Hard Disk Video Camera Dropped In Sea

[WSB]

Sadly whilst away on holiday recently I dropped my trusty old Sony Hard Disk Camcorder in the sea.
Was only shallow but enough to cover the entire camcorder.
Picked it up immediately and left to dry for ages but unsurprisingly the thing won't power up.
Not so concerned about the camcorder as was pretty old but would like to get the weeks holiday video off it.
Don't want to spend a fortune doing it as nothing that precious but if anyone has any suggestions on what I can try that'd be great as don't have anything to lose.
Thanks

 

[bernardgreen]

Leaving the sea water to dry out will have left salt deposits on the electronics which may be the reason it will not power up.

Maybe too late now but immediate rinsing in clean water can sometimes "rescue" electronic equipment that has been in the sea.

If the hard disc can be removed from the camera then a competent computer hardware engineer may be able to recover the video files.

 

[WSB]

Leaving the sea water to dry out will have left salt deposits on the electronics which may be the reason it will not power up.

Maybe too late now but immediate rinsing in clean water can sometimes "rescue" electronic equipment that has been in the sea.

If the hard disc can be removed from the camera then a competent computer hardware engineer may be able to recover the video files.

Yeah, did contemplate that at the time. Might still have a crack at it. Thanks

 

[Old Salt]

I would rinse it out using fresh water a number of times, drain it then stick it in an airtight container of rice for a few days.

The rice absorbs the moisture and is the go to for mobilephones that have been dropped in water.

You have nothing to lose so worth a try.

 

[Winglet]

Is it actually a built in hard drive it is recording to or is there a memory card that can come out of it?

 

[opps]

As above if it is indeed a hard disk drive, I would remove the said drive and source an appropriate interface to let it connect to a PC.

Re-rinsing it in clean water is not something that I would recommend.

if you post the model number, it might help.

 

[conny]

I would rinse it out using fresh water a number of times, drain it then stick it in an airtight container of rice for a few days.

The rice absorbs the moisture and is the go to for mobilephones that have been dropped in water.

You have nothing to lose so worth a try.

This is a myth! Scientists have disproven the rice trick and said you will just end up with bits of rice trapped inside/around your equipment.

I would advise to seriously check the validity of anyone saying it worked for them.

 

[WSB]

Is it actually a built in hard drive it is recording to or is there a memory card that can come out of it?

Built in hard drive

 

[flameport]

The rice absorbs the moisture and is the go to for mobilephones that have been dropped in water.

That method works somewhere between zero times and never.
If electronics powered by batteries gets wet, the corrosion and damage starts immediately.

You have nothing to lose so worth a try.

People have a lot to lose - getting the device to a repair place which can open and clean it as soon as possible will minimise the damage and have a reasonable possibility of recovering the data.
Leaving it in a bag of rice or anywhere else for days will significantly reduce the chances of data recovery, as the corrosion will continue inside.

 

[Alec_t]

Scientists have disproven the rice trick

My grandson also disproved it, after dropping his phone down the loo.

 

[Old Salt]

Its already been soaked in salt water several days ago, I would suggest any damage has already been done. As a sailor (there is a clue in my user name) anything that gets dropped into salt water needs rinsing in fresh. By all means take it to someone who can repair or try to recover the data but I am offering genuine diy advice.

Take it or leave it, no skin off my nose

 

[WSB]

Its already been soaked in salt water several days ago, I would suggest any damage has already been done. As a sailor (there is a clue in my user name) anything that gets dropped into salt water needs rinsing in fresh. By all means take it to someone who can repair or try to recover the data but I am offering genuine diy advice.

Take it or leave it, no skin off my nose

 

[WSB]

Thanks. Not planning on taking it anywhere. As I have nothing to lose, soaked it last night and currently drying it in the airing cupboard.
Not expecting any result but may as well have a go.
Cheers

 

[johnny2007]

I revived a mobile phone by taking the battery out, open the case and spraying it with "bright sparks", a product sold at car parts to clean electrical contacts.
Left it to dry a week.

 

[Winglet]

Do you have the make and model?