Why my Toshiba laptop suddenly shuts down by itself without warning?
“My Toshiba laptop suddenly shuts down by itself without any warning. Sometimes it works fine for hours, sometimes it shuts down in 10-15 minutes.” This complaint we hear from our customers over and over again. About 15-20% of all Toshiba laptops we get for repair, suffer from an overheating problem. Yep, OVERHEATING!
This is one of the most common problems with Toshiba laptops we deal with.
Indications of laptop overheating problem:
- The keyboard and the bottom of your laptop are very hot when the laptop is working.
- The CPU fans are working all the time at maximum rotation speed and operate much louder than before.
- The laptop suddenly shuts down by itself without warning. When it just started, the laptop was shutting down after 1-2 hours and how it shuts down after 5-10 minutes of operation.
- The laptop works fine when it runs idle, but shuts down as soon as you start using any memory demanding applications (DVD player, image editing software, video editing software, etc.).
If the CPU heatsink is not clogged with dust and lint completely, you can use canned air and just blow it inside the laptop through the openings on the bottom and on the sides. It’s nice as a precaution measure, but it might not work if your laptop already has a problem and the heatsink is completely clogged.
- Open the laptop case, so you can access the CPU fan and the heatsink. In some cases you can access the heatsink through the latch on the bottom of the laptop. Sometimes (for example Toshiba Satellite A70/A75) you have to open the laptop case all the way down.
- Carefully disconnect the fan cables on the system board and remove the fan. If the fan makes unusual sound when it spins (grinding sound), I would recommend to replace the fan.
- Clean the fan and the heatsink with compressed air.
- I would also recommend removing old thermal grease from the CPU and applying new grease for better heat conductivity.
UPDATE: I just received a nice tip from MC N’Colorado. I think it could be useful for all of you with guys:
I decided to use a shop vac to suck the dust out and it worked. I tested it by letting the machine run all night and it worked. It’s been a couple of weeks now and I’m glad I did it. I was ready to take the machine apart, now I’m glad I didn’t. I’d suggest you use a heavy duty shop vac to clean out the fan and heat sinks first.
I agree. Try to fix the problem without taking the laptop apart first but I would recommend using a powerful air compressor instead of a vacuum cleaner.
If your laptop is still under warranty, you can take it to any Toshiba Authorize Service Provider and fix the problem at no charge to you.
Toshiba laptop disassembly guides with pictures and instructions.
Toshiba Satellite A15 Clogged Heatsink
Toshiba Satellite A35 Clogged Heatsink
Toshiba Satellite P15 Clogged Heatsink. Absolute champion!
Entry Filed under: Toshiba Laptop Problems
January 27th, 2006 at 10:17 pm
very good web page, found it informative, will be taking toshiba to an authorized repair dealer, still under warrenty. Thank You
February 3rd, 2006 at 9:31 pm
this site hits the nail on the head, very good details and instructions. Thank you!
February 4th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
I was resigning myself to a laptop repair He…., before I found your very informative site. Thanks!
February 6th, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Thanks for your help! Decided my 2003 Toshiba A35 needed a cleaning since it would heat up in just a couple of minutes. Found your info thru Google. Took out a strip of “felt” a quater inch think running the length of the heatsink!!! You cannot see this stuff by just looking thru the fan grids…that always looked clean to me!!
So I put everything back together…carefully. But now it won’t start! I push the button, I hear the fan turn on for 3 seconds, then turn off. Nothing comes up on the screen. This happens using just the battery or with it plugged in.
What did I do? Is this thing now a boat anchor?
February 6th, 2006 at 5:20 pm
BTW, I am not blaming you, I hope you realize that. I have backups and all that. I just had had it with this computer, and it was either try to fix it on my own or trash it. The cost to fix it (out of warranty) would be half the cost of getting a new one (something other than Toshiba!).
My excitement after pulling out that junk from the heatsink came crashing down after failing to re-boot. So, it again is either going to be a simple fix or thrown away.
Got any ideas?
February 6th, 2006 at 7:59 pm
Hi Mike,
I think it should be something simple. If your laptop worked fine before you disassembled it and you were very careful during disassembly, then it should work fine. Cleaning a CPU fan in Toshiba Satellite A35 laptop is very simple and it shouldn’t cause any problems. When you removed the heatsink did the CPU came with it or it stayed in the socket? My guess is that your CPU is not seated properly and you pulled it from the socket. In this case it should be reseated. To reseat the CPU, remove the heatsink, open CPU lock (the screw) and reseat the CPU (I hope you didn’t damage pins during disassembly). When you place the CPU back in the socket you do not have to push it inside. Most of the time CPU just falls inside the socket by itself, sometimes you have to wiggle it a little bit to sit properly, but NEVER force it inside the socket because you can damage the pins. The CPU and the socked are keyed and there is only one correct position. I hope it will help you to start the laptop.
February 7th, 2006 at 11:35 am
AWSOME! thanks man. that helped me soo much. I have a random question though. since the computer is a socket 478, could i replace my celeron 2.53 with a pentium? they come in this same computer up to a 3.06 i think. thanks!!
February 7th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
I’m not sure. I’ve never done it before myself. If you give me your laptop model and configuration code (for example Toshiba Satellite 1800-S274 PS183U-00JR579 it’s on the bottom of your laptop) I can look up Toshiba website and find out what CPUs are listed for your system board.
February 8th, 2006 at 4:32 am
Hi, looking for advice… my toshiba satellite 3000×4 is overheating. Its been a while(days) since I’ve heard the cooling fan operating. This causes the machine to crash regularly when its under any load(eg. heavy programmes in use). any suggestions on repair, sourcing fan, is it d.i.y.’able etc.
February 8th, 2006 at 10:16 am
I do not have a guide for this unit yet. You say it’s Toshiba Satellite 3000×4, and I’m not sure what x4 is. I guess it’s similar to Toshiba Satellite 3000. In this case you can try to replace the CPU fan without disassembling the entire unit. You mentioned that it’s not spinning and I assume the fan is bad itself. All you have to do: remove the keyboard securing strip (be careful because it’s connected to a control board, do not pull too hard), remove the keyboard (4 screws). Under the keyboard on the right top corner you’ll see a hatch for the CPU fan. Remove the hatch and replace the fan. Before you buy a new CPU fan, try if you can access it in your laptop.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:04 am
you are gentleman no one in this f*** world teach you for free i realy appreciate what you doing man thank you again.
