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.
August 18th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Hi,
My A105 S4284 shows the error message no audio device installed. Tried updating drivers to no avail. Do you think this is a hardware problem? It has a realtek audio device. Can this be caused by loose connections? Thanks in advance
Best regards from the Philippines,
Ricky
August 12th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
delk,
I don’t think that you can buy this locking clip separately. But here’s what you can try. I assume you still have the clip (even without legs).
Insert the keyboard cable into the connector, position the clip the way it should be positioned and push it into the white base. It’s possible that the clip will stay in there and the keyboard cable be jammed between the clip and base. Now secure the connection with sticky tape. Hopefully it will work.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Hi guys from Greece again,
@steve—> You should try to clean out the fun of your CPU. In my case I had the same problems (too high temperature) I opened the laptop and I found a lot of dust in there (especially in the heater which it was impossible for the air to come out).
But (in my case Satellite Laptop A100-192) I saw that stuff on the motherboard are very sensitive. I don’t know how to describe the ‘thing’ that it is used in order to clasp the keyoboard into the mobo.
Both the right and the left leg of this clasp thing have broken so my Keyboard cannot connect to the Mobo.
I am not sure @Steve you might face the same problem.
Does anybody know over here where I could buy new cluster things to connect the Keyboard?
August 4th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I have a toshiba satellite a105-S2716, every one here seems pretty knowledgable so maybe you can help with my problem. My computer has been getting too hot lately and overheating and just shutting down. It usually happens when i try to watch videos or burn DVD’s , but has also happened when i am just surfing the internet. I have placed a fan underneath the laptop, but it only helps a little bit and when doing burning a dvd or watching a video online it still shuts down. any ideas?
July 25th, 2009 at 9:39 am
I have an A105-S4254. Instructions for removing the DVD seem clear. Here is my dilema. The sound card works fine. But if I play a DVD, audi CD, or game that uses a CD based sound track the DVD runs slow, and in all types there is a popping noise and some distortion in the sound. Is this software problems or a defective optical drive? I build desktops, but this is my first run at a notebook.
July 25th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I have followed the directions completely and now everything
works except the touchpad, any suggestions?
July 18th, 2009 at 4:16 am
Hi cj2600, I just replace the display in a A105-S2051 for a friend and used your guide – which was very good. I love the expanding pictures to get extra detail when needed. Anyway – the install went well but the laptop starting turning itself off. I have found that the cpu fan is not coming on so I will probably have to replace it. My question is: can I do that by just removing the keyboard strip and keyboard from the ‘top’ of the computer or does that require the whole disassembly process in your guide?
Thanks
George
July 16th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Hey on thi web Site http://www.irisvista.com/
it give$ detailed in$truction w/ pic and more Specifically: laptop NOT Booting:
“ATTENTION! If you forget to lock the CPU in the socket, the laptop will not boot. ”
“If you install the heat sink without applying thermal grease, the CPU will overheat.”
Wi$h me luck
July 7th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Thanks a ton for the help! Great site!!!
July 7th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Rick,
Yes, they should even tough the laptop is out of warranty.
1. Call Toshiba customer service at 1-800-457-7777
2. Explain what’s going on. The laptop set the BIOS password on its own.
3. Send the laptop to Toshiba repair depot.
Good luck!
July 7th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Yes I bought it in the United States but about 2 years ago now and I’m out of warranty, will Toshiba still fix it for me?
July 7th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Rick,
Removing the RTC (CMOS) battery will not clear the BIOS password. Don’t even try.
It looks like you didn’t find the battery. In a Satellite A105 laptop the CMOS battery is soldered to the motherboard.
Did you purchase the laptop in the United States? Toshiba will remove the BIOS password at no charge. More info here.
Also, take a look at this post.
