“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!
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
August 17th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
1285
rahul c Says:
August 15th, 2011 at 4:57 am
I am planning to buy a Toshiba satellite L series..But after going through lots of reviews it seems Toshiba got lot of problem. I am in dellima either to go for Toshiba or HP(lesser pbms as compared to toshiba:source-reviews)
ANSWER:
I like the Toshiba laptop brand. I have a laptop that is 5 years old, my first sign of any problem was a month ago when it shut down on it’s own, and it was running slower and the fan was very loud. I took it apart cleaned it and it’s great again.
It is a A105 S4284, I paid 1,200 for it. Five years ago things were more costly of course.
I just bought a Toshiba laptop P745 S4217, it cost me about $800.00 6gb. Way more than I need but I like the keyboard without the number keypad on the right side. It’s just whatever you get used to. They don’t make them as sturdy as they used to, the plastic seems weak and there is no latch on the top. ( the old one has a latch) They also no longer provide a recovery disk, so be sure you make one as soon as possible.
My first computer was an HP and it was dead within one year. I personally am not real impressed with HP.
When looking for a laptop, of course look for the features you need. But next turn the thing over and look for easy access to the Hardrive, the memory, and most importantly see if the fan area has a door/cover that can be removed making maintenance of the fan, heat sink and CPU easy. Most laptops have a fan you can see on the bottom, some might have two fan (rarely seen). Do not get one that does not have a fan showing. Toshiba has just discontinued one that was like that it was still right at $500.00 though.
Hope this helps you.
August 17th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
1284
sibomana aimable Says:
August 14th, 2011 at 2:45 am
my toshiba laptop satellite A200-SC3 shut down its self many time, I wait for one or two week and when I switch on, some times it accept to switch on or some times it refuse, it has VISTA as an operating system.
What your describing, the laptop shutting down on it’s on is usually a virus or Overheating. Overheating is a common problem with laptops and particularly Toshibas. There simply is not enough room under a laptop for proper air flow.
If your computer is say two years old or older, and/or used in what could be considered a dusty environment, then Overheating
would be my first concern.
Your computer is shutting down to prevent you from burning up your hard drive. This protection is built into the computer.
Some people think buying a can of Air and spraying into the vent on the side of the laptop will fix your problem, However, all that will do is dislodge some of the built up dust. It will not fix the real issue.
See the pictures above. The dust layer is tightly fixed against the inner vent fins and the entrance into the fan. The only way to clean the area is to take apart the laptop. It sounds scary but the instructions and pictures offered on the site will take you though it.
I encourage you to clean your laptop. Help will be here if you need it.
August 15th, 2011 at 9:38 am
This are great guides!! thank you! But i find myself in a situation, i follwed the satellite a505 guide so i could clean the fan with compressed air, i got all the way but now i want to reconnect the touchpad to the top cover! im not able reconnect the cable with the plastic black part in the step 11 of the a505 guide pleaase!! help!!
August 15th, 2011 at 4:57 am
I am planning to buy a Toshiba satellite L series..But after going through lots of reviews it seems Toshiba got lot of problem. I am in dellima either to go for Toshiba or HP(lesser pbms as compared to toshiba:source-reviews)
August 14th, 2011 at 2:45 am
my toshiba laptop satellite A200-SC3 shut down its self many time, I wait for one or two week and when I switch on, some times it accept to switch on or some times it refuse, it has VISTA as an operating system.
August 13th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
KC,
So glad to hear you got a new computer. yeah!
I know it takes an undue load off your mind.
Have fun!
Having fixed my overheating problem, I’m now trying to figure out where my D Drive went too suddenly, rather why it cannot record so that I can back-up the files I just saved from the overheating issue.
Dang, it’s alwayys something. LOL
All the best KC!
August 13th, 2011 at 4:57 am
Hi all,
Just received my replacement Tosh Satellite P745-1001X from my dealer. They are still not too sure what was the problem with my previous set.Putting the new set through the pace. Looking good so far.
August 9th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Hi,
My Thoshiba Satelite laptop, shutting down while connect charger to the laptop, what could be the reason, pleas advise.
August 9th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
1279
No Fear Granny
August 9th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Yeah they sure don’t make them like they use to!
My Tosh Satellite is the P745 i7-2620M running at 2.7G with Win 7 Premium. I’ve just unboxed it three days ago. Used only in clean environment, therefore it can’t be a clogged heatsink.
The fan is running albeit at 50 to 60% max and i can feel the warm exhaust air from the vent. So that takes care of faulty fan.
Norton is up and running, so that rules out virus shut down.
Anyway my friendly neighbourhood computer guy is dropping by to pick up the set to Tosh service centre for evaluation and or a swap for a new set. I will keep you posted on the outcome. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed.
Thanks Gran!
August 9th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
1276
KC Says:
August 9th, 2011 at 9:20 am
Hi all,
I’ve just got my Toshiba Satellite P745 running on i7 three days ago.It started shutting down by itself as I was putting together a multimedia intensive presentation! This happened 5 times! But the PC Health monitors shows that the CPU temp is only at 40% to max and the fan kicks in at 60% max. The overall build and spec is top notch. But this pain in the neck overheating problem on a brand new machine really pisses me off. Will sent it back for a check up failing which a refund!
**KC Please give me more info about your laptop.
Is it a P745 -S4217 ? That comes with Windows 7
How long have you had it?
I just bought this machine from Best Buy on the 5th of Aug.
using it now. I haven’t had any over heating problems. the numbers on your heat sound good, so that’s odd.
I did get one the Geeks at BestBuy had been into. It seemed odd and showed some critcal errors in the event log prior to my getting it, so I took it back and got this one they had not been into.
I had 14 days to take it back, be sure you take it back and get another one. One thing for sure…they are not building them the way they did five years ago!
Best of luck.