Toshiba Portege A100. How to remove laptop system board and replace CPU fan.
I had to replace the CPU cooling fan in this Toshiba Portege A100 laptop. At first glance this laptop looked like a Macintosh iBook computer. The laptop was completely white, very unusual color for Toshiba laptop in the USA. The laptop does not have a single screw on the bottom, not a single hatch. It took me at least 5 minutes to figure out that I have to start to disassemble the laptop from the top. After I removed the keyboard, I found what I was looking for – screws. To replace the memory modules in this model you have to remove the keyboard. For the hard drive, the modem card and the wireless card replacement it is necessary to remove the palmrest. I have never thought before that a hard drive replacement procedure might be so tricky. In general, I liked to work with this notebook model, no hidden screws on latches. The disassembly was fast and easy, even though I didn’t have any experience with this laptop before.
By the way, I wasn’t able to find a part number for the CPU cooling fan on Toshiba website because this model is not sold in the USA and there is no part listing for it. After 20 minutes on the phone with Toshiba, I found that a CPU fan from Toshiba Portege 3500 Tablet PC should work fine in this model. I ordered the fan and it was exactly as the original one. Toshiba part number for the CPU fan: P000363930
Need spare parts for your laptop? Search here by the laptop model and part name or number.
March 15th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Ross,
There are two main things to check:
1. Make sure the RAM module is installed correctly.
2. Make sure the CPU is seated properly and is LOCKED inside the socket.
In order to start any laptop with video you need only three main parts: motherboard (I assume it has integrated video), RAM module and CPU. If RAM or CPU doesn’t make good connection with the motherboard, it will not start.
March 15th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Had to replace motherboard after breaking keyboard connection. I was, I believe, very careful to replace everything where it had come from initially but now nothing works. Lights on but no fan or hard drive sound or display.
Any suggestions where to start checking for assembly errors?
Btw tried original motherboard back in place and nothing now happens with that either! What have I done wrong?
Please help.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
What voltage is the RTC batterie on the Protege A100?
i lost the dead one and cant recall?
December 9th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
thanks, this info save me twice… I had to open/change the HDD twice due it was broken and need to replace….
overall, I like it because it small. but it wasnt mine. all I have to do is fixed as I am a Tech. Support
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I need a screen for my A100 so anyone with one (like Mimulator) I would like to hear, otherwise I have some bits for sale – works perfectly other than damaged screen. Don’t seem to be able to contact directly, so anyone who wishes can contact me on eDOTembertonATukonlineDOTcoDOTuk
I would also be interested to know if the processor can be upgraded or not, if anyone has any ideas.
Edward
May 30th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Hi
Thanks for the instructions. Anyone selling one or know where I can get a replacement keyboard?
April 8th, 2008 at 5:46 am
hi could you explain how to fix the power on button on my toshiba equium a100 my son split coffee on the keyboard then took it apart he then gave up so i replaced the keyboard but the on /off switch is loose wobbly left and right it switches the laptop on but I was wandering to correct the problem as if the on/off button is lightly touched it switches off thanks its a great website really really useful great stuff
March 5th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Hi
I’ve just stumbled across this website. I have an A100 with broken fan and decided to get a new laptop rather than repair it and put in a new hard drive. It is available for parts if anyone is interested? I see that Adnan above expressed interest?
I am in the UK
Thanks
Mel
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:25 pm
“LAPTOP COOLING SYSTEM FAILED, PLEASE SHUT THE SYSTEM DOWN AND SERVICE IT”
mine says the same thing. i’m glad i found this site.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
hi
i need a better processor for my toshiba portege a100
please can you tell me what this laptop can take the highest? it takes 1.4ghz at the moment but i need a faster processor. please can you tell me the details thanks
Adnan
January 8th, 2008 at 7:56 am
sorry mate im in the UK
January 8th, 2008 at 4:05 am
nah – the repair guy gave me a desktop & kept the a100, which he said he was going to try to use for parts. if you happen to be in australia let me know & i’ll give you his contact deets.
January 7th, 2008 at 4:03 am
do you still have your a100? mimulator
if yes would some parts still work?
If yes again would you consider selling some parts?
Regards
Adnan
January 7th, 2008 at 2:11 am
(see above comment) Just a warning to the non-pros out there. My toshiba a100 is now a write-off. The guy who I hired to replace the fan couldn’t fix it after the problems I described above appeared. I think he either didn’t reconnect one of the wires properly, or maybe didn’t keep himself earthed. I was obviously a bit miffed about having the repair guy break my computer, so he gave me a 2nd hand desktop as a replacement. But the whole process took heaps of time, and if I’d tried it myself, I’d now have a computer that may or may not be salvagable, and no replacement. I wish I’d just sent it off to toshiba to start with.
I’m a big fan of DIY computer repair, but the A100 seems to be a particularly fiddly model, and even someone who earns a living fixing computers managed to do some damage following this process, so if you’re in doubt, consider playing it safe and paying someone else to take responsibility if it breaks!
