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New member Username: P123qPost Number: 1 Registered: Oct-05 | We have a Toshiba A75 laptop for a little over a year. In addition to the original 512mb RAM, we added another 512mb RAM chip a year ago. Lately, we experience sudden power-off symtoms on the computer. When that happens, the computer can not be restarted right away. It has to wait at least a few minutes to restart or it will die again. Any suggestion what could be wrong? Thanks |
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New member Username: P123qPost Number: 2 Registered: Oct-05 | Had anyone had similar problem or know what could cause sudden power off, please? |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 2127 Registered: Apr-05 | The battery, most likely...possibly loose RAM. |
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Unregistered guest | The problem is that the computer is going very hot when is hot in the place. At the technical support they told me that they need to clean the heat dissipator, that is in the back of the computer. Anyway, i enter to Toshiba Power Management and in the full configuration, i put the Prcessor in Mid. That solved the problem |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 2197 Registered: Apr-05 | Strange, I suppose the heat sink was so dirty, the temperature sensor couldn't even perform its job correctly. |
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Ivan Sanchez Unregistered guest | I have also this problem and is the heat. The problem is that after you take your computer for cleaning at the toshiba support center, the problem returns again. To avoid this use your computer in a well ventilated desk. And if you live in a dusty place (not a dirty one, but for example if you use wool clothes) try to blow compressed air through the heat dissipator (the brass colored grill between the S-video cable plug and the serial port). Do this in short pulses and you will see dust and dirt coming out of the two fans. |
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cj2600 Unregistered guest | Hi all, I repair Toshiba laptop every day and I see Satellite A70/A75 a lot. Badly designed heatsink is a big issue for this model. You can clean your heatsink under warranty for free. If it is not under warranty, you can do it yourself. I created a disassembly guide for this particular model. You can find it here: www.irisvista.com |
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bscott Unregistered guest | cj2600, is there a quick way to remove the heat sink and clean it or do I have to disassemble the entire machine? thanks |
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LapTop Dude Unregistered guest | Hey all, Having repaired over 30 of these Satellite A70/A75 in the past few months, I must admit this is a very poor design. When the heatsink gets clogged up enough, the system will over heat enough to melt the solder on the power connection. When this happens you will be unable to charge the battery or run the system without positioning the power cord just right. Eventually you will be unable to even do this. Having to dismantle the entire machine to clean the heatsink is a pain. If you machine is no longer under warrenty, I highly suggest you get a can of compressed air and clean it at least once a month... Note: When cleaning the heatsinks, put something nonconductive in the blades of the fan to keep it from spinning. The compressed air can spin the fan so fast that it will burn out the fan. |
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Anonymous | Has anyone heard of a class action lawsuit against Toshiba regarding the A75 laptop? Does anyone know the details and what it's about? |
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Anonymous | Here is a link to a Lawfirm that has a Class Action against Toshiba on the A75 Series Laptop. http://www.classcounsel.com/ |
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xiaomae Unregistered guest | Hey LapTopDude, Can you explain how to clean up the heat sink with a can of compressed air? Thanks. |
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New member Username: CrwolfPost Number: 1 Registered: May-06 | Looking at CJ2600's disassembly guide I got my laptop apart just fine but now I am stuck. I had to take it apart to resolder the power supply for the second time. Problem is I cannot remember where to connect the LCD back to the motherboard. Specificly if you look at http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaA75/satA75_2.htm step 13 you will see a small black and white cable on the left side of the monitor. It has to small circle connections simular to the wifi antena connections. It travels from the left side of the monitor through a slot and connects somewhere on the mobo. I assume its close to the video card but for the life of me I cannot find these connections. Any help would seriously be appriciated. My laptop is a toshiba Satellite A75 |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 2983 Registered: Apr-05 | Those do connect to the wifi card. I recently took apart a Toshiba and know exactly what you're talking about. Strange that they hook up to the wifi, eh? My only problem is I forgot which one is the black connection and which one is the white connection out of the two plugs on the wifi card...let me know if you figure that one out. |
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New member Username: ManjucjPost Number: 1 Registered: Jun-06 | After reading all these messages, i am planning to take apart my laptop to clean. And I will take a snap of laptop at each step so that i can refer back to if i forget something. My question is do i need to have a soldering tool? Because i also have the power jack problem. |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 3093 Registered: Apr-05 | To take it apart, just use this guide: http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaA75/satA75_1.htm If you have the power jack problem, yes, you will definitely need a soldering iron, and solder wick. You might also need to purchase a new jack. I wouldn't recommend doing it if you're fairly novice with electronics. |
