Removing and replacing memory on a Toshiba Satellite A20 or A25 notebook is not as easy ad it should be. Both memory modules are located under the keyboard. A laptop keyboard has to be replaced in order to get access to the memory modules. Before you remove the keyboard do not forget to remove the laptop battery or you can damage the laptop. Be careful when you remove the keyboard securing strip; do not bend it too much. To remove the memory module from the slot on the system board, release the latches on both sides and the memory module will pop up. It will stay at a 30 degree angle to the system board. Firmly grasp the memory module and remove it from the slot.
November 3rd, 2007 at 1:05 pm
John A. Dixon,
You cannot replace the secondary fan without removing the top cover. Take a look at the step 19 of this disassembly guide, you’ll see the secondary fan on this image and get the idea how to remove the top cover.
October 30th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Hi,
I’m trying to work on a Toshiba A25-S279 laptop with an axillary cooling fan that is going bad. How do I access this “second (Smaller) fan”? Through the top or do I need to remove the bottom? If the bottom, how do I proceed?
October 12th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
I’m from Brazil and I was actualizing bios and i forgot plug power so batery goes down with incomplete flashing and as a result of a corrupt BIOS. So I’ll need to recover / reprograming. Do you know if in this model A20-259 Bios has socketed or soldered chip? If socketd where I can get?
Please it’s important
apreciate you help
Carlos
October 11th, 2007 at 4:47 am
also does anyone know if u can hook up an external video card or something like that?
thanx,
dean
October 11th, 2007 at 4:39 am
hi, why is n\it not possible to install 2 1GB sticks in the memory slots in my a20 for 2GB total of ram? i have been told it will work, but u guys say it wont and i dont want to waste the money if it doesnt, any help, thanx
September 26th, 2007 at 6:22 am
I am looking for a recovery disc for an A25-S207. Does anyone have an extra one out there or do I have to fork over the money to Toshiba for the outrageous prices they have for their support? Please help me out here I’m a college student trying to get caught up on homework…
August 8th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Ken,
You don’t have to replace the keyboard, just lift it up and place upside down on the palm rest. Now you can replace/upgrade the memory.
Probably you can upgrade the memory without using an ESD wrist strap, just do not touch anything on the system board and do not touch contacts on the memory module. You can handle the memory module by the edges without touching contacts.
It should be enough to prevent ESD. Just in case, touch any device with metal case before you go inside the laptop (for example a desktop computer case), it should discharge you.
August 8th, 2007 at 11:27 am
On the memory upgrade site it says “A laptop keyboard has to be replaced in order to get access to the memory modules” can I not just use the original key board?
Just want to make sure before I try and up grade.
Do I need an ESD wrist band for this? if so where can you get one? thank you very much.
Ken
July 24th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Hi,
I have a Toshiba A25 and the lid started to become loose.Now the lid closes when you move around the laptop. Is there any way I can fix this?
Please kindly advice.
July 19th, 2007 at 6:33 am
Hi there, ive got a a25 s279, ive managed to crack my screen ( Doh! ) and im looking for a replacement, could i just use any old model as long as it has a 30 pin connector?
July 10th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
squir,
I’ve never served this model and never seen it in our shop, apparently it’s a new laptop (or not a USA model).
Here’s my advice for you. Whatever you buy, Toshiba, HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc… , do not forget to buy an extended warranty for your laptop. It will pay off. Laptops break and it’s very expensive to fix them out of warranty.
I’m a laptop repair tech and I know how to fix laptops, but I always buy extended warranty for my personal computers and I will in the future.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:32 am
I am considering the Toshiba Satellite A215-S4757. It sounds fantastic but I have read some really bad things about Toshiba’s service. Please give me feedback as you really know Toshiba. Read about “hot pixels” spots on the screen that bother the consumer but toshiba says it’s not bad enough to be fixed under the warranty
Thanks,
squir
July 4th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
i recently put xp pro on my a25-5207. almost everything works fine with a couple of exceptions. first the front audio control buttons dont work and the s video out dont work either. it seems like its almost a driver issue or something. i go to properties of the video and go to advanced and see where i can pick tv but it wont let me select it and as far as the front buttons go they dont do anything. please let me know if you have any ideas. thanks blake
June 3rd, 2007 at 2:24 pm
I have a A25-S207. it doesn’t turn on… nothing happens when I push the turn-on button. Should I try replacing the Power Jack… and how do you get it replaced?
I already bought the power jack, but need directions.
I only get to the part where you remove the keyboard…
Thanks!
http://i17.ebayimg.com/04/i/06/f0/3a/ac_1_b.JPG
May 16th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
“First of all make sure the lid close switch is not stuck inside the case” I don’t quite understand what your referring to.. can u help me out? lol
I am having the same problem. intermitent shaking. a majority of the time it will be just fine. it also starts with a red hue, but slowly fades away.
Has anyone tried replacing the bulb? and where do i get one?
May 7th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Rory,
First of all make sure the lid close switch is not stuck inside the case. When it gets stuck it cuts off power from the backlight lamp and it stops working.
If a new inverter board didn’t fix the problem then probably something is wrong with the backlight lamp. Here you’ll find an example for replacing the backlight bulb.
