My fan problem is it wont switch to high speed when the temp goes up. It shuts down when the cpu temp gets too hot. I dont know if its worth replacing the fan though because the problem might be the switching circuit on the motherboard. So i stopped dissassembly just before having to remove the motherboard and separate that heat sink assembly. It might be worth gambling the price of a new fan later, to see if that fixes it. But for now, i’m wary of risking introducing an intermittant problem where there wasn’t one before – like with the cable harnesses and that sink assy connection.

I could use the computer by monitoring the chip temp using speccy (a nice little system info utility from
http://www.piriform.com/speccy )
and then directing air into the side vent with a small 12v blower when the temp gets high. (You know its effective when you see the temp dropping quickly). Mounting an external fan isn’t feasible and i’m not sure if hard wiring the fan to always be at full speed is worth it. So, i put this project on hold and bought a new Satellite L775, since the prices are almost worth a new fan and motherboard replacement – and its nicer. (Some day soon, it could be worth the repair effort, once the machines reach top speeds?)

I haven’t given up on it though. For now i’ll use the new one and post a question. I’d like to ask if anyone has experience changing the fan and learning it wasn’t the problem, thus forcing a motherboard replacement? (those fans and boards aren’t cheap).

Or, better, if anyone knows if there is a board component for the fan drive that can be checked and/or replaced to fix it, saving the price of a new board? (sucks having to change a large board for what could be one tiny component that failed – are schematics available anywhere?). Is the convention for a three wire fan full or half speeds by applying power to one or the other voltage input (w/one open and the other grounded)? – or is full speed obtained by voltage to both inputs (added)??

Its been sitting for a few months and didn’t power on, with ac power, when i needed to retrieve some data on it. There are two small boards not connected – one is the wireless – i’m here to identify the other (and find where the heck it went??). Me thoughts it was working when used last, without those two bds connected, but memory is fleeting. I’ll check back at a later date for any possible fan replacing experience posted.
Thanks again.

thnks for this great site !

In what is this special northbridge grease different from a standard one ?? Did someone try to use a standard grease ? The price of the special grease today is higher than the CPU price !!

Thks in advance

I is a very nice guide for taking apart system board.Please let me know how to change serial number,product,version,dmi on the new system board i going install.

You can change serial number, dmi, etc… with a special utility on a bootable diskette but this utility available only for certified Toshiba technicians.e.
For some Toshiba laptops you can download DMI change utility from the public website.

How do I remove this plastic covering to get to the fan and motherboard?

It does not seem to remove easily. Does the entire frame need to be removed?

The laptop is a toshiba satellite P205.

Thanks for the help,
Gary

steps are confirmed both directions !

Thank You.

If I need only to replace the fan, Have I to buy the special grease to change it? Or could I replace it without touching the Heatsink and the cpu?

You can replace the fan without separating the heatsink from CPU. Just remove the old fan and replace it with a new one.