Let’s talk about problems typical for Toshiba Satellite A60 and A65 notebooks. Do you own one of these laptops? Is it working fine for you?
Here are some typical issues I’ve notices with this model.
1. First of all – overheating
Does your laptop shuts down without any reason when you ran CPU intensive programs? If yes, then most likely it happens because the laptop overheats. It happens because overtime the heatsink gets clogged with dust. A layer of dust collects between the cooling fan and the heat sink (dashed line on the picture) and heat produces by the processor gets trapped inside the laptop. As a result of that, the processor overheats and the laptop shuts down.
There are two different way to clean the heat sink and fan in these models:
- Buy a can of compressed air or find an air compressor and blow off the heat sink through the air intakes on the bottom of the laptop.
- Remove the keyboard (steps 5-9) and you’ll get an access to the cooling fan. Blow off dust from the fan and the heat sink.
In some cases the laptop overheats because of defective cooling fan. The fan should start working as soon as you power up the laptop. If the fan will not star, most likely it’s bad and must be replaced. You can find a new heat sink cooling fan for Satellite A60 and A65 notebooks by the following part number: V000042110.
2. Defective onboard memory
Here’s another common problem – bad onboard memory. This memory is integrated into the motherboard and if it goes bad you’ll have to replace the entire motherboard.
If your laptop starts with some weird characters or lines of dots on the screen, most likely you have a faulty onboard memory. If you test the laptop with an external monitor, you’ll see the same defective video on the external monitor too. You can test the onboard memory with Memtest86+ utility. Remove any external RAM modules and run the memory test. If the onboard memory fails, you’ll have to replace the motherboard.
The integrated memory module is located close by the memory extension slot, under the foil.
UPDATE: If you have bad memory, you should read comment 93 submitted by Daniel on September 28th, 2007.
3. Last but not least – power jack issue.
With Satellite A60 and A65 notebooks this problem is not as common as with Satellite M30X, M35X, A70 and A75, but it’s still a problem. Overtime, the power jack might get loose and the positive pin stops making a good contact with the motherboard anymore. As a result, the laptop switches to the battery power even though the power adapter is still plugged in. Usually you can temporally fix the problem by adjusting the power adapter plug on the back of the laptop, but after some time the problem reappears.
In this case you’ll have to disassemble the laptop, remove the motherboard and resolder the power jack. I’m buying new power jacks here.
Do you experience the same problems or you have another issue with your Satellite A60 or A65 notebook? Please share your experience.
Instructions for replacing laptop power jack yourself
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March 4th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
I have a toshiba A60 that has the bad onboard mememory. I tried to repair by removing the memory but after removing the computer would come on then turn off immiediately. I then purchased a refurbished motherboard, same part # as the one that came off of my old unit. Now the computer comes on but the fan doesn’t and neither does the moniter. It hums..but nothing else..not sure which direction go go now….I don’t really need the computer but it is now become a challenge to get it started and operational…any advice!!
February 11th, 2010 at 9:28 am
hanoga,
I don’t know the part number for your particular model but usually you can find it on a sticker in the memory compartment.
The part number looks something like this: V000041560. You’ll have different numbers.
Find the part number and google it.
February 11th, 2010 at 12:40 am
thank you a lot for your help ,
can you tell me where can i get the mother board and if it have a part no or code , the lap top is toshiba equium AE60-173.
GREETINGS,
February 11th, 2010 at 12:18 am
xkoolrod,
Make sure the hard drive installed correctly. I know that on a Satellite A60/A65 it’s possible to connect the hard drive incorrectly. It feels like the hard drive is plugged into the connector, but only one row of pins is actually connected to the connector on the motherboard. Make sure both rows of pins on the hard drive are plugged into the connector. I hope you understand what I’m talking about. Take a look inside the hard drive compartment when the hard drive is removed. Do you see the connector? Do you see two rows of holes on the connector? Make sure ALL pins on the HDD are plugged into those holes.
February 10th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
hanoga,
It’s possible but you said the laptop is completely dead and there are no LED lights at all when you plug the AC adapter.
I believe, even with damaged/corrupted BIOS you should get the power LED working when the AC adapter is plugged.
I think you have some kind of power issue on the motherboard. It could be just a coincidence that your laptop failed while updating the BIOS.
I think you’ll have to replace the motherboard.
February 10th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
I THINK MY REPLAY ARE LOST SO I SEND IT AGAIN,
The jac is ok and i also cheked the battery it have half charge so it seems that it is the motherboard like you said ,
my quastion is i was updating the bios and it was not finished , is it is possible that the bios chip is damaged?
and if so ,is this can lead to no power ?
and if the faulty bios lead to this problem, is it possible that i can replace or charge the bios ship ?
whatever the bios chip is not removable it is welded on the board so where i can get a replacment?
February 10th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
the jac is ok and i also cheked the battery it have half charge so it seems that the motherboard like you said ,
my quastion is i was updating the bios and it was not finished , is it is possible that the bios chip is damaged? and if so is this can lead to no power ?
and if the faulty bios lead to this is it possible that i can replace or charge the bios ship ?
whatever the bios chip is not removable it is welded on the board and where i can get a replacment?
February 10th, 2010 at 11:33 am
hanoga,
1. Check the DC power jack. Maybe it’s got broken or has to be resoldered. Can you get lights if you wiggle the power plug inside the jack?
It might be necessary to disassemble the laptop and take a look at the jack from inside.
2. If the jack looks OK and the motherboard is getting power through it, you have a problem with the motherboard. Could be blown fuse or something more serious.
Your description sounds like a problem with the motherboard.
February 10th, 2010 at 11:27 am
the adaptor is working i checked it in onether laptop is working perfect
February 10th, 2010 at 11:25 am
it seems to me that there is no power at all no lamps no sound no movment of fanes completly dead is there somthing i can do or check ?
thanks for your replay .