February 10th, 2006 at 5:59 am
Have to agree with Mallek, after two deeply unsatisfying adventures with Toshiba service during the warranty period (and then having to replace the power adapter two weeks after the period expired!) was resigning myself to another expensive trip to the repairers. Really appreciate your very generous guide, just sorry that your excellent instructions may cost you 20% of your Toshiba laptop business! Many thanks again.
February 10th, 2006 at 10:11 pm
Thanks for the info, you are a godsend! My A75 is only 6 months old and will shut down in full power mode, after surfing the net I was relieved to find your detailed process for disassemly. Since I still have warranty I’ll get it serviced but it seems like a devil of a design to completely strip down just to clean out the dust. When I spoke to the Toshiba rep he indicated the problem was with the motherboard but all the symptoms point to overheating though it could be a faulty SMBIOS on the board. We shall see! Thanks again for your great site and wealth of info!!!
February 12th, 2006 at 11:35 am
Thanks to the people who help… And I need much help
So I have a Satellite A30 laptop and I wanted to clean it, I had the same problem of overheating..
I followed the advices, and when I removed the heatsink, I didnt unlock the CPU lock, I could remove it easily.. I don t know if it s the CPU but the pins came with the heatsink. No problem..
I cleaned and I replaced it and I had the same problem as Mike. It just can t start.
So what can I try to do?? The pins are all here, do I have to unlock this screw, replace the heatsink and relock it? I tried all the ways but always had the same black screen. Please…
February 12th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
When you remove the heatsink from Toshiba Satellite A30 / A35 laptop it usually comes out with the CPU on it. You have to carefully separate the CPU from the heatsink and clean it up from the old thermal grease (be careful not to bend CPU pins). Then you have to open the CPU lock (screw on the CPU socket), insert the CPU (do not use any pressure) into the socket and lock it. After the CPU is in place, you can apply new grease on it and install the heatsink.
You can also read this thread; the guy explains how he fixed the same problem with his Toshiba Satellite A35 laptop.
February 13th, 2006 at 1:47 am
Ok thanks very much… Another question
the CPU comes with the heatsink but it seems to be pasted on this heatsink, I don t know if I can remove it, there is something white (like a whtie glue) between the CPU and the heatsink.. And I didn t see any thermal grease, or is it this white thing??? Thanks so much for your help!
February 13th, 2006 at 6:07 am
Yes! I found it! So here my explanation for this kind of trouble (blank screen after replacing heatsink on a A35 laptop)
The problem is to put the CPU at the right place.. I didn t have to separate the CPU from the heatsink, just open the lock and place the whole piece carefully, turn the locking screw.. Only this. I had to do this several times before having a normal starting (maybe 30-40 times), just take the time to find the right position.. and good luck for the people who need! Special thanks to cj2600, what you do is very nice!
February 13th, 2006 at 6:21 am
The white thing between the CPU and the heatsink is thermal grease. If I you want to separate the CPU from the heatsink, you can insert a flat head screwdriver between the heatsink and the CPU and rotate it a little bit to lift up the CPU on one end. After that you have to insert the CPU back into the socket and lock the socket. Make sure to unlock the socket before you insert the CPU. The lock screw on the socket should be marked “Lock” and “Open”, turn the screw into “Open” position. The CPU and the socket are keyed, so there is only one correct way to insert the CPU. Be careful with the CPU pins, do not bend them. After the CPU is in place, you can clean old thermal compound on the CPU and the heatsink with an alcohol wipe and apply some new compound on the CPU. Here are some instructions how to apply Artic Silver thermal compound, you can use the instructions for any compound you can find. You can buy thermal compound online or in your local computer store.
February 13th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
For anyone who has taken-apart a Toshiba Satellite A75 series (mine is an A75-S229), can you tell me what kind of motherboard is in it…Brand, part #, etc? Thank you for your help!
February 13th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Hey Justin,
If you can give me the model-part number from the bottom of your laptop (for example: PS183U-00JRS7B) I can find the system board part number for your lappy.
February 13th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
I would appreciate that very much. The Part # is PSA70U-00E00G. I have downloaded a program called “SpeedFan” and am attempting to use it to cause my fan to run more often…hopefully keeping the temperature inside slightly lower. Have you, or has anyone, tried this program or know if it works at all?
Thank you again for any information!
February 13th, 2006 at 8:08 pm
There is only one system board listed for this laptop. Toshiba part number is K000016360. I have no idea who makes this system board. I haven’t tried “SpeedFan” yet, and I’m not sure if it’s possible at all to make a laptop CPU fan run more often with this software. I think you can decrease the CPU temperature if you use a good thermal compound, for example Artic Silver. Also you can try a laptop cooler.
February 14th, 2006 at 6:21 am
Thank you for the info on the motherboard. I am trying to decide whether to take apart the computer myself to replace the thermal compound and do some major dust removal, or to take it in at the tail-end of my warranty and be without a computer for 2-4 weeks while they do the same thing.
As for a laptop cooler–I have tried one of these and it actually caused my computer to shut down more quickly than without. The problem, I think, is that the cooler was sucking the air directly away from the intake fan on the bottom of my poorly designed Toshiba, thereby negating the effects of the computer cooling system.
So, regarding the clean it myself vs. take it in to be cleaned…can I take apart the laptop myself and somehow not void the warranty?
Thanks again for your help!
February 14th, 2006 at 9:09 am
If the laptop is still under warranty, I wouldn’t recommend taking it apart yourself. To replace thermal compound on Toshiba Satellite A75 you have to take apart laptop completely and it will void the warranty. Just take it to a repair shop and let them fix it. It shouldn’t take more than 3-5 days. Also you can ask them to replace the CPU fan. On this model fans are not very reliable. Ask them to check if the top cover assembly on your laptop was modified to avoid a static electricity issue (your laptop locks up when you touch around the speaker area). The top cover replacement is covered under warranty.
February 18th, 2006 at 10:54 pm
Hi, This is an excellent site for all the infomations on the Toshbia laptops. Keep up the good works!! Do you guys service Toshiba Laptops out of warranty? Thanks ,
February 18th, 2006 at 11:00 pm
Thank you George,
About 90% of all Toshiba laptops we repair are covered under warranty.
February 19th, 2006 at 7:10 pm
Thank you,your site has helped me as well as saved me time an money.
