Why Toshiba Tecra TE2100 laptop locks up or will not boot at all?
One of our biggest customers use a lot of different Toshiba laptops and one of the models is Toshiba Tecra TE2100. We repaired many of these units and we noticed that some of them had very similar problems:
- Laptop locks up when you move it or sometimes freezes by itself. The video is still on, but the acupoint (keyboard mouse) and the keyboard itself do not work anymore.
- You can start the laptop, but you see CMOS (RTC) battery error on start up. After you clear the error, the laptop boots fine. After you reboot the laptop, you get the same error.
- Laptop will not boot at all. There is no power or power LED blinking. There is no hard drive activity. There is no external or internal video.
- When you press power button, laptop shows some activity, but there is no video on LCD screen.
At the beginning, when we just started working on this model, we tried to fix CMOS (RTC) battery error by replacing the RTC battery. Unfortunately, it didn’t help to fix the problem at all. We found that the main culprit of the problem is a poor connection between the system board and the power board (CMOS battery is connected to the power board). In some cases you can fix the problem by reseating the power board. Carefully disconnect if from the system board and connect it back. Turn on the laptop and see if it fixed your problem. If it didn’t help, most likely you have to replace the system board and the power board. Unfortunately, I cannot say exactly which one is causing the problem, the system board or the power board. The same story with laptop lock ups, try to reseat the power board.
You can fix a video problem by reseating the video card. We noticed, that over time the video board pops up from its connector on the system board and you can get video if you push it back in place.
Conclusion: before you start replacing parts, disassemble the laptop and try to fix the problem by reseating the power board and the VGA board. My disassembly guide for Toshiba Tecra TE2100 can help you to take apart the laptop.
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January 26th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
jacob,
Are you sure it’s not the power cord problem? Did you test the AC adapter with a voltmeter and get stable readings?
January 25th, 2009 at 4:03 am
turned on my laptop one day, problems with the charger port.
plugged my charge in and it wouldnt charge, i wiggled it around in the port a little bit and the charging light came on and off for about 30 seconds while i tried to fit it in the right spot, and then it just stopped altogether. so at least i know its the port. maybe just need to clean it or re-attach or replace some wires? this website helped me open my laptop. but how are you meant to remove the hard drive or disc drive? not sure how, the hard drive had some kind of flap looked like i had to pull on, but mine was ripped, im not sure how but it is. and now i cant get it out. is there a button or something? and then how to get out the disc drive, not sure.
just asking so i can try to fix my problem.
missing my laptop
January 12th, 2009 at 2:00 am
Trying to fix my brothers tecra 2100, and I reseated all of the boards several times. I have got it to charge now and holds charge on the battery but hitting the power button gives me error lights 10110001. What is the code or where can i find a manual to look it up.
Thanks
Spook
December 24th, 2008 at 7:26 am
My old Toshiba 1905-S301 worked perfectly for over 6 years.
He is still working perfectly as long I DO NOT MOVE THE LAPTOP OR THE SCREEN. THEN THE SCREEN IS GARBLE WITH DIFFERENT COLORS, LINES OR SQUARES, WITH OR WITHOUT THE WORKING POINTER ON IT.THEN THE SCREEN TURNS BLACK WITH A FAINT LIGHT IN THE BACKGROUND.
I CONNECTED AN EXTERNAL MONITOR AND IT WORKS FINE (TOGETHER WITH THE LAPTOP SCREEN) BUT BOTH SCREEN FAULTED AS SOON I MOVE THE LAPTOP OR ITS SCREEN. AT THAT POINT THE POWER LIGHT STILL IS ON BUT NOTHING ELSE WORKS.
AFTER THE FAILURE, I CAN HEAR THE HDD, THE COOLING FAN RUNING AND THE CHARGING OF THE BATTERY IS WORKING FINE AND NOT AFFECTED BY THE FAULT.
SO IT CANNOT BE A POWER SUPPLY PROBLEM.
AFTER I RECONFIGURED THE LAPTOP WITH A FULL RECOVERY DISK, IT WORKED PERFECTLY UNTIL I MOVED THE SCREEN. THEN SAME FAULT AGAIN AND AGAIN!
I HAD A PROBLEM WITH A BROKEN PIN OF THE POWER BOARD FEW MONTHS AGO BUT I REPLACED IT AND IT WORKED PERFECTLY.
Could you help?
November 24th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Hello pal (Sorry I dont know your name) would you help me please..
I have a TE2100. Sometimes the trackpoint is locked in vertical direction (it can move normally in horizontal direction but unable to move vertically). Can you help me to fix this problem? As addition the keypad [5] / [%] is not functioning.
I dont install special driver for trackpoint, just default driver from XP becausei cant find special trackpoint driver for te2100 from toshiba sites.
If it is not bother you, please send me a copy of your answer to my e-mail since I don’t connected regularly.
Thanks a lot pal.
November 15th, 2008 at 5:17 am
My Toshiba A105 would power down on its own whenever the computer got too warm. Depending on the temperature of the room I was in, sometimes the laptop would run for 20 minutes before powering down and other times it would run for 10 minutes. I searched the web for what could be causing this. The answer was too much dust or dust bunnies in the fan and heat sink. I carefully disassembled my computer and pulled all of the dust out (there was a surprising amount in there). Now, the laptop runs fine. Apparently this is a common problem with Toshiba laptops. Ps- you might want to try to vacuum cleaner method recommended by other first. This could help avoid taking the laptop apart on doing accidental damage.
October 18th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Hi
SOME ONE CAN HELP ME TO FIX MY LAPTOP.
THE SCREEN IS GOING TO BE BLACK AFTER 15 NMINUTES OPERATION.
I TURNED IT OF AND ON TURNED ON AGAIN , THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE SAME.
THANHKS
October 5th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I have an easiest way to fix Laptop Heating problem !!! Take a good VACUUM Cleaner and put the hose at the exhaust port of the Laptop for about 30 seconds … THAT’S IT !!! I have TWO Toshiba Laptops and they used to quit running after about 45 mins. … both of them. A local Laptop Shark wanted $ 200.00 to fix each. Yeah … Right !!! Try it … No screws to be removed … no tools needed … nothing. Only a regular house Vacuum Cleaner !!! Both the Laptops are now running COOL and they never quit because of OVER HEATING !!!
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:32 am
Hi ,
have been trying to download the recovery disk and the backup
of TOSHIBA TECRA M2. yet i can’t download pls if there is
. anybody that have the software they should please help me
with it, i will be great full if my request is consider thank you,,,,,,
my Email: ID is bayoobodo@yahoo.com
August 7th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Hi,
I have TOSHIBA Satellite A135-s2246 with 1.5 years old A few days ago, the keyboard and mouse of my laptop suddenly was frozen, which forced me shut down the laptop.
After I restart, the mouse-keyboard frozen problem persists with additional loud noise (like static electrics noise). I reinstalled the OS as out-of-factory standard. Nothing has been improved.
Does any one know how I could solve the mouse-keyboard frozen problem. It usually happen about 10 minutes after starting computer, or this laptop is unrepairable? Much thanks!