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
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
April 24th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Mishuk,
What problem?
April 14th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Hi,my laptop have a hanging proble,mostly when i use Internet.what can i do? please give me a good advice.
March 21st, 2010 at 9:45 am
I cut off the chips and cleaned up the solder with a soldering tool. Put in an external module and turned it on. I hear a spark and then I smell plastic burning. The ATI chip fried.
March 20th, 2010 at 12:17 am
so if i remove the 8 cips off memory it works?
March 15th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
I managed to cut off the 8 chips for memory with a craft knife, but when I tried to turn it on outside of the laptop case it turns on for a few seconds, no beep, and then it turns off.
Would I have to clean the 8 chips with a soldering braid?
March 14th, 2010 at 1:37 am
Hi
i have a problem hope you can help
i was re-assembling the laptop after cleaning
and was attaching the little white switch on
the mobo when the other end of the
cable snapped one red wire one black i think its the power switch cable but im not sure and i dont want to blow the mobo
help! thanks
March 10th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
I have a Satellite A65 with faulty RAM. I’ve read the comments here. Would using an exacto knife to cut off the onboard RAM actually work?
March 5th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
I removed the CPU and reinstalled also took memory out but, still have the same problem. It is starting to sound like I need a new laptop
March 4th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Stanley Cantave,
1. Make sure the CPU is seated correctly and is LOCKED in the socket. Did you lock the socket after installing the CPU?
2. If you installed any memory module into the external slot, remove it and test the laptop just with onboard memory.
3. It’s possible your “new” motherboard is not good.
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!!