In this guide I explain how to clean the cooling fan in a Toshiba Satellite P305D laptop. Also this guide should work for the following Toshiba laptops: Satellite P300, Satellite P300D, Satellite P305.

My customer complained that his laptop overheats and shuts off while running a game. Apparently, the heat sink got clogged with dust and needed a good cleaning.

There is no easy access to the cooling fan in a Satellite P305D laptop. You can see the air intake on the bottom of the laptop, but the fan is covered with a perforated metal sheet, so blowing air into the air intake will not be enough for cleaning the fan.

You can get better access to the fan under the keyboard. Let’s remove the keyboard.

Remove three screws securing the keyboard bezel. These screws located under the battery.

Carefully lift up and remove the keyboard bezel.

Remove two screws securing the keyboard.

Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest. It’s not necessary to disconnect keyboard cable from the motherboard.

The cooling fan is still covered  but at least now you can blow compressed air into the fan and remove all dust from the heat sink.

For cleaning laptop fans I use compressed air duster.

First. Blow compressed air into the cooling fan through two holes on the top cover.
Second. Change the direction and blow air into the fan grill on the side. Also, blow air into the air intake on the bottom.

Change air direction two-three times until there is no dust coming out of the laptop.

The power button is a part of the laptop top cover assembly. It’s permanently attached to the top cover with a few plastic bridges. When the power button pushed into the case, it means one or more plastic bridges are broken.

In order to fix the power button you’ll have to replace the laptop top cover assembly.

Toshiba Satellite A70/A75 and Satellite P30/P35 are very similar and top covers on both models look almost the same.

You can remove the top cover assembly using one of the following guides:

Taking apart Toshiba Satellite A70/A75 laptops – follow steps 1-16.

Taking apart Toshiba Satellite P30/P35 laptops – follow steps 1-13.

After you remove the top cover assembly, you’ll have to transfer the touchpad and button board to the new top cover.

You can find a new top cover assembly searching by the part number.

For Toshiba Satellite A70/A75 use the following part number: K000016190 (with Function key).

For Toshiba Satellite P30/P35 use the following part number: K000017910 (with Function key).

The LCD screen doesn’t work because the video cable got disconnected from the motherboard.

I have seen a problem like that on a few different Satellite L305D laptops. Not sure why it’s happening but check this out.

In order to access the video cable connector you’ll have to remove the keyboard first.

Using a sharp object lift up and remove the keyboard bezel.

Under the bezel you’ll find two screws securing the motherboard. Remove both screws.

Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest. Be careful, the keyboard is attached to the motherboard.

You’ll find the video cable connector under the keyboard.

If you look very closely, you’ll see that the video cable is half way out of the connector on the motherboard.

Plug the video cable back into the connector and test the laptop now. Does it help?

My previous post explains how to fix power port in Toshiba Satellite L305/L305D laptops.

Let’s start with the hidden internal memory slot. In order to access the hidden slot we’ll have to remove the keyboard.

Make sure the laptop is turned off and the battery is removed.

STEP 1.

Insert a small flat head screwdriver between the speaker cover and laptop base. Lift up and remove the speaker cover.

STEP 2.

Remove two screws securing the keyboard. Release the latch located above the key F8 and lift up the keyboard.

STEP 3.

It is not necessary to disconnect the keyboard while accessing the internal memory slot. Simply turn the keyboard upside down and place it on the palm rest.
The internal memory slot is hidden under a metal cover. Remove two screws and remove the cover.

STEP 4.

Remove the original memory module installed into the internal slot. In my laptop I had a 512MB module installed.

STEP 4.

Install a new 1GB memory module into the internal slot.
Install the metal cover, keyboard and speaker cover.

Now we’ll move to the second slot located on the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 5.

Remove one screw securing the cover. Remove the cover.

STEP 6.

In my laptop this memory slot was not occupied.

Install another 1GB module into the bottom slot.

That’s it!

Both memory modules should be detected and configured automatically as soon as you turn on the laptop. You can check memory size in the BIOS setup menu or System Properties.

Toshiba Satellite M100/M105 will take up to 2GB memory total. You can install up to 1GB memory module into each slot. Use DDR2 PC-5300 SODIMM modules. You can install faster memory, for example DDR2 PC-6400 but it will slow down and run at PC-5300 speed.

Today I explain how to repair a damaged power connector also known as power jack in Toshiba Satellite L305 and L355 laptops. I started covering this problem in one of the previous posts.

Also this power jack modification should work for the following models: Toshiba Satellite L300, L305D, L355D, P305, P305D, Toshiba Satellite Pro L300, L350 and probably some other Toshiba laptops.

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION. The power jack gets pushed into the laptop base so it feels loose.

