“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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June 28th, 2007 at 6:25 am
Well,
Thanks a lot !
And for Louise, don’t worry to much for computers,
You can try to insult it,
but better to pray
Perhaps a friend will help you finishing your work, lending you an other computer…
Blessings, Daniel.
June 25th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Guys, excellent page/info.!!! I have a satellite P15, with lot of cooling problems. I followed the instructions mentioned here (first time I open a notebook!) and worked perfect! Thank U so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 23rd, 2007 at 11:02 am
Hi, I hope you can help. I took the advise of opening up my laptop to clean the heat sink which was quite simple and straight forward every thing works fine i was able to boot the system and use it but i’ve realised that now i have problems with sound when i play music on Windows Media or Realplay the sound becomes distored. I never had this problem before i opened up the Latop to clean it. Have i done something wrong? I didnt remove the CPU as it was easily detached from the Heatsink so i know i haven’t caused any damage to it. Have i not used enough thermal paste? Have i caused irrevsible damage? I ‘ve reinsatalled the sound driver but still have this problem. I would be extremly greatful if you could help out.
Many thanks
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:31 am
Update to 540: Toshiba M45 S355
Cleaned the heatsink, but freezing persists.
Checked disk/memory and scanned for viruses. All apparently OK. Re-installed the OS from the recovery disk. Still freezing.
Most prone to freezing when the laptop is moved.
However, it does NOT ever seem to freeze in Safe Mode
whether I move it or not. Is there an explanation for this ?
thanks
Dave
June 20th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I cleaned the heat sink and my computer still shutting down.
Toshiba A75-s206 and now video.
June 17th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Just wanna say thanks for the info on the overheating, just took mine apart, and it looked like it had sucked up a cat…haha. I was just about to get rid of this computer when i found this site. Lots of useful info here!
June 10th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Oscar Vasquez,
Check the BIOS version running on your laptop and upgrade the BIOS to the latest version.
I just checked the BIOS change history for a Satellite M115 laptop. I think this problem was fixed in the version 1.20. Here’s a quote from the BIOS change history:
Try upgrading the BIOS first.
June 10th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Hi !, I have a Toshiba Satellite m115-s6010, she was working good as well alright.. few days ago I cant use it without the ac cable because the batt doesnt work. Its brand new.. just 2 month. I dont think its batt problems, maybe I touch a key at the keyboard that disable my batt to get used..
Can anybody give me an idea or help me with.. I´ll be thanks full.
Oscar V, From Dominican Republic.
Thanks a lot!
June 7th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Dave,
I think it’s possible that your problem is heat related. Clean the heatsink first, it’s really easy. You can easily access the heatsink (right cover on the step 2) from the bottom of the laptop, just unscrew one screw and remove the cover. It is not necessary to remove the heatsink, just clean it with compressed air.
If the laptop still has the same problem even after cleaning the heatsink, run the memory and the hard drive tests (you’ll find links to these utilities in Resources).
June 7th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
hi, iv just been reading the advice about toshiba laptops overheating, all i can say is ‘PHEW’ do u guys know how stressed iv been. i thought my laptop was finished and our relationship over. i was at the point of jumping up and down on it and i cannot repeat the names iv called it. sometimes the stupid thing shuts down when im halfway through a letter or project before i save my work. AAAAARRRRGGGHHH !!! THAT IS SO ANNOYING. iv even put the power pack and battery in the fridge in desperation. Anyway i am now going to follow your brilliant advice and try to clean this mother thing i really hope it will work. i will let you all know of my success. thanks again guys Louise. xxx