February 23rd, 2006 at 4:46 am
A cheap temporary fix: With an overheating Satellite 1905 S303 in Athens, afraid of the fragile pins and with no tools to open the heat sink cover, I simply held my household vacuum cleaner nozzle over the fan intake for three minutes. Gradually it sucked some nasty fuzz up against the grate, which I could then pull out. For the first time in a year, laptop now runs without the fan permanently blasting away…
Hope I haven’t doomed myself some other way…
February 24th, 2006 at 11:32 pm
Is there anyone to clean the heatsink for an A70 without having to completely dismantle it?
February 24th, 2006 at 11:42 pm
Sometimes, when the heatsink is not clogged completely, I clean it with a compressed air. Blow it inside the fan opening on the bottom of the laptop, so the dust goes away through the opening on the laptop side.
February 24th, 2006 at 11:57 pm
OK, I’ll try that once I get a can of it, since blowing at it normally doesn’t seem to be clearing anything. If it’s working right, will air still just come out the fans, or will I also get air out of the heatsink?
February 25th, 2006 at 12:05 am
The dust is collected between the fan and the heatsink. When you blow compressed air inside the fans opening on the bottom, it will go through the heatsink and should clean it.
February 28th, 2006 at 6:43 am
Quick question for my 9-month old Toshiba Satellite M45-S331– I haven’t seen too much about fan or overheating problems in a few quick searches online, but that’s gotta be what’s going on with mine.
Symptoms: if it will even get to the point where it loads windows (about one in every 10 “power-on” attempts, the computer generally freezes up completely as I attempt to run the very first application.
Strangely, I’ve been able to get it to run perfectly fine in “Safe Mode” and even in “Debugging Mode” a couple times, during which I upgraded the BIOS (no help), removed programs from loading on startup in msconfig (no help), even did a virus scan in hopes that it might be virus-related (no help).
I took it apart and cleaned the heatsink. Iit had a tiny bit of lint, but really not very much lint in there — certainly not enough to completely cover the grating anywhere. So that didn’t seem to make any difference. (Thank you so much for the helpful photos and charts, by the way). There was lots of the white thermal greese in there, but do you think putting new stuff in there would make a difference?
I’m kinda at a loss right now.
Still under warranty (assuming I didn’t somehow void it by cleaning out the heatsink), but I’m a little bit afraid that if I make the nine-hour trip to the nearest authorized toshiba repair place (I moved from the U.S. to China last Auguat) that they won’t be able to help me. Would I be better served just wiping the hard drive clean and hoping that the computer will somehow run long enough to let me reinstall Windows? Any other suggestions?
February 28th, 2006 at 1:01 pm
It is very possible that you have a software problem, as you were able to run Windows in safe mode but not in normal mode.
I am not sure what knowledge you have about computers and I hope it will not sound very complicated for you.
You can download Knoppix Linux live CD in ISO format and burn it on a CD. After that you can try to boot you laptop from this CD. It will boot to a Linux GUI environment, very similar to Windows. Knoppix uses drivers from the CD and by booting to it you will bypass Windows OS. If you laptop works fine in Linux then most likely your problem is a corrupted Windows OS or the hard drive itself. You can test the hard drive with Hitachi DFT drive diagnostic tool . I do it all the time when I am not sure if a corrupted Windows OS is causing problems.
I would also remove any extra parts from the laptop (DVD drive, battery, wireless card, modem card) to minimize the system and see if it will fix the problem. Try to start the laptop after each part removed. If it will start working properly, the last remove part could be defective. Sometimes bad wireless card can prevent a laptop from booting normally.
I would definitely tested the memory modules with Memtest 86+ utility. If you have 2 memory sticks installed, you can remove them one by one and start the laptop to see if it makes any difference.
Your laptop is not old and I think you can use the same thermal grease if you do not have a new one.
If you do not have any important data on the hard drive try to run a restore CD, I guess you have nothing to loose and the laptop does not work properly anyway.
March 1st, 2006 at 1:52 pm
Hi There - great site. I have a S5100-603 (european model I think) that crashed every day when I used ISDN -every time I logged on it would soon crash - but has been fine for months since I got broadband. Anyway, the big issue is that the screen has flickering pink-ish vertical lines, very hard to read but I manage by changing to lower colour settings where the lines get wider - about 1/4 inch wide or so. Once or twice the way i pressed on the body of the laptop made the lines disappear but I could not recreate this effect and it only lasted a few minutes. The screen is bad on a projector too so its not the LCD thats at fault. I could buy a new laptop for the money I’m quoted for a new video card (telephone diagnosis of the problem) which I’m told needs a new motherboard. I’m wondering if you have any ideas - do I need a new mortherboard? If so can I upgrade from the broken nvidia 440go? Can the video card be replaced without replacing the motherboard? Where can I buy a motherboard? I have searched the net for a long time now.
Incidentally my brothers Toshiba shuts down too till he got it cleaned.
On another note, I need a second laptop for work and the new Quosmio AV600 looks great - especially the speakers. Any ideas will this be crap for overheating too?
Many thanks for your help,
Steve
March 1st, 2006 at 10:31 pm
Hi Steve,
Unfortunately I am not familiar with this laptop model; I repair mostly laptops sold in the USA. I assume that you laptop is similar to Toshiba Satellite 5105 and it has a dedicated video card (not integrated on the system board).
I think that it is a good sign that you were able to get rid of the lines on the screen by flexing the laptop case. It is possible that you can fix the video just by reseating the video card on the system board. Very often the video problem may occur because of a faulty connection between the video card and the system board. You can try to remove the keyboard and push on the video card to see if it will change the video output. If your model is similar to Toshiba Satellite 5105 than you can use my disassembly guide: how to remove the VGA board from Toshiba Satellite 5105 laptop . A new “refurbished” video card is very expensive. Last week I had to troubleshoot a similar laptop, and I quoted to my customer over $200 – he declined the repair. It might be more expensive to fix your laptop than to buy a new one.
You can look for a new video card on eBay. It is risky but sometimes you can get buy stuff very cheap.
I haven’t work on Qosmio G35-AV600 yet and cannot give you any advice. This model is pretty new and very expensive. I guess I will not see this model in our shop in the near future. When you buy a new laptop do not forget to buy an extended warranty, it will pay off.
March 3rd, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Toshiba P30-100.
Having problems with it starting. As soon as it gets to desktop it shuts down. I don’t think it is an overheating problem as it doesn’t start long enough to even get warm. Any ideas would be great.
Thanks in advance
March 3rd, 2006 at 9:49 pm
The CPU in Toshiba P30 is getting hot very fast. It is still possible that you have an overheating problem, even if the laptop runs only for a minute. Check if the CPU fans work properly. Also try to start the laptop in Safe Mode to load only basic Windows files. It is possible that your laptop is infected with a virus. If the laptop works fine in a Safe Mode, than most likely you have a software problem.
