“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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July 21st, 2006 at 5:16 am
This was a really helpful guide, thank you. I own a P30 and have had it less than a year; it’s been back in for repair twice because of overheating but I’ve just tried the vacuum idea and it seems to have resolved the problem third time round. If it goes again, I’ve the confidence to open it up and see what I can do to clean the inside.
I don’t think I’d ever buy Toshiba again, though, judging by this being a known problem; that, and I bought the P30 to be a laptop (obviously) and the battery runs no more than 45 minutes tops – as low as ten if I try, heaven forbid, to watch a film or listen to music!
I’m just wondering, this may seem an odd thing to ask or maybe not, but if you have pets, can their fur get into the laptop even when it’s not on your lap but sitting most of the time on a table? I’m thinking we have cats, and that stuff they call ‘dander’ gets everywhere else – maybe the laptop too?
July 20th, 2006 at 2:55 am
Thank you for the info cj2600,
I will make the changes according to how you described the procedure in a couple of days.
I just thought that finding some heat-grease would be more difficult than just leaving the processor in place
Best regards
CH@IN
July 18th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
I have a toshiba m35x. I used the instructions to crack it open and look at the cpu.. its not that dirty.. so im a little confused.. when i start the computer then fan turns on briefly.. windows starts and almost 5 mins later my screen goes off and the little light beside the blue is still running.. any ideas on what is going on?
July 17th, 2006 at 11:13 pm
Thank you George,
That is a nice guide and very clear pictures. Let me ad one little detail. I wouldn’t put the heatsink back in place with the CPU still attached to it. If the CPU is not aligned with the socket, you can bend pins and damage the CPU.
I would suggest the following steps. When you remove the heatsink with the CPU attached to it, carefully separate the CPU from the heatsink. You can place a flat head screwdriver between the CPU and the heatsink and rotate it until the CPU is separated. After that unlock the CPU socket on the motherboard (there is a screw-lock on the side), align the CPU and place it back inside the socket and lock the socket. Now, when the CPU is inside the socket it’s safe. You can clean old thermal grease and apply new grease.
July 17th, 2006 at 5:04 am
I made a “heatsink cleaning” guide for the Toshiba 1955-S80x series. Its available for free under http://tinyurl.com/e4wlu and http://electrochain.googlepages.com/toshibafan
6.1 Mb Adobe PDF file available for download through megaupload or rapidshare
cj2600, if you want to, you can adobt this guide into your fantastic collection. (or just strip the pictures and rewrite it, whatever you prefer)
Best regards
CH@IN
July 16th, 2006 at 1:38 am
I have a A65-S1062,and at first it would shut off by itself. As time goes on, it would turn on for 3 seconds and then turn back off. Now it wont turn on at all. I would have to apply pressure at the bottom between the battery and memory card cover in order to have the green light to come, but that dont work any more. I have took it apart and cleaned out the heatsink which had dust clogs in it. But still no green light. What gives
July 15th, 2006 at 8:13 pm
This is the best site ive ever seen… I own a Satallite A75-S229.. Bought 11/29/2004…
At first I would always shock it by touching it and it would shut down.. (I just thought it was my electrifying personality.. til I read this thread).. After about 11 months it started overheating all the time and shutting down… Now the power cord works intermittantly.. (I Have to wiggle it to get it charge)… All three of these issues were addressed at this site… Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.. Wish i had found this info a year ago…
I’ll Let ya know how my cleaning and soldering goes…
July 15th, 2006 at 3:33 pm
Dude, THANKS so mcuh!!!
Very good!!
Was going to pay 150 pounds to get it fixed:P
CHEEEERRRRRRSSSSSS
July 13th, 2006 at 11:45 am
It really depends. Usually the life of the battery is around 1-3 years, depending on how you really used it. The optimized usage of the battery is fully charging it and discharging it from time to time. I advice you check the support website of toshiba, which is support.toshiba.com and check on the FAQ’s for battery. Also, try to download and install the latest bios update for your laptop because that could solve the issue
July 12th, 2006 at 9:39 pm
hi cj2600, ppl,
now i know why. when connecting to AC source, it’s charging (and it has to), the battery led went orange; but, when it reach 100%, the battery lamp went off (which it should be turn blue right?). now the problem starts here. after the battery led went off, the power icon is still there. and the battery meter suddenly dropped to 50% (!) when i tried to plug off and in again the power, the icon still ‘on AC’ (or turn to battery but it doesn’t matter), and it’s not charging… so the battery keep dropping until i hear the beep sound and blinking orange led like i told, then shut off.
now, this is office notebook, so i don’t have any authority to do anything in the hardware.
just my curiousity, if i remove the battery and put it on again, would it fixed? if not, is it the battery? or BIOS?
thank you all,
.awan.