Toshiba Satellite P30 and P35 laptops. Removing and cleaning heatsink to fix laptop overheat problem.
Overheating is a very common issue with Toshiba Satellite P30 and P35 laptops. If your laptop suddenly shuts down by itself and the bottom of the laptop base is very hot then most likely the laptop overheats. It happens because the heatsink gets completely clogged with lint and dust and doesn’t disperse the heat properly. Unfortunately, this model doesn’t have a hatch for an easy heatsink access. To remove and clean the heatsink the laptop has to be taken apart completely. Disassembly process is very similar to Toshiba Satellite A70 and A75 model. After you remove and clean the heatsink you should apply new thermal grease on the CPU, do not use old grease. You can buy thermal grease in any local computer shop or online. Artic Silver is a good brand.
If you are not sure that you can take apart the laptop, do not open the case. Try to clean the heatsink and cooling fans with compressed air first. Buy a can of compressed air and blow inside the openings on the bottom of the laptop. If the heatsink is not clogged completely, this measure might be enough to fix the laptop overheating problem.
Need spare parts for your laptop? Search here by the laptop model and part name or number.
October 31st, 2009 at 9:42 pm
ken yes teres a way to install windows by usb
i do ot all the time
its a portable cd rom
tiger direct sells for 20 dallors
October 1st, 2009 at 12:23 am
“You have to be really careful with water inside laptop. I use compressed air, never use water.”
I have succussfully washed many mobo’s with water, gets rid of any dust shorts. how ever with my P30 I used metho cause it has a bios battery solded to the mobo, yesterday I reassambled and tested to find the graphics was very poor, worry that the gpu was stuffed I tested with external monitor, worked well. after inspection found the conection on the mobo had dry joint, resolded all the pins. now my P30 is perfect
September 30th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
You have to be really careful with water inside laptop. I use compressed air, never use water.
September 30th, 2009 at 4:14 am
I find washing with water or metho after compleat disasambly works every time, just make sure the componets are compleaty dry before applying electricty, including the bios battery. ps I even wash the cpu if it has gotten dirty, no probs
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I cleaned my P35 because used to overheat and shut down but now I have another problem everytime i turn on my lab its show ntldr is missing or corrupt
any sugestion how I can install Windows again? is anyway to install windown from a USB port??? I need help!
Plus my CD ROM is not working since I guess I broke the controller from the MB
May 13th, 2009 at 3:46 am
In order to reset your Bios firsty “Dont short the two contacts out!” this will cause damage to the motherboard nor will it wipe the BIOS settings! secondly beg borrow or steal a soldering iron and a tiny screwdiver and heat up both the BIOS battery terminals and flick the battery off with a screwdriver for at least 10secs then once cooled replace the battery back on to the terminals and apply heat and fresh solder! put everthing back together and Hey preso F2 later it works!! hope that helps
April 15th, 2009 at 11:07 am
hans,
You’ll have to check the connections.
1. Make sure the memory is seated correctly.
2. Make sure the processor is seated correctly and is LOCKED inside the socket.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Matt Carey,
Can you hear the cooling fan spinning? It should start as soon as you turn on the laptop. Maybe the fan is defective and the laptop shuts down because of that? Just a guess.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Peter,
Sounds like a memory related problem. You have two memory modules installed into your laptop, right. Try removing them one by one. Will it work with each module installed separately?
February 19th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
I need some help.
I have had the same problem with overheating of my Satellite P30 and have had it cleaned before. NOW, I am having a different problem.
My computer will start up normally, so it seems, and the blue light on the power buttom will light up, however the LCD screen will not display. It remains black, and the computer “doesn’t sound right.” Maybe a fan isn’t running, but something isn’t right. Any suggestions or ideas for help?
So to recap: Powers up and has a blue light, but no display.
