“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 20th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
thanks for this info. I was wondering why my computer always shuts down. also if this happens often(overheating) should i buy a cooling table (the thing that is used to cool laptops)?
June 18th, 2009 at 10:28 am
i have toshiba laptop a215-s7462, when i’am using my laptop that overheating, thanks your guide.
June 17th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Can you help me please? My daughter has cracked the screen on her Toshiba Equium L20-197 laptop. I am trying to purchase another screen for it, but to no avail. Have tried numerous sites but they do not seem to recognise the make of this laptop.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
My Toshiba suddenly shut down. Dead! After 10 minutes and blowing cool air on the bottom, it started up again but then shut down again.. I did smell plastic and it was hot. So I took it apart and found a big lump of dust in the fan and a dusty heatsink.
My friend says to replace the fan because of the smell. I think it was just blocked and now since it’s all cleaned out it should work fine.
Did anyone smell plastic and still have it work after cleaning the fan/heatsink?.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I know this may seem funny but it works. usually I go to the local coffee joint to sit and work all day. I keep a small ziplock back with me and just fill it with some ice and just rest the laptop right on it just behind the center fan so the Ice makes contact with the flat surface and doesn’t interfere with the fans. and it works all day. but I am definitely going home and making sure the heat sinks are clean. Thanks everyone for you input.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:34 am
I bought my first Toshiba Satellite Laptop used for $400.00, i was so pleased with it. I started to use it and it would unexpectedly shut off! i was so upset so i called a computer tech and asked him to check it out, he stated that it was the mother board and it will cost me 400.00 to replace, he also stated its not worth repairing to go and buy a new one. I was very upset with the diagnosis. I called a toshiba store and explained the problem, they stated they will look at it and they charged $90.00 to diagnois the problem and then 50.00 and hr after that. OH MY GOD! I did not want to give up, so I try to solve problem on my own with no luck.
Finally to my surprise i googled overheating laptop, not expecting a result, to my surprise this website came up. That was the best thing i did. I took out the Heat Sink and YES it was clogged with dust and debri,(DID NOT COST A PENNY). WOW! It has been working fine does not shut down unless i shut it down. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 14th, 2009 at 5:54 am
I have the IDENTICAL problem as “katherine”(May 30th, 2009). 1) Laptop about 4 years old P15-S420. 2) Just recently, daughter reported that it was “dead”. 3) When I got it back, it booted and ran for me JUST FINE. 4) Then, the 2nd time I used it, it quit unexpectedly, but I was eventually able to get it to come up. 5) Things got progressively WORSE and like “katherine”, I can’t get it much past the boot menu. 6) I’ve followed the instructions that I found on Internet about cleaning HEAT SINK and how to apply new thermal grease (I bought the real expensive stuff!). No change. 7) I’m heartbroken about the loss of the 3 Ghz PC which has served me so well over the years.
There must be some OTHER overheating sensor that is tripping/causing this situation. Can anybody tell me what else to look for?
June 10th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
My Toshiba A75-S206 had overheated and consistently shut down 2yrs ago while under warranty. The Toshiba Authorized Repair Dealer indicated they cleaned the heatsink and replaced with thermal grease. Overheating is problematic with this machine model. Now with the same issues of loud fans, overheating and shutting down, I decided to call around for prices to fix this machine. The authorized dealer in my new location indicated $135.00 and a computer repair outfit for 120.00. Best Buy was $85 down to ship out for diagnosis (and more $$$) which would apply if repaired.
Since I’m A+ Certified and have never dismantled a laptop, I took the time to go through websites for assistance and found two and worked my way through repairing this myself. For the Toshiba A75, you would have to take it all the way apart in order to clearly see and get to the heatsink. It was all clean inside the laptop except for the heatsink which was clogged with dust. I cleaned the fans down with a soft cloth and long cotton tip and sucked up the dust with the vacuum and soft brush. I had a small tip brush to get between the heatsink fins. I put the laptop back together and VOILA!! She is sooo quiet and smooth now. Any future problems, I would know how to fix this with Artic Silver thermal grease and a new heatsink.
Here are the sites I used: http://www.irisvista.com/tech/.....tA75_1.htm, http://www.irisvista.com/
Hope this helps someone.
June 8th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Hi there,
I have a Toshiba P33 Laptop (I use the word Laptop loosly.. Its a big bugger!) with the 3.6Ghz processor so it runs pretty hot. It gets so hot that it has artifacts all over the screen and can burn my hand if I touch the heatsink.
The fans turn on for 5 seconds when first switched on but stop and do not run again.
I had a look through the BIOS to find a setting for the fans to run all the time with no luck.
I have also pulled it apart and cleared all the dust.
The laptop only boot into windows by holding the air compresser underneath the fan holes.
Any assistance would be much appreciated in trying to get the fans to run.
Kind regards,
Josh Lindsay
June 5th, 2009 at 6:51 am
My Toshiba Satellite was constantly overheating, slowing everything down and then spontaneously shutting down even though I had it raised to allow air flow for the vents on the bottom. I tried a regular vacuum on the vents and IT WORKED! No more shutting down and overheating. Definitely try the shop vac if you have one but a regular vacuum helped mine!