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New member Username: Ta83Post Number: 1 Registered: Jun-06 | Hi there.. I have the Satellite A75-S231 model and I too have been having the same issue with the overheating and jack problems. Until reading LapTopDude's post, I didn't realize that these two issues were in direct correlation with each other. My laptop would always shut down because of the overheating, and after while, just as he described, it seemed like jack wasn't working anymore and I kept having to position the cord so that it would charge, and eventually it was extremely hard to do even that. I thought it was the ac adapter so I threw out the old one and just ordered a new one. Found this forum too late. Anyway, I just want to know if anything can be done now that it has melted the solder on the power connection. I know you have guides to opening the laptop and cleaning the heatsink and all that but I am a complete novice, and I don't want to mess with anything. My toshiba went out of warranty a couple months ago, so do you know how much it would cost to go to a repair shop and have them clean the heatsink, and re-solder the connection cord/jack?? Thanks so much for your time! Tasha |
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New member Username: GomPost Number: 1 Registered: Jun-06 | Use caned air through the vents in your computer, that will work A75's get a lot of dust and the cooper heat eliminators get clogged. However you shoul look at the lawsuits against toshiba for that model. |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 3196 Registered: Apr-05 | Be careful, if you spin the fan too fast from the air spray, you'll burn it out. |
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New member Username: Chimp_mcchimpPost Number: 1 Registered: Jun-06 | Interesting read guys. Thanks for the posts - they have given me some insight into whats going on with my a75-s213. Apart from the heat problems it's been a sweet system. Buuut, as I'm using it to take exams the idea of it cutting out unexpectedly is especially worrying. I had set processor speed to low and elevated the the notebook using two wooden stilts at the rear of the system to improve air circulation. Even with these precautions in place I occasionally experienced undesired shutdown. Called Toshiba tech support, they're happy to take a look at it. I tried to lead the guy with questions about it "perhaps being a known problem", he either genuinely didn't know of the issue or was a pretty decent liar. Enough prattle, I have two questions regarding the prior posts. 1. Cleaning: the fans are covered with a fine mesh; too fine even for a toothpick. Any suggestions as to an everyday item that would be good for immobilizing the fans? Everything I have lying around that might work is conductive. 2. Law suits: the link above leads to a class action against Toshiba for Satellite series, but this class action seems to relate to shutdown caused by static charge, not shutdown caused by overheating. Has anyone come across any useful information relating to law suits? |
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New member Username: ChicokidPost Number: 1 Registered: Jun-06 | Jexx, Where can I buy a new jack? This laptop is really starting to bother me. It wasn't cheap, and after owning it for just over a year, I've already had to replace the harddrive and now it looks like the jack. Its definately a short somewhere. Sometimes if I plug in the AC adaptor, everything is great. Other times, the AC power light (first light) comes on, but the Battery light (third one) doesn't. I have to fool around with the cable to get them both to hight up. I've already tried another AC adaptor and the problem continues. Very annoying. |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 3233 Registered: Apr-05 | Kevin, Check out this site for obtaining the new jack or even just having Darren (the owner of the site) repair it for you: http://www.doctorlaptop-repair-jack.com/ |
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New member Username: Lefty52Post Number: 1 Registered: Jul-06 | I seem to be having the same problem described on this thread. I have a 1.5 year old Toshiba Satellite A75 laptop. I can no longer get the AC adapter cord positioned just right to recharge the battery. It sounds like this laptop has a design problem that causes overheating and melting of solder on the adaptor connector. I'd rather spend my money on a new laptop without a design problem rather than to pay to have this Toshiba repaired - if it is likely to have the same thing happen again in the future. Anyone have any advice about how likely it is to stay repaired if I pay to have it repaired? |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 3735 Registered: Apr-05 | Most DC jack repairs last two years max, some as little as six months depending on how often you have to use the jack etc. I'd advise a new laptop. Ones with DC jack repairs really aren't a solid solution-a new laptop will last much longer. Another possibility is just getting a new motherboard with the Toshiba jack that will last just as long, but it's expensive. |
