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Toshiba Satellite AC Adapter

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Toshiba Satellite AC Adapter saloo 02-21-2006
Posted by saloo on February 21, 2006, 12:31 am
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I have a Toshiba satellite for over a year now and i have had quite a
few
problems with it. Most prominent of em is that it shuts down on
it's own at
least twice a day. I know that it is a very common
problem in toshiba laptops.
But how can i stop it from doing that?
Secondly, recently the AC Adapter has
been acting funny. Whenever i
hook it up with a power outlet, it's not
recognized by the computer.
Until and unless i play around with the wire does it
recognize the AC
adapter. I seriously think my AC adapter is messed up but i
don't
know. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!


Posted by NickM on February 21, 2006, 2:11 am
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>I have a Toshiba satellite for over a year now and i have had quite a
> few problems with it. Most prominent of em is that it shuts down on
> it's own at least twice a day. I know that it is a very common
> problem in toshiba laptops. But how can i stop it from doing that?
> Secondly, recently the AC Adapter has been acting funny. Whenever i
> hook it up with a power outlet, it's not recognized by the computer.
> Until and unless i play around with the wire does it recognize the AC
> adapter. I seriously think my AC adapter is messed up but i don't
> know. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
>

It depends what's causing the shutdown problem. If it's a power management
setting, you'll need to change the settings to ensure the hard disk, screen
etc... don't shut down after xx minutes of inactivity when on mains power,
and that the machine isn't set to hibernate after xx minutes of inactivity.

If it's a heat issue, you'll need to verify that the CPU cooling fan cuts in
every now and then. Simply listening should verify this. And additionally,
you need to ensure that there's no big wad of fluff blocking any air intake
or that you aren't otherwise blocking the air intake(s) by using the laptop
on a soft surface such as a duvet. The laptop will almost certainly give
tell-tale signs if it is overheating, possibly by having the main power LED
flash orange before the shutdown occurs.

However, given my own recent experience of a Toshiba laptop shutting down
randomly and then refusing to power up for more than a few seconds, plus
refusing to recharge the battery, and the problems you've been having with
your PSU, I would say your mains power adapter is a prime suspect. I was
stumped at first, but simply replacing the PSU with a spare I found I had
solved the problem. I didn't bother opening up the old one, but I'm pretty
sure there would be some leaking capacitors, or a resistor whose value had
changed if I did, which would explain it. Of course you may simply have a
dry solder joint on the laptop's main PCB where the power jack is located,
which is making part-time contact and partially charging the battery, then
when the contact is broken again the laptop runs until the battery is
discharged. Alternatively the same symptoms could be caused if the lead
from the PSU to the laptop has an internal break that makes intermittent
contact.



Posted by saloo on February 21, 2006, 1:31 pm
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thanks for your help, I am not that computer savvy so this is what i
understood
from your post. So my AC adapter is the problem and i
should replace it with
another one, right? Thanks! :)


Posted by turnbulldw on February 21, 2006, 8:16 pm
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saloo wrote:
> thanks for your help, I am not that computer savvy so this is what i
> understood from your post. So my AC adapter is the problem and i
> should replace it with another one, right? Thanks! :)

I have two Toshiba A75-S2112's. Both have had the problem you descrbe
and both have had to go back to Toshiba (a local authorized repar
center actually) and have the system board replaced because the power
sockets worked loose of the boards. There are a bunch of places that
have sprung up largely to deal with this problem for people who have
out-of-warranty equipment. It could be you brick (the box on the power
coard between the wall and computer) but those should last much longer
than the computer so, outside of roughh treatment or environment
harshness, I would look into the power socket itself.

Here were the symptoms my PC's experienced:

a) over time, the battery life seemed to decrease

b) I began to notice times when the three lights on the front (plug,
system power, and battery) light in unusual ways. At times when I know
the battery to need charging, the battery light would be off instead of
amber

c) The unit would not run without the battery installed even though the
power light was lit green

d) The battery light could be made to come on and the OS would
aknowledge charging by wiggling the cord or inserting the cord at odd
angles slowly (no double meaning implied :)

These got progressively worse over time and, after a few weeks, the
systems each became unusable. One of my laptops is in right now for
this for the second time. I do not use these harshly; I do have them
on my lap from time to time but I am careful not to allow pressure on
the cord (especially now). My systems are not Toshiba made; they are
Toshiba labelled from Compal (the 19volt bricks) I believe. There are
a lot of brands with the same problem and I suspect the same
manufacturer. In my case, after the first episode, I bought the
extended service plans (like $120 each) and figure that at the end, I
will buy something with a reputation for better support and higher
quality manufacture. It is a shame; I have had a lot of Toshiba's over
the years and have generally been happy with them.

Good luck!


Posted by saloo on February 21, 2006, 10:31 pm
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omg, you just described all the problems that i have been having so
accurately.
I actually called toshiba and they also told me about the
repair center. I am
just debating if i should send my laptop to the
repair center or buy a new AC
Adapter? Any suggestions?


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