Toshiba Satellite M35X. How to fix most common laptop problems.
Toshiba Satellite M35X is a very popular model in the United States. In general, most Toshiba Satellite M35X laptops suffer from the same problems. Here’s a disassembly guide.
Improperly grounded top cover assembly. If the top cover assembly wasn’t grounded properly, then laptop may lock up or freeze up when you touch it in the speaker area. It happens because of a static electricity discharge. This problem was fixed on some laptops, but still there are a lot of laptops with unmodified top cover assembly. This problem should be covered under warranty even if you laptop is not under warranty anymore.
Poorly designed DC-IN power jack on the system board. Overtime, the DC power jack gets disconnected from the system board. If it happens, you will experience a problem with charging the battery or the laptop may not start at all.
Read more:
Toshiba Satellite M35X and A75 power jack and battery charge problem.
Toshiba Satellite 1900 laptop looses power and shuts down without warning.
Laptop CPU overheating. It is a very common problem for some Toshiba laptops. If a laptop CPU overheats, then the laptop shuts down without by itself without any reason. Read more:
Why my Toshiba laptop suddenly shuts down by itself without warning?
You can use the disassembly guide to take apart Toshiba Satellite M35X notebook and repair it yourself. Do not open the case if your laptop is still under warranty.
October 7th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Yes I have a Toshiba M35X-S111 and I have a problem with my display.I can see my display using flashlight. I checked my close button and then I could see a light in the lower right hand side of my screen. I believe I have a inverter or backlight problem. Any help you can give me.
October 3rd, 2006 at 9:35 pm
Yes I did that too my friend, man this is a head ache… can’t I just send this to you and pay you or something lol???
October 3rd, 2006 at 2:27 pm
Ulises Salazar,
Did you remove the CPU from the socket during disassembly? If you removed it, did you lock the socket after you put the CPU back in place?
The laptop will not boot if you forgot to lock the CPU socket.
October 3rd, 2006 at 2:16 pm
So I put everything back together now the problem is that the fan spins for 5 seconds the cd-rom doesnt come out and it wont show anything on the screen does anyone know what i can do ? i replaced and swicthed the memory modulea about a thousand times and nothing yet, I don’t know what to do does anyone know ? Thank you a lot, and thank you for this awesome website!
September 30th, 2006 at 11:23 am
Eli,
I think you might have a failing hard drive. You can download Hitachi drive fitness utility and test the hard drive yourself. Also check if the hard drive is plugged into the connector all the way down, disconnect and connect the hard drive back.
September 30th, 2006 at 8:39 am
thank you all for this wonderful site.
my toshiba laptop(mx35x-s114) intermittently does not boot up to windows. after the toshiba flash screen(display is in touch with toshiba) it goes to a black blank screen with just the blinking cursor on the upper left side. i turn power off/onn and if i am lucky it will boot up to windows.
any suggestions to fix is greatly appreciated.
thanks,
eli
September 20th, 2006 at 10:36 pm
George,
It’s not a common problem for Satellite M35X. If the external screen shows normal video, I assume that the motherboard works fine. You say that the screen glows, it means that the FL inverter is OK too.
So it could be a loose video cable, a bad video cable or a bad screen. I would try reseating the video cable before replacing parts. You’ll find a guide for taking apart the display assembly for Satellite M35X in the right pane of the site.
September 20th, 2006 at 10:31 pm
Ulises,
Even though the video cable on this model has a ground cable, you don’t have to connect it to anything, just place it along with the video cable. Make sure that the memory module is seated properly, remove it from the memory slot and put it back in place (it’s a very common mistake).
September 16th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
Hi,
Ive got a Toshiba M35X-S114 laptop.
The problems I’m having is that the LCD monitor will not work at times. It’s “glows” a bit so I know it’s on, but no picture whatsoever. I plugged in a secondary monitor and it works fine. I have tried the Fn-F5 keys to toggle between monitors, but it’s still not working. Is this a common problem or an easy fix? Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance.
September 16th, 2006 at 3:01 am
Also my laptop also goes on fan spins for 5 seconds and the nothing happens and i really don’t understand the whole pc card knob thing
September 16th, 2006 at 2:48 am
Okay I love your guide and its the best thing anyone who owns one of these things can hope for. But i have a m35x s161 and i out everything back installed a new dc plug and now my lcd screen wont power on i dont know where to ground it and im completely lost
September 13th, 2006 at 8:30 pm
Npatel,
Start removing the system board by lifting up the edge as it shown on the step 18 and at the same time press on the PC card knob. After that, when the PC card knob is out, you can slide the board from the case and free up the monitor port.