July 7th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Tried logging on my laptop today (A105-S4074) and there is a blue box wanting a password. I figured out it’s for my BIOS or something and was told to remove a RTC battery. I found a little box under a cover i had to unscrew that is blue on one side and silver on the other with two rubber grips on each end and on the blue side a round battery looking thing that has a small “warning void warrenty if seal is broken” sign on it…I’ve removed the entire blue/silver box because is slid out quite easily and have left it out for like 10 min and put it back in and tried booting but my BIOS pass is still up…Have I found the RTC battery or no? If not can anyone direct me to it’s location please?
Thanks
June 19th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Hello!
I have this problem with my A105-S4334 notebook… I’ve updated the wrong version of BIOS (watch out because i’ve downloaded from the Toshiba’s website itself), but the worst part is that it accepted! The computer don’t start anymore. Actually, it runs and beeps, but the screen is black and i can see nothing… I’ve tried to reset the BIOS, no way to do that… (does anybody know how?). Is there any possibility i could by a new BIOS (chip)? Anyone knows? Thanks
June 17th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
I just replaced my motherboard. xp loads fine but the keyboard and mouse arn’t funcioning correctly. I can’t type anything and the mouse buttons wont allow me to double-click. I have tried using a usb keyboard and mouse no luck.
June 13th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Awesome directions my man. Perfect, and to the point. For those of you not able to follow this incredibly well laid out simple tutorial .. you shouldn’t be taking apart a laptop in the first place.
I always have a guitar pick handy !!
May 29th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Ray,
Maybe it’s time to pick up a camera and create a better set of instructions? Can you?
I think my instructions are OK but your reading skills are not.
You have to click on the picture to enlarge it. You can see all screws marked on the large picture.
Now about your DVD drive. Again, read through the instructions carefully.
STEP 6 shows the screw securing the DVD drive (CLICK ON THE SMALL PICTURE!)
STEP 7 shows how to remove the DVD drive.
Good luck!
May 29th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Every link on the internet points to these same set of directions that suck. You can’t tell what screw or what bar you are talking about. I have taken out every screw I can find and the dvd drive won’t budge.
May 18th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Thanks Cj for your reply BUT………………………
After disassembling and assembling my laptop I have experienced this time a serious and probably last problem. My laptop cannot open. I want to notice that I had this problem the last month but after some tries (2 or 3) the led was getting blue (active) and the O.S has been loaded.
1. I disassembled it and I fixed my first problem. A thick line of dust has been stopped the air to come out that’s why the laptop reached such high temperatures (~86 C).
2. I removed both the heatsink and the fan and I cleaned them out.
3. After Assembling the parts (followning your valuable advices) I tried to turn the laptop on. I tried a couple of times (4-5)
The led indicating the power was blue (active) and I pressed the power button but nothing happened. Sometimes (in those attempts) I managed to turn it on and the BIOS loaded but some bips was listened to. I don’t remember the exact sound to draw any conclusion.
4. After that, all the remaing attemps (trying to turn it on again) was fruitless. I couldn’t turn it on.
What I am def. sure about is that the AC power I checked it out and it’s ok it gives power so something wrong with some circuits in mobo. It’s the only thing I can figure out at this time. When the power led turns on I also checked to charge my PDA and I noticed that the USB port couldn’t give power.
Ok I know it’s difficult, if not impossible, to give me any hint what’s going wrong w/o seeing it but in case you have any idea it will be welcome.
Thanks a lot for your reply and see you
May 17th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
delk,
Can you hear the cooling fan spinning?
Before you disassemble the laptop, try cleaning the fan from outside. Find an air compressor or buy a can of compressed air and spray it inside the fan grill on the bottom of the laptop. You can remove 90% of dust this way. Does it help to keep your laptop cooler?
I don’t think that your problem is related to the cable. I believe in a Satellite A100/A105 laptop the touch pad button is located on a touch pad board underneath the top cover. It’s possible that the right button is not working properly and the button board has to be replaced. That’s a guess.
May 16th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Hi all folks,
I have a Toshiba Satellite Laptop A100-192 is the model in my country Greece I am not sure if we share the same name around the word but no problem cause the case of my laptop is the same as in your guide.