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New member Username: Lefty52Post Number: 2 Registered: Jul-06 | Thank you Jexx for your reply. This Toshiba is my first laptop. Do you have any specific recommendations for well designed laptops that are likely to be problem free for a long time? Should I go to a different brand or are Toshiba models other than the A75 designed better? Thanks in advance for any recommendations. |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 3739 Registered: Apr-05 | Toshiba is a great laptop brand, in fact, once you get into their nicer models, they have the DC jack on its own cord that just snaps into the motherboard; it won't go bad on you because there are no solder connections to get moved around when you plug/unplug the AC adaptor. Some Sony's have a similar setup, but the build quality of them has declined significantly, not to mention the parts as well as the laptops themselves are overpriced. |
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New member Username: SyncboxPost Number: 1 Registered: Sep-06 | A75 owner here. I've had the overheating for a year. Reverse sucking the dirt from the fans using a vacuum cleaner helps (do it 1 or 2 x week) but eventually, you'll have to dismantle the thing and clean the heatsink. And I mean DISMANTLE. There's no fast way to do this and unless you are comfortable with computers, tiny screws and your abilities, take it somewhere. If under warranty, get on the horn to Toshiba. Yes there are class action lawsuits and (unfortunately for those of us who couldn't afford to send our work computer out for cleaning) documentation of the issues a la sending to Toshiba will make a bigger impact financially, when and if the suits settle. Any way, apparently such continual overheating can also undo the solder on the power jack port. That's what I'm experiencing now. A TOTAL PITA. And I've cleaned my heatsink! |
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New member Username: Jiholden77Colorado Springs, CO USA Post Number: 1 Registered: Sep-06 | I too have had the same unfortunate experience with my Toshiba A75 as others posted here. From early on, after my purchase, Toshiba put me off by saying it was the power cord, or the battery, etc., until the computer was out of warranty. Then, it's "tough luck sucker!" Unless you pay them an arm and a leg for out of warranty service calls, they wont even talk to you. This was not a cheap computer. It was supposed to be the top of the line at the time. We paid for a Cadillac and got an Edsel. What more can I say. The disappointment was devastating, because we could not afford to just trash this computer and get another. I have some knowledge of class actions. They take years and you are lucky to get 5% of your investment. It is unfortunate that the class action will likely never net us what we want, i.e., a decent working computer. Is that too much to ask for? This was truly a defective model. I bought another Toshiba of a completely different model/type, and it works great. Toshiba really should take care of it's customers on this one, but I am sure they wont, because of the class action. Sucks! |
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Bronze Member Username: ElmagicoPost Number: 21 Registered: Sep-06 | change the fan in the heatsink for a higher velocity one thats the problem in thoseunit the for the heatsink has very low rpms. |
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New member Username: Scso1502Windsor, CA USA Post Number: 1 Registered: Sep-06 | I replaced the jack on my Toshiba A75-s229 system board. The jack had come completely off the system board. After replacing the jack and reassembling the PC, the PC wouldn't boot up under A/C or battery power. Thinking I somehow smoked the system board, I replaced the system board and have the exact same problem. When I press the power switch, the power lights come on, the fans spin up for a few seconds, then the fans shut off. The power lights stay on with no display on the screen at all and the machine will never boot. Any guesses? I ruled out the system board by replacing it. Both system boards I used have the same problem. Is there a way to reset the CMOS and start fresh? Also, as someone else mentioned above, can anyone tell me which wi-fi card wires go to what connectors on the wi-fi board? There's a white and black wire and the card is labeled, "Main" on one post and, "Aux" on the other post. Thanks - Mike Vail Windsor, CA |
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New member Username: Scso1502Windsor, CA USA Post Number: 2 Registered: Sep-06 | Ok, I just submitted a question and resolved it finally... If any of you poor fools replace the power connector on your Toshiba A75 or similar system board, make sure you didn't pull the processor loose during your work (even if it's locked by the invisible processor locking screw, which is located enter the hcopper heatsink next to the processor) . I just bought a new system board thinking I, "Screwed the pooch" when in fact I just losened the processor by mistake. I reseated the processor and it works perfectly now. If your system powers up and the fans turn on, but you get no video and the thing won't boot, open her back up and reseat the processor and relock the lock screw on it. This fixed my problem. I had no idea this was it and I replaced the system board to resolve it. Email me at mikevail@netzero.net if I can help you. After tearing apart mt Toshiba A75-S229, I'm now an expert! HAHAHA Take care! |
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New member Username: GeekofallgeeksFriedrichshafenGermany Post Number: 1 Registered: Sep-06 | GOT MINE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE! I have read all of your postings in horror. I can relate because I had the same problem as all of you with my laptop, but finally got the manufacturer to replace it free of charge for another comparable model, plus, I got a $100. "gift certificate" for accessories. The key is not to make waves, but simply call persistently to the American headquarters AT 1-800-316-0920 and explain that you have the defective model and would prefer to go through arbitration, which takes about 4-6 weeks, and you would prefer to make an even exchange. If you can verify it is the defective model, they will give you a new comparable model at no charge, no hassle. And to think I was beating my head against the wall for several months before I found this out!!! IF THEY DID IT FOR ME, THEY'LL HAVE TO DO IT FOR YOU TOO! |