One of the best ways to bypass Windows OS files and exclude the software problem is to boot the laptop with Knoppix CD (Comment 34). If you still have the same problem after you booted with Knoppix, the software is not your problem. If your laptop work fine in Knoppix then I would try to reload Windows OS (backup all important data and run a restore CD).
March 4th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
Hi i have a Toshiba M35X laptop and it shus down by iself. I used the coprssedair on the outside of the model next to the fan. I’m scared of opening the laptop but anyway my laptop shuts off in 15min on a good day and 50sec. on a bad one. I tried the old vaccum trick and hat didn’t work. I don’t know what to do because im not a computer wiz and im short on cash.
March 5th, 2006 at 1:56 pm
Great Site! I have a Toshiba A35 that overheats and Im about toopen it up to clean it. Having read about others CPU problems during reassembly, Id rather not pull the heat sink off. Is there a way to remove the “lint/felt” without pulling the heat sink out once tyhe back is off? ( I havent looked inside yet)
March 5th, 2006 at 3:37 pm
Hi Bruce,
You can clean up your Toshiba Satellite A30/A35 heatisnk without pulling it out. You have to remove the heatsink cover and blew the dust out with a canned air. The dust collects between the heatsink and the CPU fan, so clean it properly. After that you can check your job with a flashlight. If you can see the CPU fan through the heatsink it should be good enough to fix the overheating problem. You have to remove the heatsink if you want apply a new thermal compound on the CPU (Artic Silver thermal compound is a good one).
March 5th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
Thanks for the great site! You are a lifesaver for those of us out here with out of warranty Toshiba laptops. I have a A75-S229 with the common overheating problem. Sent it in for “motherboard replacement” while under warranty and I am having problems again now that the warranty has expired. Do you know if it is possible to change processors in this model? If I switched to a Celeron processor would that reduce the heat production? Is this even a possibility? Do you know if Toshiba is doing anything to make this right? I have tried to find out information from the company but they are not very forthcoming. I love this model with the exception of it overheating all the time. Thanks for any help you can offer.
March 5th, 2006 at 6:47 pm
You would be surprised Meg, but Toshiba Satellite A75 laptops with a Celeron CPU inside experience the same overheating problem as laptops with Pentium CPUs. You can prevent the common overheating problem with this model if you buy a can of compressed air and clean the heatsink 2-3 times a month. Just make a few shots inside the fan opening on the bottom of your laptop. If you have some dust inside the heatsink, it will go away through the openings on the side. Also do not use the LAPTOP on your LAPs
, use it on a flat surface.
March 11th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Thanks for all the information. This is by far the best site. I have a A75 - S229 with had an overheat problem. So I followed the intstructions found herein and i seem to have fixed it. While I had the computer dismantled, I also applied the Artic Silver five but I am not sure I applied it on the right place. I did not place it directly on the CPU but the place that covers the CPU where it makes contact with the heat sink - it is a square plate. Is this the right place or do I have remove the plate to put the Silver on the CPU itself?
March 11th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Hey Michael,
You have to apply a new thermal compound directly on the CPU. The laptop CPU is pictured on step 25 in Toshiba Satellite A75 disassembly guide . After you apply the thermal compound you have to attach the heatsink and secure it using 4 silver screws.
March 13th, 2006 at 8:40 am
Hi Cj,
Many thanks for the fast reply. Will let you know how I get on.
Best regards,
Steve
March 13th, 2006 at 11:44 am
Ok I tried the Video card removal, cleaning and reseating but it didnt work unfortunately. Was worth a try though. At least I managed to put it all back together and its working - which proves your instructions are top notch cause Ive never looked inside a laptop before! So people its not that hard, just take care and label each screw you take out!
The model numbers seem to match 5105 = US, 5100 = europe. So at least Ive more options now to look for a new video card, and I know I’ll be able to put it in if I get one. Took the opportunity to give the insides a good cleaning anyway.
Thanks again for the advice.
Steve
March 13th, 2006 at 8:37 pm
Hey, I just followed your disassembly guide, absolutly flawless. I cleaned my fan and heatsink, which had a 1/4 inch thick piece of the “felt” dust on it. Couldn’t believe that. What I am wondering now, is how I should go about replacing my chargin plug, which is also damaged. In order to get it to charge I have to apply downward pressure to the plug, and make sure it doesn’t move. If you know of any tutorials on how to fix this, or if you’ve written one, that would be great. Thank’s so much.
March 13th, 2006 at 9:07 pm
Hey Brendan,
To fix the DC jack you have to remove the system board from the laptop. I guess you’ve done it once already. You can find more information in these posts:
Toshiba Satellite 1900. Laptop loses power and shuts down without warning.
Toshiba Satellite M35X and Satellite A75 power jack and battery charge problem.
March 13th, 2006 at 9:10 pm
Thank you so much for your quick reply! I read the two posts and it is obvious that my laptop is suffering from the broken solder connection. I have soldered things before, but never a motherboard. How much do I have to worry about heating up the board? I don’t want to heat it up too much, but that it causing the solder to ball up and not stick to the board. Thanks again.
March 14th, 2006 at 3:45 am
My Eisystem notebook turns off suddenly without warning. can you help?
March 15th, 2006 at 7:36 am
Hey Brendan,
The DC jack stays away from other components, so you have enough time to heat it up. I do not solder myself a lot and it takes me some time to fix DC jack on the system board, but I haven’t had any problem so far.
March 15th, 2006 at 7:37 am
Hey Ryan,
Sorry cannot help with this one. I’m not familiar with this model.
March 15th, 2006 at 10:25 am
Dear CJ,
Just bought a Toshiba M55-S3314 3 wks ago. Works great at the moment; but reading about the overheating and dc-plug issues scares me a bit (yeah, it’s under warranty, but I don’t want to have to go there if I can prevent it). Two questions:
1. Do the M55’s tend to get clogged and overheat? If I use compressed air blown through the side, maybe with a vacuum cleaner sucking underneath, say, once a week starting now, should that keep it under control?
2. The DC jack is kinda flimsy, looking at it from the outside. I don’t know if it’s on a pigtail or on the board. Is there a way to secure it (like, maybe, epoxy) around the edges where the jack sticks through the case or something like that? Something preventative? Or is this a non-issue.