I will replace the original plastic jack with a generic metal jack purchased at RadioShack for about $3.
The RadioShack part number is 274-1576. This jack is designed for tip size 5.5mm O.D.x2.5mm I.D. You can order this jack online or pick it up in a local store.

Proceed on your own risk! If you do something wrong, you can damage the laptop.

In order to access and repair the power jack it’s necessary to disassemble the laptop and remove the top cover assembly (palm rest). Here’s an example of removing the top cover assembly from a Toshiba Satellite L355D, you’ll have to follow steps 1-14.

Disassembly steps for all above mentioned models will be very similar.

OK, let’s say the top cover is removed and we are inside the laptop. By the way, I’m fixing a Satellite L305D laptop.

Why the power jack feels loose? You see the answer on the picture below.

In my case both, the power jack and mounting brackets on the base assembly got broken. Even if you replace the broken jack with a new one, it will not stay attached to the base. If you send a laptop with a damage like that to a repair shop, they will recommend replacing the power jack harness and laptop base. This repair will easily cost over $200 but I have a better idea how to fix it for $3 without replacing the base assembly.

Here’s my new replacement panel-mount jack which should last for a long time unlike the original Toshiba jack.

All laptops mentioned above come with one of the following AC adapter: 19v-3.42A, 19V-3.95A, 19V-4.74A or 19V-6.3A.
All these power adapter will fit perfectly into the jack from RadioShack.

LET’S START THE REPAIR.

STEP 1.

Using a pocket knife remove plastic supports from the internal side of the base assembly, so the side where the new jack will be mounted is flat.

On the picture below you see plastic supports removed.

STEP 2.

Again, using the pocket knife remove the plastic wall surrounding the mounting hole. Make the hole larger, so then new jack fits in.

STEP 3.

The new jack is too long and if you install it as is the laptop cover will not sit properly on the base. It happens because one of the speakers (in Satellite L305D) is located very close to the power jack.

It will work if you make the jack shorter. You can cut off part of the long “-” lead or simply bent it as I did. After it’s done coat both leads with generous amount of solder.

STEP 4.

Now remove the damaged power jack from the laptop and cut off wires somewhere close to the jack base.

Remove isolation, twist wires and coat them with solder.

The red “+” wire will connect to the lead in the center of the new jack.
The black “-” wire will connect to the lead on the side – the one you made shorter.

In some laptops Toshiba uses green wires instead or red wires. They also should be soldered to the “+” lead in the center of your new jack.

WARNING! Check the polarity before you apply power to the laptop.

STEP 5.

Now mount the new power jack on the base.

STEP 6.

Solder wires to the new jack. Again, the red wire is soldered to the lead in the center and the black on to the lead on the side.

As you see, I soldered wires at a 90 degree angle to the jack so the top cover (and the right speaker) fits in.

I covered both leads with electrical tape.

The new (modified) power harness has been installed into the laptop base. Now you can tighten the nut on the power jack and secure it on the base.

STEP 7.

You’ll have to modify the top cover assembly a little bit so it fits on the laptop.

Remove plastic reinforcement walls so they do not touch the power jack when the cover is installed. If you leave these walls, there will be a gap between the cover and base.

The plastic walls have been removed.

STEP 8.

Assemble the laptop. You are done!

I think the new power jack is way more robust then the original one and should last for a long time.

And it looks great too.

Here’s an example of damaged power jack in a Satellite L355D laptop. This base is bigger than in Satellite L305 and you’ll have plenty of space for your modification.

Here’s another example of damaged base assembly in a Satellite P305D laptop. Again, there is plenty of space for the jack modification.

By the way, if your laptop is still under warranty, Toshiba might fix this problem at no charge. Call them first or take the laptop to the authorized repair center.

If this modification works for you, please mention the laptop model in the comments. You are welcome to post any suggestions and improvements.

If this fix works for any other Toshiba laptop, please mention the model number in the comments below.

I have seen a few Toshiba Satellite M305 and M305D laptops with exactly the same display problem. When you move the display panel, the image on the screen flickers, some random horizontal lines appear in random places or the image disappears at all. As soon as you stop moving the display, the image ether turns back to normal or the display continue to remain black.

I did some research and found that this problem could be related to the display cable made by CMI.

How can you tell if the display cable was made by CMI? You’ll have to open up the display panel and take a look at the letters and numbers below the barcode on the cable. If first three letters are CMI, the cable was made by CMI.

The following models could have a faulty display cable: Toshiba Satellite M300, M305, M305D and Toshiba Satellite Pro M300.

If you experience a similar problem with your Satellite M305 or M305D laptop, try replacing the display cable first. If the problem still exists, even after replacing the cable, apparently it’s related to the LCD screen.

