Barbara, the first thing I suggest is that you do not try to start your laptop. Remove the battery and the AC power. disassemble your laptop. the instructions for that can be found [http://ahwee.com/how-to-disassemble-laptop-dell-xps-m1530|on here.] Once it is disassembled, clean each and every part, connector and cable with a small brush and a high grade (90%+) isopropyl alcohol. This will remove any water, sugars and starches. It is okay to soak your motherboard in it as well. Use a very well ventilated area and keep away from any excessive heat, sparks etc. Once you have it properly cleaned, reassemble and re-evaluate for any damage. Not cleaning the components will lead to further corrosion and failure. Hope this helps, good luck.