Toshiba Satellite A105. Removing laptop motherboard.
Yesterday I had my first experience with Toshiba Satellite A105 notebook series. I had to replace the laptop motherboard because it was completely dead. The disassembly was easy and fast. I like the way this model was designed. Laptop disassembly instructions.
What I like in this model: The hard drive has a very nice rubber protector. Both memory slots can be accessed from the bottom of the laptop. There are no screws under the keyboard and it saves some time during disassembly. The power jack connected to the motherboard via cables and if it fails you do not have to replace the entire motherboard. There are very few cables connected to the motherboard. The laptop disassembly process is very easy and logical.
What I didn’t like in this model: There is no hatch for accessing the CPU fan and the heatsink without taking apart the laptop. It took me some time to remove the top cover assembly because of some hidden plastic latches. It is not very easy to disconnect the video cable from the motherboard. The touchpad has 2 cables connected to the system board. The second touchpad connector is hidden under the flat cable and can be easily overlooked during disassembly and the cable can be damaged.
Here’s another guide for this model. Removing laptop LCD screen.
Need spare parts for your laptop? Search here by the laptop model and part name or number.
October 28th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I have a Toshiba a105. My screen turns grey with white horizontal lines only when I turn on the wireless. If connected through ethernet cable no problems, only when I turn on the wireless switch. I purchased a wireless card to try to bypass this and I get the same result. In some forums it is stated that the motherboard needs to be replaced. Is this correct?? If so what is the cost of replacing the motherboard and is it a project that needs an expert to fix? Please give me some advise as to correct my issue. Thanks
October 26th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Hello I have a toshiba a105 it is asking for a bios password…. Can anyone help.. I went to the toshiba website and they say that this model toshiba a105 sometimes the bios will do this all by itself because I never setup a bios password and the labtop is not under warranty anymore… email me at sfonville@hotmail.com or respone here I need this back up and running for school please help a girl out..
Thanks
October 26th, 2007 at 11:42 am
Cj, he doesn’t know that on this computer because I’m betting who ever had that laptop before this guy who brought it at the pawn shop did both through windows. You see toshiba uses the SMBIOS management on their bios and if installed through windows toshiba has incorporated the mangement program that will recognize only that HD. The HD has everthing on it’s firmware board and the board and HD are unseperable. Yet you can put another HD(serial that it uses) format it and it will work over what you think is the motherboard bios, But you can from here to eternity think to wipe out the bios, but if the HD board is carrying a bios & windows password then your out of luck. I’ve been through this with searches through other forums and I’ll tell you no password no entering that HD, I had to replace the HD but on the other hand replace the serial HD and then “Look I’ve Got Windows”. It’s all in the HD.
October 26th, 2007 at 7:18 am
Santiago,
The BIOS password and the Hard drive password are two different things.
You can setup both on your Toshiba laptop but the BIOS password can be cleared without replacing anything and the hard drive password cannot be cleared.
If you forgot the hard drive password, you are screwed. You’ll have to replace the hard drive.
October 26th, 2007 at 5:26 am
Hey cj2600, that’s funny cause my friend was a registered owner of a A105 and he took it to a registered Toshiba repair and first they said the same thing,you said that they could wipe out the password but when they got it, they then said it couldn’t be done and it would cost $180.00 to replace the Hard drive. The password is in the firmware board of the Hard drive. Read my post in # 59, and I’m talking from experience. Toshiba has even said it itself “No Password,No work” so I don’t know where you get your info but that dude got troubles you can’t help !!!
October 25th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Lies,
I’m not wrong. You don’t have to replace anything in order to clear the BIOS password on a Toshiba Satellite A105 laptop. I’ve done it hundreds times. I just cannot and not going to share this information over the Internet.
Usually people set the BIOS password to protect their laptops.
If you are a registered owner of the laptop, take it to an authorized repair center and they will clear it for you. It takes only 5 minutes.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:34 am
Yea you do not need to replace the BIOS chip. but let me tell you you will have to replace the flash membery chip it will run you about $200 the guy that said you don’t have to is wrong only new laptop still covered will they remove this password from there is no other way in your case you will need to replace the chip.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:26 am
I got the laptop from a pownshop really cheep cause it had the password on it the pownshop owner could not do anything with it. I thought all I would have to do is remove the battry and clear the CMOS but this truned out to not be the case. So I have an ok laptop that I can not get in to. Why they could go to that extreme on a BIOS password I’ll never know.
October 25th, 2007 at 10:55 am
I disassemble of my notebook (a-100-847, was grounded, removed all power sources removed all periphials etc etc.) in an attempt to clean tge fan disk off dust, However after I reassembled the notebook I can not get the notebook to powerback on. There is no response whats so ever when hitting the power button, the only thing that happens is when you add the straight AC power adapter the plugged in LED on the front of the notebook lights up. I disassemble again and again, maybe there was a cable unpluged….but in vain! Does anyone know the answer how the repair my laptop again?
October 24th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
AZGUNS,
It is not necessary to replace the BIOS chip in order to erase the BIOS password. It’s possible to clear the password without replacing the chip but this information is available only to authorized repair centers.
