“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.).
Solution:
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!
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March 4th, 2010 at 3:13 am
Hello,
I have Toshiba sattelite, I am facing the same problem of shutting down and restarting of Laptop abruptly.but my other laptop of HP is also having same problem!!!!!!! Funniest thing is that both Laptops devloped this problem at the same time, when i use some infected USB.
where Toshiba is 5 months old, HP is 2 years old Laptop.
so is this could be a virus related problem.
Plz reply.
Thanks
sanjay
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:08 pm
I have a Toshiba A305 S6858 and didn’t know why my laptop would shut down randomly. After reading this advice, I looked up how to take apart my laptop. Thank goodness I did this! I found a massive clump built up in my heat sink, much like the third example above. It was ridiculous. Now my computer can breathe and keep itself cool. Thanks guys!
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Sofyan Gammaz,
Probably overheating. Clean the heat sink.
By the way, it’s not just Toshiba. It happens with many other laptops too.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:23 am
I have Toshiba satellite A350-214.It shuts down each time I play any game such as GTA IV ,saint rows 2, call of duty 2 and 4. I just wanna know whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? screw Toshiba . I will never ever buy another stupid Toshiba, why should I?
February 28th, 2010 at 12:17 am
I have a Toshiba Laptop model A105S2712, lately it has developed some very funny action……It shuts down within about 20 – 30 minutes of its starting<<<<<<<< the fan is running, I tried an auxiliary fan support, but to no IMPROVEMENT ??????
Than, the local TECHNICIAN ( REPAIRMAN ) advised me to access Function + F5 keeys simultaniously, the laptop will come back to life and ( BELIVE IT OR NOT ,,,,,, IT WOULD NOT STOP FOR MANY HOURS WORKING ????) But, if you restart it, it will again go BLACK SCREEN (with about 3 – 4 horizontal lines on the screen) ONCE AGAIN "ACCESS FN + F5 keys, it will work NON STOP until you decide to switch off ??????
Can any one help me?????? to avoide this Fn + F5 accessing ????
I consider this as a malfunction…..what is a possible remedy for this ????? The local repairs technician told me that, he can try replacing some SCREEN RELATED part,,,,, but he is not definitely sure of eradicating the PROBLEM….. It is only his asumption " TRIAL AND ARROR " method ????
I would not take any RISK / CHANCE with my unit!!!!!!!
HELP ME PLEASE
DAVE
February 25th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Mary,
Have you tried running the laptop WITHOUT cooling mat (I guess you are talking about cooling pad)?
It’s possible that fans on the cooling pad and inside the laptop work in opposite direction canceling each other.
Try without cooling pad.
February 25th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
I have a three week old Toshiba P500 that shuts down only when playing Farmville – specifically when I go to full screen. This is a brand new machine running on a cooling mat. 64bit Windows 7. I don’t think it could be a heating problem, but I sure can’t figure out what it is. Any other ideas?
February 24th, 2010 at 12:57 am
Quote: “find out both the DVD and floppy are not reading, although they are both recognized by the Bios and are not disabled. The cable connector of the floppy seems OK, but I still don’t know how to take out the DVD to check (DVD is underneath the motherboard).
My question is any one also have DVD and floppy not reading, and what cause them?”
Update: I reconnect the cable to fix the floppy, but the DVD is really defective.
Thanks
February 21st, 2010 at 12:36 pm
It is easy! I took out the cpu/heat sink. followed everything else. It works great! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
February 19th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Hi Everyone,
I found giving it a good clean out with an air compressor has solved my overheating problem. Just take it easy. Spinning the fan too fast is unavoidable. But blowing it out in spurts will at least lower your chances of damaging it.
Now my baby doesn’t even get warm!!
Good luck!