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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March 17th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
What kind of foil is used for this (other than your kitchen tin foil)? Can you buy foil tape at the hardware store?
January 30th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
agus,
I’m not sure about other brands/models but it was a very known issue with Satellite M35X, A70, A75 laptops.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:58 am
Is the problem just happen on toshiba laptop?
September 2nd, 2010 at 8:22 am
Lavonne Codburn,
Possible memory failure.
Most likely you have two memory modules installed so you can try the following troubleshooting:
- Remove memory modules one by one and test the laptop with only one module installed
- Try installing each memory module into different slots
If one of the modules is bad, the laptop should start working properly when the bad module removed.
September 2nd, 2010 at 8:13 am
I have a toshiba satellite L645D It has started freezing up on the internet. It reboots frequently I never put my hands near the speakers. This tutorial is awesome, and I wish it would work for me. This however doesn’t seem to be the problem with my computer. Thanx.
July 16th, 2010 at 6:59 am
Hello, I have a satellite A205 that just stopped working yesterday. Worked fine the night before, closed the cover and the next day nothing happens when trying to boot up. A couple of times the boot screen comes up stating that Windows did not shut down properly and if I wanted to boot up normally or safe mode. It said this may have been caused by a recent update. There have been no signs of any issues, power or otherwise. Power cord light is on, battery light is on and power light comes on. Any ideas?
February 15th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Hi, I live in Rio de Janeiro – Brazil, I have a Satellite A205 S4777 and every time I put the power jack freezes and nothing works, help me please
August 20th, 2009 at 10:12 am
I have the same problem with a satellite a135, can anyone help me please? mail me the solution please please……….
May 8th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Hey men, I just want yo say tank you for this tutorial, it was very helpful, you do a great work.
cheers from Mexico.
PD. excuse my English, I’m not totally bilingual.
December 28th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Hi I have a Satellite R15-S822 tablet (just to let you know I’m 15, so I’m NOT taking my computer apart) and a few days ago I was online and a scratching spinning noise sounded coming from the hard drive/fan area it sounded like a disc was loose in the disc drover but it wasn’t coming from the disc driver area plus i checked thd disc and it wasn’t loose I immeditly shut the computer off thinking it was the hard drive disc or something and since then it’s made the noise 1other time and just now it made a clicking noise and an error message popped up saying “Windows has dectected a problem with the cooling system. Immedity shut the computer off and get it serviced” I’m worried the hard drive will over heat so I’m not using the computer!
I don’t hear a the running so is there anything I can do before I take it to get it fixed??
Email me your responce please!