Editing Toshiba Satellite A205-S4577 Troubleshooting

[flag|student wiki] [title|Toshiba Satellite A205-S4577 Troubleshooting] == Simply No Sign of Power == ''If the computer simply does not want to turn on, there could be many possible solutions to get it running again.'' === Dead Battery === If the computer is not turning on, the first thing to check is the battery level. When plugged in, if the battery level of the computer is not increasing, a new battery may be necessary. The issue may also be in the power adapter. New batteries and power adapters can be purchased online. === RAM Issues === If there is not enough RAM in a computer, it will not boot. You should check how much RAM you have, and [guide|14018|adjust as necessary]. This is a very easy fix due to the ease of access the user has to the RAM. Also, if your computer begins to boot and then crashes this could be a sign that there is an error in the RAM and will lead to problems. If this is occurring please test the RAM with a memory test, Windows 7 has a built in feature like this. === Motherboard Trouble === [guide|14128|Replacing the motherboard] is the last possible solution for fixing an unresponsive computer. The motherboard holds all the components together, replacing it will reset the connections between all the components. This guide requires a lot of patience and work due to the importance of the motherboard to the function of the computer. == File Errors == ''Sometimes you may notice your files being deleted or lost within the device. A main issue of this could be the hard drive.'' === Faulty Hard Drive === The issue most common to file errors is that the hard drive stops functioning properly. To fix this issue, one would recommend replacing the hard drive. Before going all out and replacing your hard drive right away, there are a brief series of steps to take to ensure the issue is within the hard drive. First, restart the device. Then, check the optical drives to double check if the files you had still are not there. Then, continue to check the boot sequence in BIOS to check if the drives are enabled. If the issue still exists, refer the to the hard drive replacement guide on the device page to take the necessary steps to replacing your hard drive. == Battery Problems == ''If your laptop does not seem to charge, will not hold a charge, or won’t turn on, there is a chance its due to its battery.'' === Simple Problems === These may seem simple but can lead to unnecessary courses of action if not checked first. Make sure your Toshiba laptop is on. Make sure it is plugged into an outlet and check that the cord is not lose. Check the LED indicators to become aware of its current power status. They will tell you if the laptop is charging, running on sufficient battery, running on low battery. === More Complex Problems === These are basic potential fixes to battery problems. Make sure the battery is in the laptop and inserted correctly (note the battery is designed to fit only one way). If you are using battery power too quickly, check if there are power options and check for more efficient settings that will consume less power. If your battery is hot, make sure your laptop is properly ventilated, the fans are unblocked, and that it is sitting on a thermal surface. If this doesn’t work, shut off your laptop or put it in a low power state so it can cool off (WARNING: a hot battery can cause serious burns). === Possible Need for Replacement === Under certain conditions, it may be best to replace the battery, but only if it is necessary and done correctly. If the battery won’t hold a charge, doesn’t last as long as it used to, or is not recognized by windows, it may be old or damaged. Contact the makers of the Toshiba Satellite computer or (if the battery was previously replaced) contact the makers of the battery for assistance. The battery may also be old when it never reaches 100% charge. At this case, a full charge would be shown as less than 100%. When your battery can’t hold a charge anymore, it will need to be replaced. === When Replacing === It’s important to note that you shouldn’t throw a battery away. Instead, you should dispose of it properly by taking it to a recycling center. Also, when you buy the new battery or are looking for a spare, don’t buy a lithium-ion battery unless you plan to use it right away. Such batteries will go bad within 2-3 years used or not. == Backlight Failure == ''Everything runs fine, but the screen looks really dark. If you look really closely, you can faintly see the images.'' === Lid Close Switch === Occasionally the switch that instructs the screen to turn off when the laptop is closed gets stuck, causing the screen to stay black even when the computer is open. When it’s stuck, it cuts off the power from the inverter board which causes the backlight lamp to not light up. Toshiba laptops use mechanical switches, which are operated by a retractable pin. The lid switch is a small button located close to the LCD screen, and needs to be unjammed to work. === Faulty Inverter Board === If your inverter is bad, this could be a cause for a dark screen. The inverter board converts the power from your wall outlet into a form that the LCD screen can use. Inverters can fail through normal use or if the laptop is plugged in during a power surge. It can be fixed by replacing the inverter board on your own. === Backlight Lamp === If both the lid close switch and inverter board work fine, it is most likely a problem with your backlight lamp. A bad backlight lamp is a serious problem, but can be fixed on your own. Disconnect the backlight lamp from the inverter board to replace it. For these problems, you can [guide|14138|replace the monitor]. == Unresponsive Keyboard == ''Crumbs aren't the only thing under your keyboard, there are many things that could be sources of a unresponsive keyboard.'' === Driver Issues === Sometimes the drivers for the keyboard could cause the keyboard to become unresponsive. To fix this issue, one should reinstall the keyboard's drivers. With Windows Vista running, open the Start menu and type in the search bar "Device Manager" and press Enter. With the Device Manager opened, expand the "Keyboards" menu and find the entry for the keyboard associated with the device. Right-click that entry and select "Uninstall". Finally, restart your computer. While restarting, the computer will automatically reinstall the drivers for the keyboard. === Keyboard Power Plug === One problem may also be the keyboard auxiliary and power plug disconnecting from the motherboard. If this is the problem, you will need to follow guides on [guide|14131|removing the Toshiba keyboard] and plugging the wiring back in. === Jammed Keys === Another problem may be due to a key (or multiple keys) being jammed. If this is the case turn the laptop upside down and gently shake to see if anything is lodged under the keyboard. If some keys are not typing or are performing abnormal functions (without being jammed), your problem may be a hardware failure. To check for this, turn your computer to “Safe Mode.” If the keys' functions are still the same in Safe Mode, your problem is likely a hardware failure. [guide|14131|To fix this, try replacing the keyboard] == Overheating == ''It can get hot inside your laptop, we'll show you how to cool it down.'' === Bad Placement === If your laptop is used within a insulted area, the heat can build up naturally. Furthermore, if used for a prolong duration on your lap the heat will become more noticeable. === Malfunctioning Fan === The fan has the job of blowing out excess heat from the internal part of the laptop to the surrounding environment. One issue common with overheating due to the fan malfunctioning is that dust sometimes compiles onto the blades of the fan, causing the fan to be weighed down and not work as properly as it did upon purchase. To fix this problem, one should blow out the contents of the fan using a can of air spray so that the dust build-up is eliminated. Refer to the [guide|14126|fan disassembly guide] when performing this procedure. If the fan is still not working after this and the device is still overheating, then you will need to [guide|14126|replace it] to ensure the heat is able to escape. == Jammed/Broken Optical Drive == ''Optical Drives are fragile pieces of equipment, if it's not working due to a jam check this out before tearing it open.'' === Jammed Optical Disc in Drive === If the CD you put in the computer does not come back out, there is a manual way to eject the CD that you can use the optical drive once again. This is an easy process and can get your optical drive running again right away. === Broken Optical Drive === If the optical drive is simply broken, we will need to [guide|14130|replace it by opening up the laptop]. This will require getting to the motherboard itself so you can safely take out the optical drive.