Sorry for it being so long, I’m just trying to protect my investment…an ounce of medicine is worth a pound of cure, you know…
Thanks so much,
Dan
March 15th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
Hi Dan,
Here is disassembly guide for Toshiba Satellite M55 laptop. On step 27 you can see the laptop system board. The DC jack is on a pigtail and you shouldn’t experience any problem with cutting power. Just leave it as is.
If you are going to use compressed air to clean the heatsink may be 2-3 times a month, it would be under your control.
BTW, it is always a good idea to buy an extra 3-4 years warranty to protect your investment. I can fix laptops myself, but I always buy an extra warranty. Laptop hardware is so expensive!
March 17th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
CAN CLEANING IT REALLY HELPS OR ITS JUST A GENUINE PROBLEM WITH ALL TOSHIBA?
March 18th, 2006 at 8:23 pm
[…] Overheating problem. The laptop will shut down by itself without any reason. To fix the overheating problem you have to take the laptop apart and clean up the heatsink. […]
March 19th, 2006 at 9:38 am
been having overheating problems with my toshiba 35 found the guide in how to clean the fans out but dont have the star key to unlock the 2 screws to get to the heatsink…can i buy one ?where do i get one?
March 20th, 2006 at 1:39 am
Hey, very nice job for doing this Page for all of us that need some manuals to fix the overheating problems, My father bought an A75 and after 1 year and a half working great he started to have some problems, so he took it to a repair center and it work great just for 3 weeks, so I found this page and I followed the instructions and applied some Arctic Silver 5 and is working great for now, hope it stays like this.
Now I have two questions:
1.- Is there any web like this to dismantle a Acer Ferrari 4005? I have one, I don’t have any problems but I want to put it Arctic Silver 5 hehehe.
2.- Is there any Software like MobileMeter to see the temperature of the A75?
Thank you a lot and great job.
March 20th, 2006 at 11:59 pm
Thank you so much, especially for the instruction for dismantling A75.
I had this problem for so long, I tried to dismantle it, but never figured out how.
I’ll try this now,
Thank you so much
March 21st, 2006 at 10:21 am
Hi Alex,
I do not work with Acer laptops myself, but I found one interesting website with Acer laptop service manuals. It might be helpful for you.
I do not know any software like MobileMeter for Toshiba Satellite A75, I never needed one.
March 27th, 2006 at 12:01 am
I was just looking through this lot. I just purchased an Advent laptop. I know it’s a differnet make but It’s showing the same signs as the Toshiba and appears to be more or less the same kind of set-up. I only got the laptop 3 days ago and lastnight I tried to watch a DVD, 3 times in a row the laptop overheated and shut down. Is this unusual considering it’s new? The laptop was on the entire day before this happened though.
March 27th, 2006 at 12:16 am
Hey Sydo73,
It is very unusual for a new laptop to overheat. When you watched a DVD last night, did you keep your laptop on a flat surface? Even though this computer is called LAPTOP, it is not a very good idea to use it on your laps. A laptop can easily get overheated if you close the fan opening on the bottom.
BTW, you bought it just 3 days ago. Can you take it back and exchange for a new one?
April 2nd, 2006 at 7:54 pm
Hello
I hope that you might help with an unusual problem with my Toshiba Satellite P35-S605, only 6 months old.
When I remove the power adapter cable from the back of the laptop, the laptop still thinks that it is running on AC power. In other words, even when it is running on battery it still thinks that it is plugged into the wall and it runs at full power. The laptop simply does not know that it is running on battery power, it always thinks that it is running on AC power.
I reinstalled the Windows operating system and there was no change - it always thinks that it is running on AC power. If I shut it down in hibernation mode while running on battery the battery recharge lights on the front of the computer stay on as if the battery is being recharged from the AC adapter, even when the adapter is not plugged into the wall or attached to the computer.
On the upside, it will still charge the battery, will still run on battery - always thinking that it is running on AC power.
Thanks
April 3rd, 2006 at 5:50 am
Thanks a lot :)… great job you guys are doing, really appreciate it… keep it up!
April 3rd, 2006 at 9:27 pm
Hi Sonja,
First of all, if your laptop is only 6 months old it should be still under warranty. Take it to a Toshiba service center and let them to fix your problem.
In this model the battery connects directly to the main board. Some circuits on the main board control charging and discharging the battery and switching between the AC power mode and the battery mode. If after reinstalling the operating system you still experience the same problem, then I can only blame the system board. Take your laptop to a repair shop and they will replace the main board.
April 4th, 2006 at 7:19 pm
cj2600,
I am following your incredibly clear instructions about how to disassemble a Toshiba Satellite M35X in order to clean my heatsink. I am stuck on Step 13 — removing the top cover assembly. I don’t have a guitar pick, but I have used a thin metal barette and a tiny flathead screwdriver to attempt to pry the top cover off. It is not separating at the back left and right corners. I can lift up the sides and the front (where the speakers are), but I can’t get those back corners to budge. Any suggestions? THANKS!
April 4th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Oops! I must have missed the photo with those corner screws. I feel so dumb.
April 4th, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Actually. they don’t seem to be circled in the step 2 photo.
Sorry to triple post.
April 4th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
Hey Whitney,
Thank you for your help. I forgot to mark those screws on the picture in Step2. Fixed!
Also, I would recommend not to use a screwdriver when you separate the top cover assembly from the base, because you can leave scratches. Use any piece of plastic if you do not have a guitar pick.
April 4th, 2006 at 9:09 pm
I don’t care about scratching this piece of junk, but thanks for the warning! I have owned the M35X for 13 months and have already gotten my motherboard replaced twice by Toshiba repair centers. I had the power jack problem before and all of a sudden the shutdown problem started yesterday. My heatsink was clean when I took it apart just now.
I finished putting it back together and unfortunately must have missed a detail. When I power on, it beeps a few times (a beep I’ve never heard before). The blue power light goes on and all the LED lights are on, but nothing happens. Any clues?
Thanks again for this amazing resource.
April 4th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
Check if the memory is seated properly. Check if all cables are properly connected. I think it is something simple as a bad connection. If you removed the CPU make sure it it’s seated properly and locked.
April 6th, 2006 at 5:28 am
Thanks for your great instructions. I too suffer from a Toshiba laptop overheating problem, but after a quick clean (well its an a70 so really a complete disassembly) all is working great.
May good fortune follow you wherever you go.