If the laptop is still under warranty do not open the case or you will lose the warranty. Take your laptop to the authorized repair center.

On the picture below you can see a good working power socket. The power jack is seated correctly. It’s tight and will not move when you plug in the adapter.

On the next picture you see a broken socket. There is a gap between the power jack and laptop base and when you plug the AC adapter inside the jack it feels very loose. In some cases, the power jack disconnects from the laptop base and you cannot plug in the power adapter at all.

In order to understand what’s going on it’s necessary to remove the top cover and take a closer look at the power jack.
As you see on the picture below, the power jack is not seated correctly and separated from the laptop base.

In some cases it happens because the DC-IN power jack gets broken.

In other cases, the DC-IN power jack is OK but the laptop base is broken. The power jack mounts between two plastic brackets inside the case. If one of the brackets is broken (the left one in my case), the DC-IN power jack will not seat correctly.

But in many cases you have both parts broken, the power jack and base assembly.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO FIX THE POWER SOCKET?

1. If the power jack is OK but the base is broken, you’ll have to replace the base assembly, which means you’ll have to disassemble the whole laptop.

2. If the base assembly is OK, but the DC-IN jack is broken, you’ll have to replace the DC-IN power harness.

3. In the worst case scenario you’ll have to replace both parts, the base assembly AND power jack harness.

UPDATE!

I just published a guide explaining how to repair broken power connector yourself.

Before you start,  turn off the laptop, unplug the power adapter and remove the battery and of course, proceed at your own risk.

STEP 1.

Insert a small flat head screwdriver between the keyboard bezel and keyboard and lift it up.

STEP 2.

Continue removing the keyboard bezel with your fingers until it’s completely separated from the laptop.

STEP 3.

Remove three screws securing the keyboard. Also, remove the metal plate/bracket under the screw in the middle.

STEP 4.

Lift up the keyboard as it shown on the picture below and place it upside down on the palm rest.

STEP 5.

On the picture below you can see both RAM slots. The slot 1 has one memory module installed. I’m going to remove the original memory module and replace it with a larger one.

In order to remove the memory module from the slot you’ll have to spread latches on both sides of the module until it pops up at a 20-30 degree angle.

The memory module popped up.

STEP 6.

Now you can grab the memory module by the edges and pull it from the RAM slot.

On the picture below you can see the original 256MB memory module installed into the laptop.

According to specifications a Toshiba Satellite A45 laptop will take up to 2GB RAM total. You can install up to 1GB memory module into each slot. You should use PC2700 (DDR333) SO-DIMM RAM modules.

You can use different size memory modules in different slots. For example if you have an original 256MB module in the slot 1 and install an additional 1GB module into the slot 2, the laptop will detect 1.25GB RAM total. No additional configuration needed. You simply install new memory and start the laptop, it will be detected by the BIOS automatically.

If your laptop will not start after you added more memory, make sure the memory module is seated correctly.

Here’s how you can replace the CPU cooling fan in a Toshiba Satellite A65/A60 laptop without taking the whole thing apart.

If the cooling fan has become very noisy and started making a grinding sound, apparently it’s time to replace the fan with a new one.

The cooling fan can be accessed if you remove the keyboard as it explained in the disassembly guide (steps 5-8).

Remove two screws (red circles). In order to unscrew the last screw (green circle) you’ll need a very small Phillips screwdriver. You will not be able to remove the last screw because it’s partially covered by the top cover assembly. Simply unscrew the last screw and leave it in the fan.

Unplug the fan cable from the motherboard. The connector is pointed with the green arrow. Unroute the fan cable so it’s not attached to the heat sink.

Carefully remove the cooling fan. As you can see on the picture below, the last screw is still seated in the fan.

The CPU fan has been removed. Now you can replace it with a new one.

The CPU fan comes as a part of the heat sink assembly and it’s possible you will not be able to buy this fan separately. Here’s what you can do. Find a new heat sink assembly (with fan) for Toshiba Satellite A60/A65 laptops here.

Remove fan from the new assembly and install it instead of your old defective fan.

This guide published on LaptopLogic.com explains hot wo replace stock hard drive in a Toshiba Qosmio Q45 notebook. For some reason Toshiba equipped this powerful notebook with a slow 4200 RPM drive. As you know, the hard drive is the slowest component in any computer and replacing it with a faster 7200 RPM drive could boost notebook performance very noticeably.

The hard drive replacement procedure is very simple because the drive can be easily accessed through a door on the bottom of the notebook.

Some Qosmio Q45 notebooks were supplied with 120GB 5400 RPM Serial-ATA (SATA) hard drives and others with 200/250GB 4200 RPM drives.

You can replace all these drive with a faster 7200 RPM SATA drive and you can do this upgrade for less than $80.