. (This is to determine if it is a hardware or a software problem. I suspect hardware and simply the result of the connector not being tight).

 

[J33P]

Thank you so much for your reply! Unfortunately, it did not solve the problem.
I was very excited to think that it could be such an easy fix, but it didn't work.
I removed the keyboard again and there was a bend in the ribbon cable connecting the kb to the machine. I straightened the cable and attempted to boot the computer with no kb attached. same result, looked like a windshield that had been hit by a rock. Spider web effect with garbled colors in the background. Reconnected the kb and attempted to boot again, same effect.
I may not have been totally clear in prior post...when I initially removed the kb for cleaning, I put it in the sink, washed it thoroughly with water, dried it as well as I could, left it sitting in front of a fan for several hours and then reconnected.
As I said before, it booted just fine prior to kb cleaning, the kb just didn't work. After cleaning with water, the garbled, scrambled effect occurred and my heart dropped because I really like the Toshiba machine.

 

[J33P]

I ensured the ribbon cable connector was straight, tight and secured.

 

[managed]

The screen might be cracked, does it look similar to any of these ? :- http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=cracked+laptop+screen&FORM=HDRSC2

 

[J33P]

Yes Sir. It looks very similar to a couple of those pics. Would that prevent it from booting? And, how would the crack occur from plugging the keyboard in?
Thank you for your input and any additional info you may be able to provide!

 

[dustyjay]

A cracked LCD shold not prevent booting, though you probably would not be able to see if the laptop is running. You could always connect an external monitor to check.

 

[managed]

To make sure it is cracked with the laptop switched off you should still be able to see any crack(s) in good lighting, or using a flashlight.

Is it possible the keyboard was raised up somewhere and could have cracked the screen when you closed the lid ?

As dustjay said though it should still boot even with a cracked screen.