Toshiba Satellite A70 and A75. Taking apart notebook.
I repair Toshiba Satellite A70 and A75 laptops almost every single day and I like to work with this model. I think that Toshiba Satellite A70/A75 is one of the easiest Toshiba laptops for disassembly. Unfortunately, this model has some issues. About 90% of all laptops we repair have one of the following problems:
- Not properly grounded top cover. The laptop will shut down or lock up when you touch it around the speaker or touchpad area. This problem could be fixed by replacing the top cover assembly.
- Overheating problem. The laptop will shut down by itself without any reason. To fix the overheating problem you have to take the laptop apart and clean up the heatsink.
- The power jack issue. The laptop will not charge the battery. The laptop LED flicker when you wiggle the power jack. To fix this problem you have to replace or resolder the DC jack on the system board.
November 24th, 2006 at 9:58 am
Hi, I have replaced the DC jack bought a new charger and a new battery, It is still not doing what it should do. The symtons are as follows: With the it pluged in with the battery in it seems to charge when it feels like it.
When switched on the LED indicates that it is not pluged in even though it is & the charge LED swithes off aswell , this happens when I actually log to the MS page.
I’m thinking maybe there is some conflicting prob with the MS. I am using Microsoft windows XP Version 2002 service pack 2. Any ideas?
November 23rd, 2006 at 7:39 pm
Hi, I have a Satellite A70 that I dismantled to solder the jack connector. After reassembly, every thing works except for the touch pad. No mouvement of the cursor nor clics. What did I do or did not do. ( I sould say that at my first attempt, I forgot to plug the touch pad connector and had no leds and no touch pad. Then pluged the conn and had leds but still no touch pad ) Thanks for reading me and hoping to hear from you soon.
November 17th, 2006 at 10:35 am
hm, i should explain my problem more descriptively.
i’m pretty sure a virus hit my hdd and messed it up (it started showing a “PXE-61: Media Test Failure” on load with /without the hdd). I reformatted my HDD and tried again, instead of the PXE-61 problem, it shows up the BSOD/restart problem with the HDD and PXE-61 problem without the hdd. To test whether it was my hdd or another problem, I put in another hdd from another laptop and it shows the same problem (bsod/restart). Therefore, I believe the problem is a bios problem.
i’m not sure how i’m going to test the mem with memtest since i can’t access the os b4 restarting.
thanks for your time
November 16th, 2006 at 11:55 pm
DcL,
Remove the hard drive, the DVD drive, and any cards that you can access from the bottom (Wi-Fi card, modem) and start the laptop again. Do you still have the same blue screen error? If no, then start installing removed parts one by one and test the laptop after each part, find out witch part is causing the problem. If you still have BSOD error, then I would test the memory, you can do it with Memtest 86+ utility.
BTW, you also can get a BSOD error because of corrupted software. Remove just the hard drive and see if the error gone. If it’s gone then it’s either bad software or a bad hard dive. Test the hard drive with Hitachi DFT test.
November 16th, 2006 at 2:03 pm
Hi
I’m not sure if this is a bios problem, but when I turn on the computer, the screen will load the bios and then flicker a blue screen for half a second and restarts. I’ve loaded default settings in the bios but still no fix. I went thru the steps to attempt to remove the cmos battery to reset bios, only to find the battery soldered. Should I attempt to remove it or ask for professional help…my warranty expired and not sure if it’s worth the money if i can diy.
thanks for any response
November 11th, 2006 at 5:45 am
Hi, The computer does not turn on with it connected to the wall without the battery, the green LED AC power luminates though.
November 7th, 2006 at 11:58 am
DHEERAF,
Yes it should function fine even if you remove the battery and run in just from the AC adapter. Does it?
I think you might have a bad battery.
November 7th, 2006 at 11:51 am
Yashar,
I don’t have a guide for Satellite A70 LCD cover replacement. Take a look at the display disassembly guides for Satellite M35X and Satellite A65 at http://www.irisvista.com/tech/ and you’ll get an idea.