May 7th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
My Toshiba Satellite is about 3 yrs old - no problems until a week ago when the screen start shaking and then went really dark. With a little research on the web, I thought it was the inverter. I ordered a brand new FL Inverter & replaced it tonight. I was very careful to make sure all connections were clean & tight. After re-assembling, my screen is still dark. Please Help! Is their a bulb I need to replace? If so, where (how) do I find it?
Thanks in advance for help!
April 24th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Looks like cj2600 is on vacation
Anyway, it seems my second memory module slot is corrupted, I ran memtest with ram chip 1 in the first slot and it passed, with chip 2 in the first slot and it passed, but if i put them both in at the same time it always fails at 516mb or above, and in windows i get the lovely 0×0000008E error. I’ve blown out the area heavily with canned air but no luck…
SO I’m wondering if 1GB can be put into one slot.. I have the S306, but given Eric’s success I think I’ll try it!
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:05 am
FYI All that wish to upgrade,
I have a Tosh A25-S307. I have 2gig of RAM, a Dual Layer DVD+/-RW drive, with an 802.11 a/b/g. The machine also has 120gig of drive space and a 3.0ghz P4 processor. The only thing I found is the video memory cannot be upgraded.
April 9th, 2007 at 7:30 am
Hello. I upgraded my A20-S207 to Windows Vista, but only a generic video driver was installed, which is unusable (veeeery slow) for videos. Is there a compatible Vista video driver for this model?? Thanks!
March 27th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
where is the ram slots for a satellite A55?
thanks for any info, it’s appreciated!
March 16th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Hi,
Has anyone had any problems with their A20 regarding the software modem (cant open Port) and the SD card slot (blue screen of death when a SD card is inserted)
Excellent explanation on how to disassemble a Toshiba A20
Cheers
Welly
March 9th, 2007 at 10:01 am
i have a satellite A20-S103D, Im wondering if the motherboard would be able to connect a 2nd internal hard drive. Thanks
February 7th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
My RJ-45 Ethernet connector has a bent #1 pin. Anyone replaced that connector before. A computer techician told me that this may include the entire assembly of the USB and RJ-45. The only problem I see is that the factory RJ-45 has the green and orange LED’s for transmit and receive indication.
I guess what my question is… where can I get the replacement RJ-45 with LED’s or the module to fit my computer. Wireless networking is a drag in this building.
Scotty Allen
January 18th, 2007 at 7:45 am
Can I upgrade this laptop to a mobile Prescott 1MB L2 533fsb? Or do I have to stick with 512KB L2 CPU’s like what it has now?
January 11th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Hi, besides the laptop specification sent to Nancy, there was this specification:
Expansion memory: 128MB/256MB/512/1024MB PC2100 DDR,
SODIMM, 2.5V
What this mean? A25 could be upgraded to 2Gb of RAM? or you can choose what kind of memory you add? i have an A25-S207 model with 512 as the specification above said.
Can I add an “expansion memory” without removing actual memory?
I do not understand.
Thanks!!
January 1st, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Nancy,
I’ve checked the laptop specification and it says:
According to the description this model comes with two memory sticks installed (256MB+256MB). If you want to upgrade to 1GB, you’ll have to buy two 512MB modules.
I would recommend looking under the keyboard before you order new RAM, just to make sure that both slots are occupied. Just in case.
December 27th, 2006 at 6:07 am
I apologize if this has already been asked; I have the A25-S279 and want to upgrade RAM. I want to order the upgrade before taking it apart (which I’m VERY nervous about). Do I need to order (2) 512MB modules to fill the 2 slots, or is there a possibility that (1) 512MB is already in one with the other being empty (and I would just have to get 1 additional)? I’m not sure if anything is standard in the way these are put together.
Thanks!
December 25th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
My A25-S3072 laptop has green pixels where black pixels should be, so in other words when the Windows XP splash screen comes up during bootup the screen is completely green except for the logo of course. Every “true black” pixel is green colored and the problem is there when Windows is running too. I can see they are not dead pixels because all the pixels do it when a black pixel should be there. I had a friend who is a Toshiba certified technician take a look at it and he said it looks like coffee was spilled on it but the LCD is fine so it seems to be something with the onboard video. I am great with making and repairing desktops, but not laptops, though I could if I needed to. Can anyone suggest anything besides getting a new laptop or a new motherboard. The MB sounds better than a whole new laptop.
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December 18th, 2006 at 5:56 pm
Yesterday I poured about 4oz of fine California Chardonnay into the upper right hand corner of my Toshiba A20 Satellite. It made a pooofff and went dead at once. I removed the battery and turned the machine upside down for ~12 hours. When I re-inserted the battery it was just as dead but it now flashed a a three segment code with the green battery symbol and the yellow wall-plug symbol: short, short, long, -pause- short, short, long, -pause- short, short. Then it repeats itself. Another 12 hours later the machine now responds to the start button,and seems to go through some kind of boot cycle, though the screen is dead. I am very much interested in resurrecting this machine, she has been flawless for 3+ years. Is this enough information for a resurrection proposal?
Tx Chris.
P.s. I am kinda handy and would be willing to pay for instructions for repair if your experience would indicate that the repair procedure is a rather ’simple’ act…