.fri
April 7th, 2006 at 2:18 pm
I have just bought a refurbished A70. Should I regularly blow both fans. Also if I do this would you reccomend a routine dissmantle? Say annually, to clean the sink and fans? Finally you may know this. Where are the internal mikes on the A70, I can get the external working but not the internal?? Any Ideas? Thanks Jules
April 7th, 2006 at 8:24 pm
Hi Jules,
If you blow off both fans regularly, let’s say 2-3 times a months, it is not necessary to dismantle the laptop for a routine cleaning. Just keep fans and heatsink clean all the time.
April 8th, 2006 at 1:21 am
Thanks! I wish I’d found this site a year ago when my Toshiba first had this problem. It was under warrenty then and I could have told them to replace the fan for good measure. Now it’s too late.
I’m planning to do the do it yourself way - however - is it terrible if I’m unable to remove the old grease and put new stuff on? I’m in Japan and have no idea where i’d buy CPU grease. Can I get away without it?
April 8th, 2006 at 1:39 am
PS - sorry just noticed this - when I plugged the AC cord in the fan immedietly went into high (and loud) mode. Was quiet and subdued when I was on battery power - but my battery doesn’t last too long.
Is this usual - or is there more to my overheating problem than I assumed.
April 8th, 2006 at 5:57 am
any idea on internal mikes and how to et them working?
April 8th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Hi Rachel,
Try to clean the heatsink and the fan without laptop disassembly first. Buy a can of compressed air and blow inside the openings on the bottom of the laptop case and then inside the openings on the sides. If after that your laptop still overheats, it might be necessary to take it apart to clean the heatsink and apply new thermal grease on the CPU. You can find thermal grease and canned air in any local computer store.
In some Toshiba models fans have few rotation speeds. The rotation speed is higher when the CPU is hotter. In Toshiba Satellite A75 for example, when you turn on the laptop the fan start spinning very fast and then it slows down. If the heatsink is clogged then the fan rotation speed might stay on high all the time.
Try to eliminate the overheating problem first and you’ll see if your laptop has any other issues.
April 8th, 2006 at 12:37 pm
Hi Jules,
I have no idea where internal microphone is located on Toshiba Satellite A70 and if there is a microphone at all. I think I repaired over a hundred A70 and A75 laptops but cannot memorize where it could be located. I never had a customer who complained about it; probably that’s why I do not know. I just went through the part list for Toshiba Satellite A70 notebook and didn’t find any.
April 10th, 2006 at 1:00 pm
Thanks, the memory was in wrong. The heatsink was clean and yet I’m still having the shut down problem. In the past two days my AC connection has begun flickering and going off. The motherboard on my M35X has already been replaced twice–first right after I bought it and again 6 weeks ago.
IMPORTANT NEWS for everyone: I called Toshiba and they put me through to a customer service rep who told me that there is a big lawsuit against these models due to a grounding problem. They said that I will be contacted and compensated when it is over. In the meantime, all repairs will be free if I take the computer to an authorized repair center.
To all fellow Toshiba sufferers, make sure that Toshiba has your contact information by calling their warranty department at 800-240-7100.
April 10th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
Thank you very much for this very helpful and informative website. I tried to find answer how to solve the problem with my Toshiba Satellite 1415-S173 notebook. WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER PLAYS CHOPPY VIDEOS.
I did clean reinstall of Windows XP and did not get any positive result. My computer works slowly and CPU usage is mostly 100%.
Is there the solution to above problems?
Thank you in advance for help.
Sincerely,
Peter
April 12th, 2006 at 12:04 am
Hey Peter,
That is very strange that a fresh Windows XP load uses 100% of the CPU. Are you using an original Toshiba restore CDs? Most likely the video are choppy because the CPU is always busy. It’s not normal.
April 12th, 2006 at 9:30 am
Do you know any sites that show how to repair a sony vaio laptops??
April 12th, 2006 at 9:54 am
Hello cj2600:
At the beginning I used an original Toshiba restore CDs and then I did clean Windows restore using Windows XP CD. Why CPU is always busy? What is the problem? Can heatsink cleaning help?
April 12th, 2006 at 9:23 pm
Hi Brandon,
You can find some help for Sony laptops here and here.
April 12th, 2006 at 9:30 pm
Hi Peter,
Not sure what is going on with your laptop. I think that cleaning the heatsink will not help. It is possible that one of installed devices is bad and loads the CPU 100%. Try to remove the DVD/CD-ROM drive, modem, wireless card, etc… one by one and start the laptop after each removed part. Check if it fixes the problem.
April 14th, 2006 at 11:38 am
Dear cj2600:
Thank you very much for your response. Please let me know if the result of removing “the DVD/CD-ROM drive, modem, wireless card, etc” is SIMILAR TO DISABLING THESE DEVICES USING DEVICE MANAGER.
I want let you know that my majour problem is that Windows Media Player plays CHOPPY STREAMING VIDEO FILES .WMV.
The problem arose after I installed RED VIDEO TOOLS converter from http://www.videohelp.com/mov2avi.htm. Full Recovery with Toshiba Recovery CD’s and clean Windows reinstall did not solve the problem.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Best regards,
Peter
April 15th, 2006 at 11:46 pm
Thank you cj2600. I have a Toshiba Satellite A75-S226 laptop and I was wondering if my fans are messed up because my laptop shuts down unexpectedly. My fans makes grinding sounds when I put my power to full power such as processor speed and brightness but it goes away if I put everything on low, I can also feel the air coming out from the bottom and the fans are loud. I’m going to disassemble and follow your guide and also put as5. Hopefully this can solve the problem of the fan and the unexpectedly shutdowns. Any other advice? Thanks again
April 16th, 2006 at 9:17 am
Hi Brandon,
Most of the time the laptop shuts down not because of a noisy fan but because of a clogged heatsink. I am pretty sure that you will fix the unexpected shutdown problem by cleaning the heatsink and replacing the thermal grease.
I think that your fan should be replaced too. I have seen a lot of A70/A75 fans making a grinding sound when it spins on highest speed. Usually we replace the fan in this case. If you have no money to buy a new fan now, then you can leave it as is for a while. But the heatsink cleaning is necessary to prevent shutdowns.
BTW, the Toshiba part number for fan assembly is: K000016310
April 17th, 2006 at 9:16 am
Thanks again cj2600. Do you know if theres anyway to fix an lcd because of the black spots or dead pixels? And Do you know the Toshiba Satellite A75-S226 part number for the lcd because I searched for lcds and they have many different part numbers. I was wondering which one would be the best one.
April 17th, 2006 at 11:50 am
CJ,
Thanks for all the help. I took my A75 apart last night cleaned out the lint and put it back together. Now I’m running CPUSTRES.EXE on it for the last six hours and I would have to say it’s like a new laptop.