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New member Username: Lefty52Post Number: 3 Registered: Jul-06 | "GOT MINE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE! ... IF THEY DID IT FOR ME, THEY'LL HAVE TO DO IT FOR YOU TOO! - Kurt" Hi Kurt that sounds great. How long have you had your Toshiba A75? Was it still under warranty when they gave you the replacement laptop? Thank you! - Mark H. |
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New member Username: GeekofallgeeksFriedrichshafenGermany Post Number: 2 Registered: Sep-06 | Mark: Tried to email you but got this returned to my email account: This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification. Delivery to the following recipients failed. To: auto-reply@ecoustics.com Subject: RE: Toshiba Satellite A75 Sent: Sunday, October 1, 2006 1:40 AM Mark: I've had it about 3 years. It was about 3-4 months out of warranty when I began contacts, and about 1 year out of warranty when I got it replaced. Had I known what I know now, I could have gotten it replaced in about 2 mos. Kurt |
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New member Username: SyncboxPost Number: 2 Registered: Sep-06 | 1) toshiba will fix all problems for your A75 if you are a) polite and b) insistent. I started having problems 2 months after purchase with overheating. 2-3 weeks ago, a year out of warranty, the power jack module began to fail. On 9/11, I began these steps: 1) spoke to Toshiba CS for about 2 hours solid, not taking no for an answer 2) filed with the BBB, using Toshiba's CORPORATE office contact info. 3) filed with my state's attorney general/consumer complaints division 4) called EVERY toshiba phone number I could find and told my story, saying I would be taking it to the BBB, the state of CA. and my local NEWS consumer hotline (here in SF Area, that's Michael Finney, ABC's "7 on your side") 5) Repeatedly asked for the direct phone number of the Customer Relations dept... which is what Toshiba says you have to contact for out of warranty repairs - of course, they won't give you that number but they are happy to put you on the hold line for an hour+ until the system automatically hangs up on you. 6) join one of the many class action lawsuits out there (there are links in this thread and others) That was what I did on Monday 9/11. On Wednesday 9/13, Jeff Soper of the Consumer Relations division called ME and asked what I wanted. I responded with a request that Toshiba completely fix all problems (gave him my list), at no charge, including shipping, and QUICKLY. Toshiba overnighted a box pre-paid for overnight shipping to me the next day. My laptop was back 10 days later (came on a Saturday, no less!), fully fixed, including the missing little rubber feet that fell off over time, the PCMCIA ejector button (that fell out a long time ago), with the power jack and front right USB modules fully fixed. I believe they checked all usb ports for looseness. They did not, of course, fix the issue of easily clogged overheating heatsinks, but that is a design problem. To clean them, you either have to completely dismantle the computer (not hard, but tiresome, especially if you are not saavy with computers) and you can use a vacuum cleaner hose to reverse suck dust out via the fans on a weekly basis. I was told by Jeff Soper that Toshiba is taking care of these issues as fast as they can -- that they are working their way through the complaints. I believe that filing with the BBB is the best step you can take (I think this is the complaints he referred to). I thank Toshiba for responding so quickly to my problem and for their help on my issues. For that reason, I ask that you BE POLITE, CONCISE AND CLEAR when you call Toshiba Customer Relations. Here's the direct number: (949) 587-6944 |
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New member Username: TechservicePost Number: 1 Registered: Oct-06 | Just a tip to save some time... To clean your heatsink without disassembly, use a non conductive material to block the fan from moving, and use a strong shop vac to draw air thru both sides of the heat sink (back side and bottom fan area).This has worked great for me and save an hour! Also if you are replacing the DC jack, when you finish soldering flip over the board and put a dab of hot glue on the back of the jack, I use a business card to block the glue from getting anywhere else and while the glue is hot press the card against the back of the jack to force glue into the jack remove the card and presto! I have not had one come back yet since I started doing this.. Good luck and dont forget an anti static wrist strap. Troy |
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New member Username: Adnan2850Post Number: 1 Registered: Nov-06 | So there was a Class Action lawsuit against Toshiba for their Toshiba Satellite A70, A75, M30X and M35X notebook computers and here are the results: check out these sites for information on the lawsuit and the settlement: http://www.lorisklar.com/ http://www.a70m30xsettlement.com/ http://www.a70m30xsettlement.com/notice.pdf basically they have given a 12 month extension to the warranty. So now you can send it in for full repairs. and you can get up to 50$ if u sent it in and they didn't fix your laptop. according to the web sites, the 12 month extension starts November 7, 2006. I have not called in yet to see if in fact they are accepting. but if the site says so, it must be true. If anyone has had time to call Toshiba and ask for their laptops to be repaired under this 12 month extension, please share your results. Thank you |