I want to clean up my CPU’s fan which causes problems to my laptop the temperature reaches on avarage more than 80 C w/o using it a lot.
I wanna dissamble it first, who knows it may be the dust that causes the problem but in worst case in if something’s wrong with my CPU’s fan which model will I have to buy?
Also I have experienced a serious problem with my mousepad (It is doing right click all the time as if I pressed the right click of touchpad) since the very first time I bought my laptop (almost 3.5 years ago) and I noticed in your comments that there are 2 cables connected the Motherboard with the Touchpad and the second one is a bit hidden so it’s likely something to be wrong with the secon cable.
In case you have any experience with it just let me know
cheers guys and thanks for your guide that I am gonna follow tom.
Bye from Greece
May 11th, 2009 at 9:27 am
john,
I want you to try something.
Connect the external USB keyboard and restart the laptop. Try entering the BIOS setup menu by pressing the F2 key as soon as Toshiba logo appears on the screen. Can you enter the BIOS using the external keyboard? Can you use the external keyboard in the BIOS?
May 7th, 2009 at 5:39 am
Hi well I spilled some gravy while making dinner and the keyboard keys would only work sometimes. I turned the unit over and tried to dry it. Then tried the hair dryer and it still worked half the time. Now it doesn’t work at all. I plugged in an usb keyboard and it still wouldn’t work, nothing. I disconnected the keyboard and tried the usb keyboard and nothing. All that happens is the computer reboots to the password screen. I know the usb keyboard is there because if I hit the caps key and then use the touchpad to hit enter it asks “did you leave the caps lock on?” I figured its a problem with liquid into the MB so I followed the disassemmbly instruction and while looking at it I do not see and type of damage at all. I have it all apart and really need some advice as to how to proceed next. Thanks for the help, Johncdbass AT aol DOT com, thanks John
May 4th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I followed these instructions for a Toshiba Satellite A100-172 and it worked great! The only difference for the A100-172 was that the wireless modem was located under the keyboard rather than on the back.
Thanks for the help!
April 11th, 2009 at 2:00 am
My A105 S4384 went “blank”. The external monitor connected to it and the rest of the computer works great.
I disconnected and then re-connected the external monitor to make it default to a primary monitor and am able to continue using the laptop.
Obviously I am thinking, I got a buggered video card however, after reading one of your replies, you indicated there is no separate “video card” in this laptop. Is that correct? Having some experience in computers, I want to do my own repairs. Can you help me?
Thank you
April 6th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
ali,
Check out:
Toshiba Satellite A105 laptop sets BIOS password by itself
April 6th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
i have a labtop toshiba satellite a105-s2081
but unfortunally i forget its bios password
somebody tell me that there is a eprom chip in every labtop, which store the password.
can somebody help me to find this chip in the above model
thanks
March 30th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I went to replace my keyboard on my A105 and broke the little plastic clamp that holds the ribbon to the motherboard. I went into a repair shop and they top me I had to replace the whole motherboard!! For a 5 cent plastic clasp!??!!! Does anyone know where I can get a replacement clasp/clamp that holds the keyboard ribbon onto the motherboard?
March 16th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Hi,
i have problems with my DC jack – so i have to replace it. Can you send me pls more detailed Pictures from this Part? Have i to disassemble the whole Laptop?
Thank you for that guide – it will help me so much
Nice greetings from Germany
March 13th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Joshua
I have a Toshiba A105-s2101 and I was hoping someone could tell me what the biggest hard drive I can upgrade to would be… I can’t seem to find anything online or on the toshiba website…
This is what your system came with:
Hard Disk Drive
• 60GB (5400 RPM) Serial-ATA (SATA) hard disk drive; 9.5mm height
As long as you meet the interface and physical size then the sky’s the limit cause laptops now don’t have the limitations that those on windows 98 had, Newegg is my Fav.