Only problem I had was that I accidently smashed one of the small circular connectors for the internal wifi card and I can’t get it snapped on anymore. I found the part number for the antenna (K000016040) and I found where I can order one, but I don’t know how to take the LCD screen apart which is where the antenna runs through. Any help here would be appreciated.
April 17th, 2006 at 9:39 pm
Brandon,
You cannot fix a dead pixel. The only way to get rid of it is to replace the LCD screen. To find a correct LCD part number I also need the model-part number witch you can find on the bottom of the laptop. Something like PSA70U-004004.
April 17th, 2006 at 9:49 pm
Hi Steve,
First try if the Wi-Fi will work with only one antenna cable attached. It might be not necessary to replace it. I haven’t created LCD disassembly guide for Satellite A75 yet, but you can use Toshiba Satellite P25 LCD disassembly instructions for example. The screw location would be different but you’ll figure it out. To replace the wireless card antenna cables you have to remove the LCD screen, the keyboard strip and the keyboard itself. Nothing complicated. Be careful removing the LCD mask; do not use a screwdriver, only fingers.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:52 am
CJ,
Yes, it works with only the one wire attached, but I was wondering if it was only working at a reduced performance, possibly not getting signal or intermitent signal if I go to far away from the base station.
Since it was working, I didn’t figure I would rip it apart again immediately, If I have to clean out the heat sink every 6-9 months I figured I would replace the antenna next time I open the laptop back up.
I am also planning on putting Linux on this system in hopes that the lower CPU/Memory requirements of a Linux system would help to avoid disassembly as often, but I am having trouble finding drivers for the WiFi card. Do you (or anyone) know which drivers I would need for my Satellite A75-S226 system?
April 18th, 2006 at 5:10 am
The model number for my laptop is PSA70U-004004.
By any chance do you have any guides for taking apart a Toshiba Tecra M4?
April 18th, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Brandon,
There are a lot of different LCD screens listed for your Toshiba:
K000009680 LG LP154W01-A3
K000009660 CPT CLAA154WA01
K000016010 Samsung LTN154X1-L03
K000009670 Toshiba LTD154EX0C
K000019460 LG LP154W01-A5
K000023590 LG LP154W01-TL12
They all 15.4” WXGA screens. The last one is the most inexpensive.
There is one more K000024340 CPT CLAA154W05, but I didn’t find if it is backward compatible with other LCD screens.
I will create a guide for Toshiba Tecra M4 as soon as I get it for repair in our shop.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
Cj,
Thanks does it matter what lcd do I get for the toshiba satellite a75-s226? If it does, the more expensive the lcd is the better the quality?
April 18th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
You can install any LCD you can find and afford. When we have to replace the LCD screen on a laptop, we order from Toshiba any available on the moment screen ignoring the price. When you replace the LCD screen, the most important part to find a correct LCD screen with the same mounting points and the same connector type. All above mentioned screens should fit your laptop without any problem (not sure about K000024340).
April 18th, 2006 at 9:40 pm
Steve,
One antenna wire is called auxiliary. I would guess you need this antenna just in case if the main antenna cable is damaged, not sure. I asked other technicians if the performance would be reduced if you use only one wire, and nobody can give me a straight answer. It is not necessary to take it apart every 6-9 months; you can prevent the overheating problem if you use a compressed air to clean the fans. Blow inside the openings on the bottom of the laptop until the heatsink is clean. You have to take it apart only if the heatsink is completely clogged or if you want to replace thermal compound on the CPU.
I do not use Linux very often but know that it has a terrible support for wireless. Cannot help with drivers, you have to find some Linux gurus on the Internet.
April 18th, 2006 at 10:31 pm
Hi Peter,
It is not enough just disable the device using device manager. When you troubleshoot the laptop you physically have to remove the device from the laptop. You mentioned that the CPU is loaded 100% all the time and reloading the operating system didn’t help. I guess that’s why you are getting a choppy video output. I cannot say what is causing the problem.
April 19th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
I’ve A70 and same problem. Laptop keeps shutting down while working. Got reparied so far 4-5 times and changed mother board 3 times so far. They also replaced CD/DVD, TSF and much more. Now they trying to walk over me that there is lot of dust in my laptop which gets overheated, but infact it’s not true. My laptop never stays in the dusty environment.
Now I wanna get the permanent solution for my laptop so I can use smoothly, what can I do? As of now the unit is not under warranty.
April 19th, 2006 at 10:44 pm
If the laptop shuts down while working then it might indicate two problems.
First problem: DC jack loosing connection with the system board and should be re-soldered. If the LED lights flicker when you wiggle the power plug, then the DC jack should be replaced or resoldered. Most likely your system board was replaced before because of this problem.
Second problem: the laptop overheats and shuts down without warning. To fix the problem you can buy a canned air and blow inside the openings on the bottom of the laptop. That could be your solution to prevent laptop overheating.
April 22nd, 2006 at 8:33 am
before starting in my toshiba laptop there is a 20 seconds beep. Why?
April 22nd, 2006 at 10:43 am
I’ve got a Toshiba Satelite A75-S231 The problem is following: the computer switches off every 30 minutes, After 20-30 minutes of working it gets too hot (I think so) and switches off. What can be the reason of such problems? And i don’t have any warrenty on my laptop
i want to do myself pl give the clear idea to trouble shut the problem without any problem
i hope u will give the clear picture and also where i will get the accessories for the same
i am waiting for ur reply
with regards,
sathya
April 22nd, 2006 at 11:31 am
Sathya,
Most likely your laptop shuts down because it overheats. You can take it apart and clean the heatsink with fans.
April 24th, 2006 at 6:22 pm
Hey, I know a million people have said this above — but this is such a cool resource. Thanks for putting it out here.
My laptop (5205-S703) just started shutting down today. Or actually, it doesn’t shut itself down, it just keeps throwing up these dire warning messages every 15 seconds or so, saying a problem has been detected with the cooling system.
When this happened, I noticed that there was no fan activity at all. The machine was totally quiet. I don’t know how long it had been like this, but MAN it was hot.
After reading through this post and the comments, I imagine I’ve got enough dust in there to build a whole new computer with (the machine is 3 years old). The question is, do you think the fan strained so hard to cool the system that it just broke? Or is a fan shutdown what you’d expect in an overheated situation like this?
Blowing out the heatsink I can do myself. Messing with component stuff like that, I’m going to people who know what they’re doing.
Thanks again for doing this — it’s great!