On the plus side, the replacement fan works fine.
January 6th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Hi
I want to buy a new processor for this toshiba portege a100
i have just bought a new 512mb ram to support the 256 in there also to make it faster
please can you tell me which processor to get please i do not know the one in there is 1.4 ghz i want one that will make my laptop very fast as i am not happy with it at the moment despite doing many things.
Thanks Very Much
Regards
Adnan (aj_adnan8@yahoo.co.uk)
December 13th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Adnan Javedaziz,
I don’t think so. If you are getting this cooling system failure message right from the startup then most likely this is not related to dust on the fan or heatsink.
As I suggested before, listen for the fan. Find out if it’s working at all.
December 13th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
thanks mate i will check it out means alot and i appreciate it. another thing coul dit be if i open it up and there is alot of dust on the fan could this be it? i will check it out then leave another comment.
Thanks cj2600
December 13th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Adnan Javedaziz,
Apparently the cooling fan stopped working. Turn on the laptop and listen if the fan starts spinning. If the fan doesn’t spin even after 5-10 minutes, probably that’s your problem. Replace the fan.
December 13th, 2007 at 9:35 am
HI THIS IS SUCH A GREAT SITE AND I WILL LEAVE A DONATION LATER AS THIS PERSON REALLY DESERVES IT!
I NEED SOME OTHER HELP WITH MY TOSHIBA PORTEGE A100…. IT SAYS “LAPTOP COOLING SYSTEM FAILED, PLEASE SHUT THE SYSTEM DOWN AND SERVICE IT” SOMETHING LIKE THAT…,PLEASE CAN YOU HELP ME AS I AM NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND I DO NOT KNOW WHO CAN SERVICE IT APART FROM THE MAN WHO DOES ALL THIS TESTING WITH LAPTOPS ON THIS WEBSITE. PLEASE HELP…
MANY THANKS
ADNAN(aj_adnan8@yahoo.co.uk)
November 17th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Hi there, thanks very much for the instructions. I bought a replacement cooling fan & booked a computer repair service to do the replacement – unfortunately the guy they sent had never done anything like it before & ended up using your instructions to take it apart. It didn’t boot the first time he put it back together, so he took it away & brought it back & it booted ok.
But a few days later I realised that the palm rest wasn’t on properly. I pressed on it pretty hard to try to click it back into place, no luck. I kept using it anyway for the last two weeks until today, when it started glitching out & shutting down for no reason. After a system restore initially seemed to fix the problem, I realised that the shutdowns were triggered by moving the computer. I’m pretty sure that it’s something to do with the palm rest. any hints on getting it back on properly?
November 9th, 2007 at 1:52 am
One thing I found that wasn’t mentioned is that the small piece of plastic that covers the Hard Disk is secured by a screw labeled “F12″ just above the side audio ports.
Great guide, some of these laptops can be really tricky to disassemble and although I have done a few Toshiba’s removing the palm rest isnt something you come across very often.
Thanks
November 6th, 2007 at 8:37 am
I missed instruction 2, which caused me some problems. Eventually I spotted that the palm rest was attached by a fourth screw, located in the battery compartment. It says, in step 8, “It would be a little be tough.” Not _that_ tough.
September 10th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
A great resource.
It is pretty tricky to get the palm rest off (mine looks a tiny bit different). Actually one of the other disassembly guides (portege4010) shows the idea to separate the catches around the break line a bit better using a plastic prying tool (e.g. guitar pick). Taking it steady with not too much force highly recommended.
Anyway – all helped loads seeing where the bits should come off. Got my HD replaced
June 3rd, 2007 at 11:48 am
Hello. Do you know if i can change the cpu for the portege a100?
May 16th, 2007 at 12:55 am
Hi… I took off the keyboard no problem, but how do I get the palm rest off? I remoed 3 screws that appeared to be holdingit but it still won’t moe from its position. Any help appreciated. Regards, Fred
January 2nd, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Very good and handful site. It saved me a lot of time.
Thanks!
October 3rd, 2006 at 10:04 pm
Thank You once more:)
But we have no part from Toshiba here:(
I will buy another one fan 44×44x7 dim and make it fit instead of native one:)
October 3rd, 2006 at 2:12 pm
Igor,
You can find this fan on the Interne if you search by the part number. It would be the same fan as for Portege 3500. It’s DC5V 200mA fan.
October 3rd, 2006 at 12:38 am
Hello!
Thank You VERY MUCH!
HDD is dead:) (2 years). Bought new one.
Also I have problems with cooler.
I can’t find this fan. I’ve found one in the shop fan for notebook but connector is very big there and 12V.
Maybe You could tell me V amount in portege notebook?
Thank YOu in advance.
And thank You very much once more.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:53 pm
Awesome resource, I appreciate the time and energy put into this site and its value is extremely high.