Q - Are board-level repairs possible with this type of damage?

R - If these 2 components are the only thing thats damaged then somebody like Alex should be able to fix it. But since its a liquid/Chemical spill damage it would be advisable to clean the motherboard using an ultrasonic cleaner to ensure all the chemical spill is off the board. 

Q - Are board-level repairs (financially) viable with this type of damage? [1]

R - This depends on how much damage is done to the board. IF these 2 components are the only damage it should not be very expensive to fix. But make sure you take it to a reputed repair store like Northridgefix to ensure it gets done in the first attempt itself.

Q - What are these components part of, what system do they function in? The schematics indicate "Selector", but no idea what that is.

R - The selector circuit is used to decide whether the laptop should be powered using adapter input or battery. It is critical. There is a high chance that the board will not power on if this circuit is faulty.

Q - Related to the previous question; is it necessary for functional use? In other words, is it still usable as a laptop (e.g., if the DVD reader system is damaged, I don't care).

R - There is a high chance that the board will not power on if this circuit is faulty.

Also please note do not power the board on as we dont not know what shorts exist on the board which might kill the CPU/GPU in which case that laptop will turn into a brick.

Hope this helps.

@jinu Thank you for your reply. I was planning on including the ultrasonic cleaning as part of this, in case I am planning on getting it repaired.

When it comes down to the actual component replacement, I am likely capable of soldering the components myself. It's the rest of the stuff that withholds me from doing so; knowing where to look for potential other faults, trace or layer damage, etc. Like I stated in my primary intentions, I am willing to let an expert look at it. However, I'm having a hard time finding NRF- or RRG-alike places in my country, besides the capable hobbyist. Is there by chance an index, catalogue or website / forum of (forumposts with) listed or trusted shops in other countries as well?

If I may be so blunt, what would be a ballpark price figure for A) cleaning and B) component soldering and potential successive troubleshooting? The laptop is already completely disassembled down to the motherboard and the likely cause is already diagnosed (assuming this is the only fault). So I assume costs for diagnosing and disassembly are / can be (severely) reduced.

Unfortunate, but good to know these are critical parts. I did not know the selector was part of the power management system (if you can call it that).

I am not going to power anything on, my past experiences have taught me that.

Thank you again for your reply.

Good Day j3llybut,

       Per the data sheet and SDS Griffon S-39 flux has a PH of 3 and will burn through a 0.12mm Nitrile glove in no less than 10 mins. If it was on your board for 15+ minutes prior to being rinsed off I would be concerned about pitting and cold/weakened solder joints in the spill area. This is in addition to the obvious damage to the pads, and traces in your pics. This flux is not capable of completely melting SMD components, not even 01005 size, so you're not missing anything. If there are "missing components" then the board design from a previous or different revision was used on yours and they were never populated at Pick and Place. Any damage to the semiconductor packages should be strictly superficial and negligible. Your primary concerns are the traces/pads/joints.    

       As with any equipment casualty rework/repair is certainly possible so long as one possesses the appropriate test equipment, tools, knowledge, experience, documentation, and parts.

       Far as economy of rework/repair we are talking about a 10 year old laptop... I'm seeing refurbished ones available for $167 in a quick search. Rule of thumb in the Navy for non-mission essential equipment, or if a spare was onboard, was that if parts and labor was >50% of the value of a new one we didn't fix the faulty card/module. If you don't value your time or have the funds for a new one then by all means, this should be a viable rework/repair. That said I would probably call this board a loss, order a replacement laptop, and keep this carcass to canabalize in the future.

       I am not a BadCaps member, and too lazy to sign up at midnight, so am not able to access the schematic or boardviews in question. The reference designators indicate we're in the power distribution circuit so I would agree with Jinu that the "selector" signal in question is likely to select between battery and power from the adaptor.

       Also agree with Jinu that the circuit in question is likely essential for normal operations and that the laptop would not function without this circuit functioning properly. You may cause additional damage to other components if you attempt to energize the laptop with this circuit faulty. Do not let the magic smoke out!

       I may finally register over on BadCaps and take a look at your schematic, but I've been trying to clarify some rules with the Admin before I pulled that trigger. Best of luck in your repair attempt!

Dan
Second Chance Repairs LLC

@2ndchancereps Thank you Dan for your elaborate explanation.

The laptop was in vertical orientation, so the S-39 ran across the entire board from exhaust fan to dvd tray. It's just that only these two areas seemed affected, probably because of the still connected battery (and if they are power distribution, that would make sense even if the laptop was off). But after recent further inspection, after a some time has passed, it appears more parts and components have been affected. The dvd tray and cooling fan have heavy steel oxidation, and the heatpipes show copper oxidation. Some ribbon cable clamps also indicate damage at the solder connections. The magnesium(?) alloy body was already having heavy chemical reactions (bubbling and crumbling).

I fear that a write-off may indeed be the most sensible course of action. Unfortunately, refurbished ones of the same model go for at least double the amount you mentioned in my country / adjacent countries (and others alike), so that is a no go. I think a spare replacement motherboard might not even be an option now as well, given the uncertainty other parts' status. Too bad.

Thank you all for the information. I wish you all the best.

Kind regards,

JB