September 11th, 2006 at 8:01 am
I have Satellite M35X. Same problem as mentioned; power light comes on, fan for about 5 seconds, then nothing (cannot open CD-rom). Just wondering if anyone has found resolve for this? PS – also had the DC jack problem. I would be very grateful. Thank you
September 11th, 2006 at 6:26 am
cj2600,
Thanks for creating this nice site for disassembling toshiba laptop. I have toshiba m35x-109 and having issue with my dc power jack. I followed your detailed instructions and disassembeld it. However, I am not able to remove the system board from the base (step 18). Is there any trick to remove it while taking care of chasis? It seems proturding parts of system board like monitor jack, network card eject knob makes removal difficult.
npatel
August 23rd, 2006 at 7:33 pm
Eileen,
If the connector is not broken and you can put the plastic holder back into the connector, then it should work. It should work even if you accidentally break a pin on the holder, because the keyboard cable actually stays inside because it gets jammed between the connector and the holder. The series of pins connect the contacts on the keyboard cable when you lock the connector.
Make sure that you plug the cable all the way down and it’s positioned correctly, the contacts on the cable should face the pins inside the connector. The holder also has to be positioned correctly so it pushes the cable toward the pins when you lock the holder.
I had the same situation this morning. I was working on Satellite M35X and after I assembled it back the touchpad didn’t work. I took it apart again and reconnected the touchpad cable (the small version of keyboard connector) and it fixed my problem.
BTW, thank you very much for your generous donation to http://www.irisvista.com !!! People like you keep me motivated.
August 23rd, 2006 at 6:17 am
cj2600,
I wish I had seen that picture before I started – it really shows what I should have done! The connector did not break and I can put the ribbon cable in there and slide the tabs back in and it seems to hold it. Then I took the connector piece, which I had mistakenly pulled off the board, and put it back on the board, over the two vertical pins at the ends of the connector. But that seems to be an insufficient connection to the board. It is not recognizing the keyboard. There are a series of pins protruding from the long side of the connector towards the front of the board, but they don’t see to “fit” into anything – seemed more like they were just sitting in a hardened green gel. I can’t figure out what should be making the board read the keyboard connection. Is this a new motherboard situation?
Thanks. Eileen
August 22nd, 2006 at 10:04 pm
Here’s a picture that shows how a keyboard connects to the system board. If you want to remove the keyboard cable, you’ll have to unlock the connector first – move the brown holder away from the connector (2-3millimeters), the direction is shown by yellow arrows. Only after that you can remove the keyboard cable.
To install it back, plug the cable inside the connector as far as it goes and lock the connector.
Eileen,
I don’t know if your connector is broken or not. Try to plug the cable into the connector and jam it with the holder.
August 22nd, 2006 at 9:26 pm
Several keys on my Toshiba satellite keyboard went bad after a soda spill. All this advice was so specific with great illustrations that I decided to try to fix it myself. I was going along fine until I needed to disconnect the keyboard ribbon cable. Couldn’t find instructions on that (too basic, I guess), so I stupidly popped at the holder and it became disattached from the computer. Eventually figured out how the open the ribbon cable holder properly, but now the keyboard is not recognized at all. Tried to use the old won, which worked except for several keys and it is no longer recognized either. Anything that can be done?
August 22nd, 2006 at 8:22 am
Bill,
The volume wheel is located on the audio board (part# K000019130 – for audio board with wireless). The audio board connects to the system board through a flat cable. I think you might have just a bad connection between boards, may be the cable is not seated all the way down. Before you replace the board, I would try to reconnect the cable. I think it might fix the audio problem.
August 22nd, 2006 at 4:42 am
cj2600,
Thanks for the response. In any case, yeah, thats the weird part, the whole wheel spins fine either way. The audio out port works, didn’t test the mic port though. Also the Wireless Adapter switch connected the the board also works. The volume seems to be maxed out also so its not like the wheel is “stuck” at like medium volume either. If nothing comes to mind at all on why it would be like this, you think just replacing that board would work and if so you know where I could get one or the part number?? I forgot to write that down when I took the laptop apart.