April 24th, 2006 at 8:47 pm
Hey Eric,
When you see a warning message about a cooling system problem in Windows, then most likely the fan doesn’t spin and should be replaced. I had to order a new fan for Toshiba Satellite R15 this morning with a warning message like yours. Removing fan on Toshiba Satellite 5205 laptop requires some skills. Here is a guide for Toshiba Satellite 5105 VGA board replacement, it will show how to get access to the fan and the guide should be the same for Satellite 5205. If you are not sure, do not open the case.
Here is a Toshiba part number for the cooling fan: P000352700 or P000371020
April 25th, 2006 at 7:00 am
Hi, 1st Thanks A LOT for having this site, is one of the few sites I’ve seen with real good useful info. I’ve been having the overheating problem for more than a year. I have a Satellite P15, how do I clean the heatsink?
April 25th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
I want any information about Eisystem laptop prices specialy the kind of inte(R) , celeron (R) , cpu 2.6GHZ and Li-ion Battery 14.8v 4000MAH8640SC with serual no MSL S/N :4766050a8i-4c0428 and part No :40004852(SM)
April 26th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
Hi, Great Site.
Have you dealt with the touchpad shutting down? First the touchpad goes, then right after that or maybe at the same time I also then lose the USB ports and the keyboard. Usually the keyboard comes back but not the touchpad.
5205-S703 is the model. It has been cleaned of dust lint but didn’t help this problem.
Thanks for any help!
JOe
April 26th, 2006 at 9:47 pm
Cj,
I was wondering whats the average time disassembling a toshiba satellite a75-s226? This is my first time im going to take it apart, so hopefully it doesnt take long.
April 26th, 2006 at 9:56 pm
Madeline,
Follow the link. How to clean Toshiba Satellite P15 heatsink and fix laptop overheating problem.
April 26th, 2006 at 10:01 pm
Hi Joe,
I have never seen this problem before, not a clue. I would try to upgrade BIOS and reseat the keyboard and the touchpad connectors on the system board. Not sure if it will help, but I would definitely try it.
April 26th, 2006 at 10:05 pm
Brandon,
If you have never done it before, it might take about 45 minutes. When you disassemble the laptop make some notes, do not forget screw location. It is pretty easy to take it apart, just do not hurry. Be careful with connectors on the system board, unlock them before you pull cables.
To remove the motherboard I need 10-15 minutes.
April 26th, 2006 at 10:36 pm
If it is possible, please let me know the best place to connect anti-static wrist strap to the notebook computer.
April 27th, 2006 at 9:57 pm
“I have seen a lot of A70/A75 fans making a grinding sound when it spins on highest speed. Usually we replace the fan in this case.”
Cj,
After replacing fans, would my laptop be more quiet than before and would the grinding noises would go away?? Thanks because I was just wondering if it’ll be worth it buying a new fan this weekend.
April 27th, 2006 at 10:08 pm
Brandon,
Toshiba Satellite A70 and A75 laptop are not the quietest computers in the world. After you replace the fan and clean up the heatsink it should be quieter and the grinding noise will go away if it is not caused by a failing hard drive of course.
If you use Toshiba Power Management Utility then you can also change the cooling method from the maximum performance mode to the silent mode. It should also help to make your laptop quieter.
To change the cooling method go to: Start-Control Panel-Toshiba Power Management-Advanced-Cooling Method
April 28th, 2006 at 9:34 am
[…] Read more: Why my Toshiba laptop suddenly shuts down by itself without warning? […]
April 28th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
Hi,
I have a used toshiba satellite A15, the guy I bought it from told me it worked fine, but when I got it home it would start go through the bios and then shut down. At first I thought it was the hard drive or OS so I installed a new hard drive, got my windows xp cd and tried to set it up. However, it won’t stay on long enough to set up. It will shut down normally at the setup is inspecting your hardware screen, or sometimes if I get lucky I will get to the blue screen to agree to the license, but then it will shut down again. I have tried cleaning the heatsink and fan, etc., but to be honest they were not even dirty or clogged with lent or dirt. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Ray I’m wondering if it could be a bios issue……….
April 28th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
Ray,
It looks like your laptop overheats and shuts down. Check if the fan spins. Also I would check if there is thermal grease between the CPU and the heatsink.
You can get it trouble if you try to upgrade or re-flash the BIOS. The laptop might shut down in the middle of the upgrade and the motherboard might get screwed. You’ll have to replace the motherboard. Try to find the problem without re-flashing the BIOS.
April 30th, 2006 at 11:56 pm
Is it possible to get at the M35X’s heat sinks and fan to clean them without completely disassembling the case? I see the instructions for completely disassemblng the case but it kind of glosses over the fan and heat sinks like are so prominently discussed in other model instructions. Thanks, this is the best Toshiba help site I’ve found and the best for the notorious overheating problems!
May 1st, 2006 at 6:22 pm
Hi Cj
I am trouble removing some screws I think they are on so tight and I think I messed up the screw top part and I dont know how to take it off, Is there any way I can remove the screw?
May 1st, 2006 at 6:25 pm
I believe my screw is stripped now, anyway to remove it?
May 1st, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Hello, I have a toshiba tecra a1, and its ben working fine until all of a sudden, i kept getting a cpu hog and shutdowns after start-up. Thinking it was a virus, i spent a whole week tweeking and installing and scanning and deleting files. It was only after some thinking i noticed that the usually loud fan was quiet and that the back and keyboard were unusually hot. At this point, i packed it away because I cannot afford repairs. Reading this blog gives me some hope, and in the event that i totally screw it up, i am resigned. But before i proceed, do you have any words of caution???
May 1st, 2006 at 9:15 pm
Jerry,
You can try to clean the heatsink and the fan with a compressed air. Buy a can of compressed air and blow inside the fan grill on the side of the laptop. It’s not the best way to clean the heatsink, but you do not have to take it apart.
May 1st, 2006 at 9:24 pm
Brandon,
You can search for a screw extractor tool on the Internet. I guess you need something like this.
May 1st, 2006 at 9:35 pm
Tropware,
When you replace the fan, I would also clean the heatsink and apply new thermal grease on the processor.
Most likely the laptop overheats because the fan stopped working. It is very easy to replace the cooling fan on Toshiba Tecra A1, you can access it if you remove the hatch on the bottom. You have nothing to screw up.
Toshiba part number for Tecra A1 fan: P000377310
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:58 pm
I have a toshiba laptop model EA60-155, which is overheating and shutting down, does the same process of compressed air to clean the heatsink work with this model?