Working on a Toshiba Satellite A105-S2001 that is freezing up about 3/4 of the way through the BIOS upon startup (according to the BIOS status bar). I tried the BIOS reset trick (remove battery and power plug, hold power button for 20 seconds, then plug power plug back in and start); however, the computer still freezes in the exact same spot in the BIOS. It doesn't prompt for a password or give any errors.
If I act quickly, I can press F2 rapidly after I start the laptop and it says "Please Wait" instead of the normal "Press [F2]for SETUP" option. The BIOS screen shows the Toshiba backgroun with the Celeron M logo, but just doesn't want to get passed that.
Other things I have tried:
- reseated memory and restarted: same..
- removed the wireless card and bluetooth cards and restarted without them: same..
- removed HDD and restarted: same..
- no sign on the case that there was any external damage... opened it up and it was clean and dry.
I created a flash Bios disk from Toshiba's website, but can't get to that point to where it is reading the drives. What am I missing?!?! I want to turn this laptop into a frisbee. Please help!
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Answers (2)
0
Votes
Call the manufacturer
I would get on the phone with Toshiba. The mobo may need to be replaced. Good luck.
3rd Sep 2008
0
Votes
See if this helps
About the only thing that you have left to try before taking ws3d's advice is to reseat the CPU.
I would also recommend removing old thermal grease from the CPU and applying new grease for better heat conductivity.
If the CPU heatsink is not clogged with dust and lint completely, you can use canned air and just blow it inside the laptop through the openings on the bottom and on the sides. It might not work if your heatsink is completely clogged.
Open the laptop case, so you can access the CPU fan and the heatsink.
Carefully disconnect the fan cables on the system board and remove the fan. If the fan shows resistence when it spins replace the fan.
Clean the fan and the heatsink with compressed air.
Keep us informed as to your progress if you require further assistance.
If you think that any of these posts have solved or contributed to solving the problem, please Mark them as Helpful so that others may benefit from the outcome.
I would also recommend removing old thermal grease from the CPU and applying new grease for better heat conductivity.
If the CPU heatsink is not clogged with dust and lint completely, you can use canned air and just blow it inside the laptop through the openings on the bottom and on the sides. It might not work if your heatsink is completely clogged.
Open the laptop case, so you can access the CPU fan and the heatsink.
Carefully disconnect the fan cables on the system board and remove the fan. If the fan shows resistence when it spins replace the fan.
Clean the fan and the heatsink with compressed air.
Keep us informed as to your progress if you require further assistance.
If you think that any of these posts have solved or contributed to solving the problem, please Mark them as Helpful so that others may benefit from the outcome.
3rd Sep 2008
Replies
I didn't think of that Jacky. I know some of the AMD mobile processors have had heat/heatsink/fan troubles. Why are you unemployed, man?
ws3d
4th Sep 2008
I think that it is because I am in the wrong place and because of family commitments I can't move on just yet. 
Jacky Howe
4th Sep 2008
...and best of luck to you and your commitments! 
ws3d
9th Sep 2008
I took Jacky's advice and took the laptop apart again and reseated the CPU and redoing the thermal paste. As I was putting it back together I tested the laptop with only the monitor, memory, cpu and keyboard... it loaded. I slowly started to add devices, restarting between each device and found that it was a faulty CD-RW/DVD drive that was the culprit. The laptop is nice and clean now, but need to get another DVD drive.
Thanks for all the help! Your suggestion kept me from using this laptop as a paperweight.
Now to the virus filled hard drive, which is probably what made the guy throw the laptop in the first place. Would be nice if he did backups.
Lee
Thanks for all the help! Your suggestion kept me from using this laptop as a paperweight.
Now to the virus filled hard drive, which is probably what made the guy throw the laptop in the first place. Would be nice if he did backups.
Lee
lee.reeves@...
5th Sep 2008
good to see that you are up and running.
Jacky Howe
5th Sep 2008
I have the same problem; but it still does it when I remove the DVD. i'VE TAKEN IT APART & RESEATED EVERYTHING several times now. Same problem; HELP!
londonflu@...
18th Apr 2009
I have the same problem with a laptop. When I remove the DVD, the laptop goes. But when I put that DVD in another laptop, everything works, and when I put another DVD device in problematic laptop it does not start again.
Please if you remember that everything was fine when changed the DVD drive or how You fixed the problem, write here.
Thanks in advance!
Sorry for my bad English!
Please if you remember that everything was fine when changed the DVD drive or how You fixed the problem, write here.
Thanks in advance!
Sorry for my bad English!
strayhead
9th Nov 2010
there is a problem with the drive controller.
Possibly the power system is failing, and the DVD drive draws enough power to kill the system.
Possibly the power system is failing, and the DVD drive draws enough power to kill the system.
seanferd
9th Nov 2010
Thanks,
Can a poor bond between the motherboard and the connector for the DVD to be the problem. Because I have such fear.
To my regret there is nothing to do about it. Nor if the power system. Nor if the drive controller. (I think it's not incompatibility couse is the original)
In addition to changing the motherboard or leave the laptop without DVD drive...
Can a poor bond between the motherboard and the connector for the DVD to be the problem. Because I have such fear.
To my regret there is nothing to do about it. Nor if the power system. Nor if the drive controller. (I think it's not incompatibility couse is the original)
In addition to changing the motherboard or leave the laptop without DVD drive...
strayhead
10th Nov 2010
You could look up a repair shop capable with dealing with this (experienced person with the proper soldering equipment) to see if it is cheaper than replacing the board.
They can also test the system to precisely identify the problem.
They can also test the system to precisely identify the problem.
seanferd
10th Nov 2010