Thanks,
Peter
January 1st, 2009 at 9:25 am
Hi, Im trying to fix a Toshiba Satellite P30 for a friend. The laptop turns off around 5-10 seconds after being turned on. Most of the time it just gets past the post. I have taken the machine apart and cleaned + applied new thermal paste to the CPU the reassembled. But the same fault occurs. The laptop has’nt got a battery. Seems like a over heating issue of the CPU has already been fried. Tried moving the RAM into other socket etc. Also the Bios has been locked with a password so I can’t even check the settings in there is there any way to unlock this?
thanks,
Matt
September 25th, 2008 at 4:17 am
Rob said:
>using the vacuum from outside of the case, capturing >some of the dust where the fins are. Will this static >cause harm?
Reread post #75…..
Note: I assume by ‘fins’…. you are referring to having the vacuum hose on the bottom, at the fan intakes… and NOT trying to ‘pull’ the dust through the backside fins….(That won’t work….).
The dust forms quite a ‘wall’ on the inside of the computer’s fins…. almost a sort of ’spackle’…. That’s why I suggested a long-haired brush, gently trying to get some of the caked dust loose…, and, sucking it out the bottom. It’ll show up as flecks of dirt/dust on the fan’s screens. Rubbing your finger across the screens, while also using the vacuum…. will make them ‘break up’, and slide through the screen holes….
Happy dust sucking….
September 24th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
tom.. thanks
but im my previous post I was talking about not disassembling the laptop.
using the vacuum from outside of the case, capturing some of the dust where the fins are. Will this static cause harm?
thanks
rob
September 24th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Well Rob,
Don’t figure on ‘blasting’ 150psi air into the fins…. They will bend quite easily!!!!!
(In fact, if you get overly aggressive in reassembly…. you can VERY easily bend the fins!!!!…..FYI, for those that venture into the disassembly arena…..).
If you have a long-haired paint brush…., you ‘could’ brush through the fins, possibly loosening some of the dust-bunny poop that forms on the fins….
If you keep these units long enough… or, simply use them so much….. you really WILL have to finally disassemble them, and clean them thoroughly, including disassembly of each fan….. cleaning them with Q-Tips & alcohol….
I have some excellent photos of my nasty computer, prior to a thorough cleaning…..
BTW: If you do a total disassembly, I suggest that you use a 12 holed, cupcake pan, to save the various screws, in the oredr that they go back together… It makes it a lot easier to put together.
Onward……….
September 24th, 2008 at 3:45 am
tom.. thanks for the reply.
so using compressed air into the back of the heatsink and a vacuum to grab some of the dust where the fins are (from outside of the computer) will be ok?
is there anything else I can do to make the probability of disaster even less?
thanks in advance..
rob
September 24th, 2008 at 3:28 am
Good question Rob!
In this case, static probably is not to fear, since the laptop & associated grounding circuits are doing their job against such a problem. But, if you were to disassemble & blow…. different possible outcome.
BTW: Using a ‘grounding strap’ is always a good idea……, particularly when taking apart ’static sensitive’ devices.
============
Reply for Hans’ problem…
Mendizabal has an excellent answer. I too!, have screwed up on the CPU/heatsink seating. Be
absolutely certain!!!! to get it right… including the replacement of the heatsink compound!!! Your 10 sec shutdown says that you have failed, in this regard.
So, ‘do it again’, and do it right…. I do not expect that you have permanently damaged anything…. (fingers crossed…).
Good luck!
September 23rd, 2008 at 6:55 am
Same thing happened to me the first time. You need to take it apart again, carefully, and make sure everything is on correctly. My problem was that the heatsink was not on all the way.
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:03 am
hi frnds….
I cleaned my p35 by disassembling it..
But after cleaning n re-assembling it is nt working…
Just power led n fan works for 10 secs after that everything stops..
No hdd led n sound …
Pls tell me wat shud I do now???
Is the prob wid ram or smthing else???
Pls help… Thanks
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:03 am
hi frnds….
I cleaned my p35 by disassembling it..
