Toshiba Satellite A75 laptop overheating/locking up

[ZL1power69]

for the past couple weeks. my laptop has been randomly overheating. sometimes it will go an hr or 2 without overheating and other times it will overheat and freeze every 5 minutes. i borrowed a friends cooling pad to see if it would help and i really could not tell because the length of time before overheating is very random. i went ahead and got my own cooling pad with 3 fans off ebay but i have not tested it yet. i regularly use air duster to clear out the fans in the computer. my question is, do i need to replace the fans and heat sink assembley in the computer itself? also, a few times if my clothes build up static with out me knowing and i accidently touch the speakers, i get a shock and the computer locks up. my other computer needs to be sent back to the manufacter so this is my only working computer right know so the problem is rather annoying. thanks for any help.

[Oz]

Get a can of compressed air and blow out all the vents you can, you'll be amazed how much dust can build up inside a laptop.

Make sure the fans are all working correctly, and you can feel it blowing warm air out of the side vents when it's working hard.

See if it helps.

With the static electricity, it ususally either permanantly fries something like the motherboard or the RAM, or not. If it's still working, I'd say you've been lucky and you haven't fried anything.

[ericn1300]

my Toshiba laptop had a CMOS upgrade to correct fan and cooling properties. Some Toshibas can become so hot without the upgrade that the case will actually start to melt. try the Thoshiba upgrades program first and if that doesn't find an update go to the Toshiba website.

[l_eclipse_l]

A drastic measure would be to open it up and apply some better thermal compound like Arctic Silver 5. You will notice temps go down significantly. I would only suggest this if you are comfortable getting deep into the guts and have basic knowledge of computer hardware.

How many fans do you have? Just how hot does it get? If you don't know the temps, get a program like Mobile Meter and monitor them for awhile.

[ZL1power69]

Oz: i have always used the cans of air duster to clean the fans. usually one fan is running and the other one comes on randomly. most of the time i feel alot of warm air comming out of the heat sink. the static shock/lock up has happened about 3 times.

ericn1300: where can i get that CMOS upgrade program from? the bottom of the computer does get rather hot so thats why i got a cheap cooling pad to help.

eclipse: im no computer tech so im not real comfortable taking them apart, especially a laptop. the computer itself has 2 fans. one is always on and the second comes on randomly. im now using a 3 fan coolng pad to help out. the bottom gets slightly warm but the air comming out of the heat sink in the rear is really warm after awhile. i have no idea of the actual temps as i cant find my infered thermometer. where can i get the moblie meter program?

[Oz]

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...ileMeter.shtml

If one fan isn't working correctly, take it to a PC shop and get them to fix it.

Your first step should be to get all the fans functioning correctly and ensure there's no built up dust inside the case.

[ZL1power69]

thanks for the link. im not sure how the second fan is originally suppose to function so idk if i have a faulty fan assembly. if i need new fans, i found a factory replacement with new heatsink on ebay for less than $20. ill have a friend take a compressed air hose and really blow out the case.

[Oz]

The CMOS upgrade should be available from the manufacturer of your computer/motherboard in their Support section.

[jtvyper456]

The fan kicks on/off via CPU workload. The fan mounted on top of the heatsink is on all the time. There is a secondary fan that kicks on when the CPU heats up past a certain temp. The lockup is most likely from overheating due to dust built up in not just the fans, but the heatsink within the computer and other compenents (hard drive, around the CD/floppy drive inside the computer, between the RAM slots etc.). New fans/heatsink won't help your problem much, I'd take the cover off and dust it very very well, take the heatsink off and blow it out really well, as well as around the processor itself, dust builds up very badly within/around the slots. The overheating issue will eventually ruin the processor if you keep using it as it is.

EDIT--

The upgraded CMOS mentioned above can be found here:
http://www.techsupport.toshiba.com/

I think (not 100% sure) the upgrade mentioned just reprograms the fan management within the BIOS to kick on at a lower temperature, and to boost the RPMs to a higher rate when the CPU is put under a bit of stress.

[ZL1power69]

Originally Posted by jtvyper456

The upgraded CMOS mentioned above can be found here:
http://www.techsupport.toshiba.com/

it is not listed for my model, only for an older one. only thing listed for my computer is how to adjust cooling modes manually, which i have to do when booting. anyone ever done that before?
http://askiris.toshiba.com/ToshibaSu...0%200%20473269
also i found info on the computer locking do to static electricity discharge. aparently its do to a factory defect. have to look into getting the reimbercement they talk about.
http://www.a70m30xsettlement.com/

[ericn1300]

wow that really sucks about the static problem. i read the web page you linked to and it looks like the lawyers got over $50 million out of Toshiba and all you get is a laptop that still has a static problem and $50 bucks after jumping thru a bunch of hoops. class action suits rarely benefit anyone other than the attorneys.

the CMOS tweaking is pretty much as described in the other link, just don't change any other CMOS settings while you're in there. if in doubt exit without saving changes and start over again. do not reset settings to default or optimum.

[ZL1power69]

Originally Posted by ericn1300

wow that really sucks about the static problem. i read the web page you linked to and it looks like the lawyers got over $50 million out of Toshiba and all you get is a laptop that still has a static problem and $50 bucks after jumping thru a bunch of hoops. class action suits rarely benefit anyone other than the attorneys.

the CMOS tweaking is pretty much as described in the other link, just don't change any other CMOS settings while you're in there. if in doubt exit without saving changes and start over again. do not reset settings to default or optimum.

my serial number is included in the suit but i bought the computer almost 3 yesrs ago so i have no idea if i can get anything. i will try to change the cmos settings tonight after work.

[ZL1power69]

well i tried to access the menu at start up to change the cmos cooling settings and i only get a blank screen. i will keep trying though. also i have been monitoring temp using mobmeter and the highest i have seen is 28 degrees celcius. the computer is still freezing randomly, even with a cooling pad. hopefully soon i will take it to a firend who has a compressed air hose so we can clean it out real well.

[l_eclipse_l]

28C is as high as it goes? Shit, that is not hot at all. My lappy idles around 38C and gets as high as 45C under load. Heat is not your problem my friend.

Does it get physically hot?

[ZL1power69]

Originally Posted by l_eclipse_l

28C is as high as it goes? Shit, that is not hot at all. My lappy idles around 38C and gets as high as 45C under load. Heat is not your problem my friend.

Does it get physically hot?

28 was the highest reading i saw on that mobmeter but how accurate is that? i wouldnt say it gets hot, like to the point of burning you, but the heat sink and bottom of the computer get pretty warm.