If you own a Toshiba Satellite M35X, A70 or A75 laptop then you can experience the following problem. You laptop might lock up, freeze up or even reboot by itself when you touch the palm rest around the speakers area. It happens because of a static electricity discharge when your touch the laptop speakers. In some cases you will not even fill that discharge. The problem occurs because of improperly grounded top cover assembly. To fix the problem, it is necessary to install a new modified top cover assembly. If you laptop was made before January 2005 then most likely you have unmodified top cover. For example, I made some pictures from a Toshiba Satellite A75 top cover assembly. The top cover for Toshiba Satellite M35X is almost identical.
On these pictures you see unmodified top cover assembly for Toshiba Satellite A75. The foil runs from the speaker and from the touchpad to the metal chassis.
On these pictures you see a modified top cover assembly. The foil runs from the speaker and the touchpad, touches the metal chassis and ends on a screw stud.
On this picture I remove the metal bracket, so you can see where the foil tape is connected.
I think it is possible to make this modification yourself. All you need is to find a foil and run it as it shown on the pictures. I have never done it myself, so not sure about the result. 
Here are some other problems found in these models.
Power jack issues: Toshiba Satellite M35X and Satellite A75 power jack and battery charge problem
Overheating: Why my Toshiba laptop suddenly shuts down by itself without warning?
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April 2nd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
SO i have a m45 also what are others doing with this laptop which seems to have these freezing issues/restarts and does yours work in safe mode cuz mine will boot up in safemode and run all night…..? Puzzled!
March 21st, 2008 at 10:57 pm
radwan,
This is a very unusual problem for this model. Do you have to touch the palm rest or you actually press on it?
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer for your question. It’s necessary to remove the top cover and take a look on the back side of the cover. Maybe something is touching the motherboard when you press on the palm rest. This is just a guess.
March 21st, 2008 at 6:20 pm
hey everyone. This fix works. I took apart my laptop and used regular aluminum foil. no more static problem. try it. it works.
March 21st, 2008 at 10:02 am
hi , my problem with A200 , when i touch the area around palm rest my laptop freeze up or reset and before that happen it showen on screen blue screen with attention message for may be physical problem , this problem just happen when i move the laptop but when it stay on my desk never happen
March 15th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Joaquin Lacayo,
Here’s part number for the top cover: V000040380
Google for the part number and you’ll find it.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Hi,
I am looking for a top cover for a Toshiba Satellite A65-S1065. Model # PSA60U-023016.
Please reply to my email.
February 24th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
CORRECTION:
I meant to say that if I smack/thump it (pretty hard) to the left of touchpad, it will usually fire up ok. only to freeze again later.
Thanks for the website and the help!
February 24th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
I have an M45 with similar shut down/freeze problem. It’s been to Warranty repair for the same problem twice already. Motherboard replaced each time and worked as supposed to for 6 months then SAME freeze problem occurs. Now Toshiba says “tough luck” to warranty repair and refuses to touch it without a “minimum” of $450 service fee. Customer relations (”Ezekiel”) is a jerk and worthless…
This machine freezes and wont restart. Power light lites up momentarilly then shuts down without even completing the post test.
Freeze may occur at anytime. 30 seconds or 2 hours after powering it up! The touchpad and keyboard freezes BUT plugging in extenal KB or mouse and it works ok…. only to shut down a few min later.
I discovered (out of frustration) that I can make it start up again by striling the palmrest just to the left of the touchpad. I’ve replaced the keyboard and touchpad and same thing happens. I totally disassembled it and removed the motherboad and cleaned all contacts with tunercleaner and including copper screw points on the mother board, ribbon cables, etc and reassembled it. It worked ok for a few hours and did it again. Seems a bit more reliable but still freezes and shuts down- especially if it’s moved off lap ontp table, or off table to lap.
Its the last time I buy a toshiba! I have 6 others in my business and are prety bulletproof… but this M45-S3553 is made in China and is a flimsy piece of garbage! Any help would be appreciated….
HD is OK; Memory tests OK, same with WiFi/modem boards, etc. It’s a great machine when it’s working but having to replace the Motherboard every 6 months is nonsense…… I don’t want to dump more $$$ into it.
PLEASE! Any advice????
February 18th, 2008 at 9:01 am
DV,
Maybe there is a problem inside the headphone jack. Check out this headphone jack “repair” solution, it might work.
February 18th, 2008 at 8:38 am
So I tried fixing the problem myself with some aluminum tin foil because I’m away from any tech shop and i need the laptop for every day use and can’t be without a computer for more than a day or two. Everything worked like a charm. Didn’t have any problems for 2-3 days but then unexpectedly my speakers stopped working. I tried reinstalling the audio drivers but nothing helps. I have sound only with external speakers or headphones.