November 6th, 2006 at 8:23 am
Hi Again, One more question, should the computer function with the battery removed, and with the power from the wall?
Thanks
November 5th, 2006 at 6:46 am
Hi I commend you on your site. I left it the computer charging all night long but in the morning the amber charge light was still on, so I turned it on, then it booted fine, then the crital battery message came on and turned off.So I decided to check the charger output theres 19.5V, there so then I checked the output on the mother board same 19.5V there too. I also checked the voltage on the battery charging side 14.6V, could it be the battery could not be holding charge or I need a new one?
Thanks
November 2nd, 2006 at 8:51 pm
hey
i have a toshiba satelite a70 and want to change the blue panel or cover which says toshiba on it because there is a scratch how can i do that please let me know.
October 24th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
Charles,
I don’t know why the specification says “2 expansion memory slots”, I guess that’s a typo. This model has one memory module permanently attached to the system board. There is only one memory slot available for upgrades. You can install only one memory stick into this computer.
October 24th, 2006 at 10:02 am
Hey everybody,
I was wondering, I have a Satellite A75-S229 and here’s the situation. Downloaded the spec sheet and the guide so I could add more memory (ram) to it. Well in the spec sheet it says my model has (2) Expansion memory slots. So I purchased 2 more 512mb chips to max out the ram. Well I found the one (underneath the memory cover) Where’s the other slot? Are both slots there and I don’t see it? or Should I return both chips and just get a 1gb chip to max out? Much appreciated fellas…thx.
October 21st, 2006 at 11:10 am
Michael,
There should be 2 antenna wires: white and black. Connect the white cable to the “Main” connector on the wireless card and the black wire to the “Aux” connector.
October 21st, 2006 at 9:23 am
Toshiba A75 Wireless Card
I have a wi-fi card question. I did’nt mark the Wi-Fi card wires – I would like to know which wire goes where. Being an aentena I don’t think it makes a difference – but I don’t want to take a chance.
October 18th, 2006 at 10:43 am
Excuses to write in Spanish but it is it less than I can make for Hispanic people.
este manual es muy pero muy bueno. recominedo ojear mejor la pagina para encontrar algunas herraminetas que se encuentran entre los link lamento que no se pueda encontarr totalmente en español mucha suerte a todos ya que en mi caso pude rescatar mi computador portatil
October 13th, 2006 at 11:09 pm
I’ve replaced the A/C socket on three A75 laptops. All went well except one of them. I had the same problem some other people have mentioned here where after the plug is replaced, or the heatsink and fan are cleaned, the system will not fully power up. When pushing the power switch, the fans spin up, the lights come on for a few seconds and then the system either gets quiet and the fans turn off leaving the power switch light on, or it will go completely dead after making a beeping noise. Two things I would check for this. First, be sure your have put the hardrive back in before testing the unit. Leaving it out will cause the latter of the two problems I described above. Also, if your system comes on then shuts back off, try this. Remove the heatsink from the mainboard. Release the CPU lock screw, remove the CPU. The reinsert the CPU and tighten the locking screw. Then reassemble the unit. I found on more than one occasion that the locking screw for the CPU does a poor job holding it in place. If the proccessor becomes loose or lifts, the system will not boot and may cause the above problems. This is especially true when cleaning the fans and heatsink because it gets bumped and pulled a lot during the cleaning process. One other piece of advice, I recommend placing your laptop on a solid clean surface when using it and not on your lap of a pillow. This will allow the air to circulate under the unit and help prevent it from sucking dust inside, which clutters the heatsink and fans. I use a plastic cutting board to place it on while I’m using it on my lap and it works perfect. This keeps me cool too because the bottome of the fan laptop gets hot. Best of luck to you and hang in there. You’ll figure it out.
October 11th, 2006 at 9:09 am
I had the power jack issues as mentioned by several people on this site for my toshiba laptop. I tried to open the laptop and try to fix the power jack myself. I could not do it. So, I reassembled back the laptop. Now it is not booting. When I switch on the power, the power light goes on and the fans start. Ater that the fans stop and nothing happens after that. I don’t know what to do. I am out of warranty and any help in this matter would be really appreciated.