But after cleaning n re-assembling it is nt working…
Just power led n fan works for 10 secs after that everything stops..
No hdd led n sound …
Pls tell me wat shud I do now???
Is the prob wid ram or smthing else???
Pls help… Thanks
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:04 am
hey all once again,
I have heard that i can cause static problems with using the vacuum.
How do I overcome this?
thanks
September 19th, 2008 at 5:14 am
hi tom, thanks for your reply.
so i have a couple options it seems.. (apart from dissembling the laptop)
Whilst using a can of compressed air I will have the vacuum cleaner near-by to collect the dust. I don’t want to go all out just with the vacuum as it is very powerful and am worried it will blow off something within the computer.
What are your thoughts of using the compressed air at the back of the computer whilst having a vacuum turned on where the vent fans are? (mind you I think i should have a crack at the vent fans with the compressed air)…
I have had this computer for 2.5 years so if I can get another 8-12 months out of it I will be pretty pleased, anything after that is a bonus. I just want to prevent any damage to the laptop without dissembling it.
Thanks guys
September 19th, 2008 at 4:08 am
>Might just buy a can of compressed air and blow it into the intakes………
Actually, this is BAD idea…. If you desire to blow air into the computer, also have a way to get the ‘bunnies’ out of the ventilation channel. If you use Joseph Vu’s vacuum hose on the bottom, intake vents trick, and your desire to blast the cooling fins, (from the rear of the computer..NOT the bottom!!!), you may get relief.
The whole cooling system is a disgrace in design!!!!!!!! But, using the above method will buy you time, before the inevitable “taking it apart” syndrome.
Generally, blasting air INTO ANY computer…. is a really bad idea! At least pull out the crap, (and moisture from some ways of blowing air….), with a vacuum cleaner at the same time.
But, running this design in a dusty environment…. will eventually mean a thorough cleaning of the radiator fins, as well as the fan’s fins….. And, that means total dissasembly of the computer. And.., don’t forget to apply new thermal paste!!! It has become a yearly REQUIREMENT for my P35….
Happy ‘putering
September 18th, 2008 at 6:21 am
hi everyone,
been having heating problems with my P35 latley. Might just buy a can of compressed air and blow it into the intakes and into the grill and see what happens; as shown on this link; http://www.insidemylaptop.com/satellite-a75-notebook-started-overheating/
Anyone exactly tried this and to what affect?
thanks in advance!
September 4th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I suggest :
1) clean the vents
2) reinstal Windows XP (with linux I do not have the problem)
3) only install the needed drivers
September 4th, 2008 at 7:31 am
I’ve had the same problem in the past, Heres an easy solution.
Get the hose of your vacuum cleaner an place it at the bottom of your computer where your fans are at. Turn on vacuum and suck out the dust at the same time use your mouth to blow hard through the exit vent on the back of your computer and you will see most of your dust collected on the heat vent removed.
Overheating problems solved.
Joe
August 26th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
HI
YES everything is normal except the screen is black
V “(
August 26th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Oops.. sent that a little early…
Anyway, The inverter is usually behind the screen bezel. You can get one on eBay.
You did not mention the model number. But, the routine is nearly the same, in most cases. Here is a link to a disassembly of a Toshiba…. Step 7 shows the inverter.
http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba1415/sat1415_LCD.htm
They are simple to replace. Take your time, or you may break plastic parts. They WILL come apart…. use a credit card to ‘pop’ the bezel off, sliding between frame and bezel.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Get in a flourescent light area, (This works best), and see if can see the ‘image’ on the screen. You might tr looking at different angles to the screen.
If can make out the usual screen, less light… back-lighting, to be precise…, then the inverter power supply for the back-light is probably dead.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Hi Victor. A bit more info is needed. Does it start otherwise? The normal noises, etc? and just the screen is black?
August 25th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
hi when I turn on the computer…the screen is black…please help! vic “(