[Thunderbird]

3 months after spilling a cup of coffee on her 6 month old Macbook, my wife dropped her iPhone 3G in the toilet.

So now the phone won't boot. I want to sell it for parts on eBay, but is it possible to erase the memory if it won't boot?

[ibookuser2]

Not really. Your best bet would probably be to take it apart and sell it as a collection of parts without the logic board. Not sure who really wants to buy iPhone parts that have been dropped in the toilet, though...

[imitchellg5]

Will it show up in recovery mode in iTunes? If so, you can restore it. If not, then you're sunk (pun sort of intended).

[Spheric Harlot]

Let it lie for a week or month. Just put it in a drawer and leave it alone.

Chances are pretty good it'll be back to normal after that.

[seanc]

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

Let it lie for a week or month. Just put it in a drawer and leave it alone.

Chances are pretty good it'll be back to normal after that.

Seconded, you could try putting it in a box of rice, or in the airing cupboard.
Once the battery dies and it has a chance to dry out with no power, it might work OK.

[Thunderbird]

Thanks for the replies. I put it in a bag of rice last night, and I'll give it a week or so. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[tonton]

Don't eat the rice.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by tonton 

Don't eat the rice.

Seconded. Just sell the rice on eBay.

-t

[Thunderbird]

Holy crap, the phone is back to life. Unbelievable. When the tech at the AT&T store removed the SIM card (shortly after my wife dropped it) it was smoking! The card was scorched.

After a few days in the rice, I plugged it in, charged it, and it worked!!! I got a new sim card, and the phone is just as good as ever. Wow.

Of course, now I'm not sure I want to put the phone up to my face after it's been in the toilet.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by Thunderbird 

Of course, now I'm not sure I want to put the phone up to my face after it's been in the toilet.

Go ahead, try really hard! Once you've taken this step, eating up the rice you still have in that bag will be much easier.

[Eriamjh]

Wipe it clean and use it. Germs are what keep us healthy. Don't be a wuss.

Or sell it on eBay with some free rice.

[MacPC]

LOL, this reminds me of a Seinfeld scenario, have you seen the episode? He dropped his girlfriend's toothbrush in the toilet, he was too embarrassed so he put it back, ever since then he could never kiss her again!!!

[Eriamjh]

Originally Posted by MacPC 

LOL, this reminds me of a Seinfeld scenario, have you seen the episode? He dropped his girlfriend's toothbrush in the toilet, he was too embarrassed so he put it back, ever since then he could never kiss her again!!!

As long as you aren't putting your iPhone in your mouth, I think it'll be OK.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by Thunderbird 

Of course, now I'm not sure I want to put the phone up to my face after it's been in the toilet.

Was it "before" or "after"?

If it was before, get over it. Toilets are among the cleanest places in an average household. You'd have more to worry about in terms of germs if you'd dropped it in the kitchen sink, or even worse, on the dish rag or sponge.

[Buckaroo]

I wonder if he dipped it in alcohol and then dried it out. 90% Rubbing alcohol.