I tried booting with a CD, but nothing works. I need to try reseating the DVD driver as mentioned above to see if any thing happens.
Thanks.
October 6th, 2006 at 3:17 pm
Manuel,
Have you tried reseating the DVD drive? Just remove it from the laptop and put it back, to make sure that it makes a good connection with the system board.
October 3rd, 2006 at 8:31 pm
After taking a part my Toshiba A70 and reparing the AC jack, I put it all back together and the DVD unit is not working. No power even no boot from CD is working.
Any ideas?
September 30th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
Skatetampa84,
Try enabling the touchpad with Fn+F9 key combination. Press Fn first and then F9. If it doesn’t help, check if the touchpad cable is properly connected to the motherboard and locked.
September 24th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
I took my laptop apart to remove the dust to prevent it from overheating and I cant get the touchpad to connect properly. Everything else worked great (I’m submitting this from the laptop using a usb mouse). Any ideas how to get that reconnected?
September 22nd, 2006 at 8:25 pm
Taki,
It means that you will not be able internal wireless card if you have any. If I understand right, you purchased entire assembly that includes the screen with the cover. If you have wireless antennas in your laptop, then you can replace just the screen and do not replace the top cover (antennas are located under the screen and attached to the cover).
I haven’t created a disassembly guide for Satellite A70 yet, but you can use a guide for Satellite A65 as an example. It would be a little bit different, but main steps should be the same.
September 17th, 2006 at 5:47 am
I have recently purchased a new top – LCD screen – for my A70 laptop from EBAY – I was told that the connector for wireless cable does not come with the unit – Is this a problem and can anyone direct me to instructions on how to replace LCD screen??
Thanks
September 14th, 2006 at 11:40 am
I have successfully installed a new DVD burner in my computer and it worked well. I just took the mounting bracket off the old dvd dirve and put it in there and it fit like a glove. the drive model is an NEC-6750A.
September 13th, 2006 at 8:53 pm
Rich,
If you have any extra memory installed, remove it and try to start the laptop just with a base memory. I would also try removing the wireless card; sometimes it might halt the system from booting.
You can minimize the system to a bare minimum: system board and CPU with cooling module, it would be enough to start the laptop with an external monitor hooked up to the VGA port. This board already has an integrated memory chip, so you don’t need any extra memory chip. The power switch is also located on the motherboard. It is not necessary to connect the LCD screen; the external monitor would be enough.
If you minimized it and have only the system board, the CPU and the external monitor, but still no video, then most likely that’s the system board problem.
September 13th, 2006 at 8:42 pm
Mike,
Try Notebook hardware control utility. It works fine on my Satellite A105 and I can control the CPU temperature.
September 13th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Hello, and thanks for the help.
I am trying to fix my a75-s2292 but I cant get anything up on the lcd (or the vga on the back). The blue power light comes on and stays on but no text images etc. I dont think there are any other problems other than a 3.5 music jack doesnt work. {When the power is turmed on the power lights up and the fans start; litterally 2 seconds later the fans stop and no response. I can only get the power light on or off} Any comments would be great thank you.
Is it posslble to have this notebook run when it is dissasymbled and does the lcd need to be hooked up for the vga to work on a crt. (all nessicary parts hooked of course i.e. HD RAM Monitor)
September 11th, 2006 at 5:06 pm
I’ve been looking for a program to monitor the temperature of my A75-S206. Tried SpeedFan, but it doesn’t seem to automatically detect the system fan. It also doesn’t display the CPU or mainboard temperatures.
I’ve checked the system BIOS, but it seems pretty sparse. Now I’m wondering how to tell if this mainboard even has temperature sensors.
Any suggestions?
September 10th, 2006 at 11:23 pm
Tito Ribeiro,
Unfortunately, I cannot help you on the component level because we do not repair motherboards in our shop and I don’t really know how to do it. I guess, if you have a burned chip, replacing the power jack will not help a lot. I think you should look for a used A75 laptop on ebay, it would be much cheaper then paying $900 for a refurbished motherboard.