Tee from China Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Hi, My Toshiba Satellite that I bought 2 years ago had been crashing more and more of late and 2 days ago I bit the bullet and re-installed the Vista operating system via the pre-loaded software. This went fine but as it was considered a new system I had to load all the updates again and this is where I have the problem. Last night as I was loading new Toshiba and Window updates whilst watching the Top Gear Christmas special everything stopped with TG sounding like a record with the needle stuck - nothing would work so I hit the power button to switch off. On re-boot the keyboard works OK but no display!! Anyone have any suggestions before I take it to a repair shop (which I would rather not as I don't trust Chinese workers using an English system and my limited spoken Chinese) as it maybe an easier fix than I hope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ugp Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Usually memory related, especially if it did that and now refuses to boot. If its got two sticks of the stuff, pop one out and give it a go, if that fails, swap it with the remaining stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konrad Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 How do you know that keyboard is working fine if you have no display? o_O It's hard to diagnose from this bit of information, but usually when there is no display but keyboard is still self testing it means that either memory or graphic card packed up. Memory is not a problem, it's replacable in laptop, worse with graphic card... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Sounds to me like it has been overheating. I would get a hold of the service manual, dismantle the whole thing and give it a damn good clean. From there you need to find out what is stopping it from posting, remove the HDD, the CDRom, the Memory and anything else that is easily accessible and then try turning the laptop on. You should get an error of some sort, I would guess audible. Next re-install the memory, 1 stick at a time, and see if the laptop will post. If you have more than 1 stick, only install 1 of them then try the other if it doesn't work... if it does work try both. From this test you can deduce if it is the memory and if it is one of the sticks. Next is the HDD, your PC should really still post even with a fubarred HDD though. After that you can stick everything back in as it aint going to help the situation if the memory and the HDD hasn't. The final thing you can try is borrowing memory from somewhere, after that it's time to visit the shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Overheating, my Satellite has been crap and been returned for repair six times. The overheating can cause other problems too, mine has had almost everything replaced inside at some time as a result of repairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaveriK Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 No display at all or does it display the bios before going blank as it boots windows? Have you got a monitor you could hook up to it to test? remebering you will have to toggle the display from LCD to external Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tee from China Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 Usually memory related, especially if it did that and now refuses to boot. If its got two sticks of the stuff, pop one out and give it a go, if that fails, swap it with the remaining stick. Two sticks of what...dynamite How do you know that keyboard is working fine if you have no display? o_O It's hard to diagnose from this bit of information, but usually when there is no display but keyboard is still self testing it means that either memory or graphic card packed up. Memory is not a problem, it's replaceable in laptop, worse with graphic card... Using the User manual I tried some things and got lights from the keyboard Also from the manual. on boot up it apparently does a Self Test before switching on the HDD which sounds like my problem as it isn't - but how to fix though? + being in The PRC is not conducive to an effective repair - or is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tee from China Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 Usually memory related, especially if it did that and now refuses to boot. If its got two sticks of the stuff, pop one out and give it a go, if that fails, swap it with the remaining stick. Two sticks of what....dynamite:eyebrows: How do you know that keyboard is working fine if you have no display? o_O It's hard to diagnose from this bit of information, but usually when there is no display but keyboard is still self testing it means that either memory or graphic card packed up. Memory is not a problem, it's replaceable in laptop, worse with graphic card... Reading the manual and pressing buttons gets various light from the keyboard but zilch from the display! Reading said manual again there is reference to a Self Test before the HDD is started which seems to be my problem - is this an easy fix or not bearing in mind where I am:( No display at all or does it display the bios before going blank as it boots windows? Have you got a monitor you could hook up to it to test? remembering you will have to toggle the display from LCD to external Its totally blank Have my desktop monitor and read how to toggle for external - will it work if the Self Test has failed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Size Me Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 This sounds all too familiar as a laptop fault, if you can get your external monitor to work off your DVI-D and see a bunch of multi coloured lines that look like cross hashing on your start up and then a screen blank when it tries to enter windows proper it's your GFX card overheated I have a removable GFX card in my Dell Inspiron and have had to reflow the solder joints in it about 6-7 times so far with a hot air gun + liquid flux (only do this if you know what you're doing) it usually ends up crapping out after a few weeks/months after a reflow even when it's sat on a laptop cooler. The problem with laptops is they're trying to be desktops nowadays in a confined space and this inevitably leads to overheating problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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