August 21st, 2006 at 10:58 pm
Annette,
I would try to find a test memory module and replace it. It might help. Or at least try to reseat the already installed module, move it to the second slot.
August 21st, 2006 at 10:56 pm
Bill,
Sorry for a late response, I’ve been kinda busy. Does the volume wheel spins at all? Sometimes it might get jammed by the laptop base.
The short wire coming from the video cable (grounding cable) for some reason is not connected to anything. Just leave it alone.
August 20th, 2006 at 1:21 pm
I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MOST ON HERE WITH THE POWER LIGHT ON AND FAN RUNNING 5 SECONDS AND THEN NOTHING, CAN’T GET ANYWHERE WITH TOSHIBA JUST KNOW THAT I A HAVE A COSTLY PAPER WIEGHT. AND HELP PLEASE LET ME KNOW. OH YES MINE IS ALSO MODEL M35X
August 16th, 2006 at 8:22 am
I took apart my M35X-309 and replaced the broken/problem jack with radio shack part #274-1576. I had to drill open the old hole a little bit, but it fit in there after some finagling. I soldered it to the board using a couple short wires so as pressure on the jack won’t pull on the board and just the wires which won’t cause any troubles. If anyone wants any more information about what I did please let me know.
In any case after I put everything back together and the power worked flawlessly I realized that for some reason the Volume Wheel on the right side doesn’t work. The only way to change the volume now is to use software tools which stinks. If anybody has any ideas as to why or how this occurred and anyway to fix it please let me know.
Also after putting the screen back in I noticed there was a short wire coming out of the video cable going to the system board. It has a hole in it and is right around where the cable sits in the chassis. Is this cable supposed to go somewhere at all?? I wrapped it in electric tape so it didn’t accidently contact anything else, and everything worked fine on the laptop except of course the volume wheel. Any info on the use of this cable would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
August 14th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Ramesh,
Check if everything is connected properly and if you put right screws in right holes. For example if the screw is longer then the original one, it might touch the system board and cause the problem. It’s just a guess. Check if the system board is seated correctly.
August 11th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
M35x-S329 DC Jack post replacement issues.
Thanks CJ,
I removed and fixed the Memory Module again and it works fine now i can see the display on the screen processor and fan are running, Only thing is after running 10 min system is hanging. I switched off and tried again and agian but it is the same it’s keep on hanging and processor fan blowing continues. Also when i plug in my internet cable i am not able to get the internet connection. Internet brower says page cannot be displayed, that happens to wireless connection also. Once again thanks for your valuable suggessions.
August 8th, 2006 at 2:47 am
Toshiba laptop won’t reboot. I here the unit running lights on in front. Screen won’t come up. I tried attaching another monitor still nothing. I had this problem one month ago when I called them. Toshiba says it won’t cover it just went out of warranty.
Going to pick up another RAM stick replace see what happens.
I have one more of these units still has 10 months of warranty. Surely won’t buy anymore.
I just saw the article on ground problem. I feel I have the same issue.
Not happy camper with company’s that hide things from the public.
Well I will continue my search on issue. Appreciate the post to show how to take the sucker apart.
Will learn about laptops on this one.
Then sell the rest of the pieces on the net.
After I remove the hard drive.
thanks
August 7th, 2006 at 11:37 pm
Ramesh,
Check if the memory module is seated properly. Try to move it into another slot.
By the way, if you removed the CPU for some reason, did you lock it up when you installed it back?
August 4th, 2006 at 1:50 am
I have a m35x-S329, after removal to repair my dc jack, and re-assembly, hit power button just gives a hdd blink and a fan burst of about 5 seconds, unit not boots, can open cdrom but no video. seems like a bad connection somewhere on the board. I wonder if dis-assembly to repair dc jack could have damaged motherboard? Any Suggessions pls.
July 21st, 2006 at 5:10 am
This is a great website! I followed the disassembly instructions and I got the broken DC jack issue repaired. Just as important, I was able to reassemble everything just as it was to begin with. You can’t tell that it was taken apart.
The two things that gave me some difficulty in the process were desoldering/resoldering the jack (first time I put an iron to a board for 8 years), and reinserting the ribbon cable for the keyboard (that little white piece that clamps over the ribbon just kept getting in the way).