NOTE: Some Satellite A105 notebooks can setup the BIOS password by themselves, it’s some kind flow in the BIOS. If your Satellite A105 notebook is asking for the BIOS password witch you didn’t set up and it’s still under warranty, take it an authorized repair center and most likely they will clear it for free.
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I need to find a repair manul on a A105-2201 I for got my BIOS password and looks like all I can do is replace A chip would like to find out what chip it is. So if any one knows what chip I need to replace, Or where to get a book on fixing this laptop please email me at cxwxb777@hotmail.com thanks
October 11th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Downgraded processors went from t2250 to a t2050. When I put the t2050 into the a105-s4184 model I have no display I put the t2250 my display comes back. I have tried several times get the same result. I did not have a problem in the newer laptop I put the t2250 in. I was grounded on a concrete floor was very careful. Do you think my t2050 processor is shot? Or do I have to reset my bios?
sorry had the incorrect model # a105-s4184 is correct
October 11th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Downgraded processors went from t2250 to a t2050. When I put the t2050 into the a105-s184 model I have no display I put the t2250 my display comes back. I have tried several times get the same result. I did not have a problem in the newer laptop I put the t2250 in. I was grounded on a concrete floor was very careful. Do you think my t2050 processor is shot? Or do I have to reset my bios?
September 25th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
See my earlier email below about where you can get replacement keyboards from. Replacement is easy, simply google for disassembly instructions.
September 25th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Hello there, I have currently the UK version, Toshiba Satellite A100-425; I have a few keys missing from the keyboard. In response, I have purchased the keyboard. However, I can’t open it to replace the keyboard. Could you direct me to any pictures of easily removing the speakers to access the keyboard, if possible?
If you have any diagrams/pictures of doing such, or any specific tools required.
Thanks for your website, I would like to say it is very helpful.
September 24th, 2007 at 5:54 am
I am currently having issues with this model (A105 S4011). Half of my keyboard stopped responding. Fun part is that I am in a different country from my recovery disk. And cant access the boot menu because the necessary key won’t respond. Oh yes and the icing: its out of warranty. I could find a replacement keyboard and attempt to do it myself but I wondering if perhaps its worth it to pay $80 to get a diagnostics run on the system.
I am really bad about crumbs in my keyboard-college student. So it could be that but how to go about fixing it? Thank you for any help or pointers.
September 23rd, 2007 at 11:15 am
I strong dislike (I’m keeping this surprisingly clean) Toshiba now. My laptop has died completely 3 times now and I’ve had to get the charging cord replace twice, the sound doesn’t work, and it that 30 minutes to open any program. I’m rather sick of it. Is there a place that i can trade in this laptop in to get an iMac?
August 31st, 2007 at 11:54 am
The keyboards are not all the same though there is some commonality between models. I just ordered a replacement for my Toshiba A105 on Ebay from a company called originalpartsglobal. It hasn’t arrived yet so I can’t vouch for how good they are. They do however have a large selection and are reasonably priced.
August 29th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Hi,
I have a Toshiba Satellite A105 and unfortunately my puppy has eaten 4 keys off the keyboard!!! I was going to just buy the key off ebay, but one of the missing keys is the smaller up arrow. The ebay site doesn’t have these. So I guess I’m left to buy a new keyboard and take of the keys I need. Can anyone tell me if all the Satellite series use the same keyboard??? It would be easier (and cheaper) if I could just buy any of the Satellite replacement keyboards???? Please HELP!!
August 27th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Hi , I have a problem starting windows xp on this laptop (a105-s4014), when i turn on the pc, it flash the display and show the safe modes, and when i select any, the screen of PC flash and return to the modes screen!!
thnks all for your responses, your website is powerful!
August 23rd, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Luis,
Check under the keyboard. I believe you can find it under the wireless card.
August 23rd, 2007 at 11:36 am
You have been a great help. I had to replace the keyboard on my son’s laptop. And I didn’t want to break any thing. The instructions were just fabulous.
Thanks,
Jack
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:25 pm
i need to know where is the solder point c88 on the motherboard on a toshiba satellite a105. any answers ?
August 20th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Thanks very much cj2600 !!!! you have been very very helpfull
bye!!!
August 19th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
i dont think there is any difference in the ccfl tube from the A105 or the m35
August 19th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
martin,
You can try this. Cut off the connector from A105 screen and solder it to M35 screen. Proceed on your own risk.
August 19th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
nico mengual,
On some Satellites A105 the wireless card is located under the keyboard. Just lift up the keyboard and you’ll see the wireless card.
August 17th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
my a100/105 screen is cracked, bought another from a m35, everything is fine, but the 2 wire plug from ccfl to invertor is a bit different. Can i possibly use the connector from my a105 onto the m35 screen?
August 15th, 2007 at 5:24 am
Hi there!, I have a problem trying to find the wireless card on this laptop (a105-s4011), when i openned the back of the laptop, i can see the modem only… I do not want to disassembly the computer, I just want to connect a pigtail into the wireless card, but I just do not know where that is… thaks!!
you website is greate!
July 28th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Thank you it was very helpful and all I had to was replace keyboard