repairing laptop, bay area

[dwtt]

Does anyone here know how to repair a laptop or know of a good place in the bay area that can repair one? I have a Toshiba satellite laptop with Windows vista and the thing doesn't start up. The power light comes on and you can hear the CD drive start, but it seems the thing is stuck in the POST and not completing it. Last week it would start up and load windows after trying to turn it on 4-5 times, but now it won't start up at all. This laptop runs very hot, like many Toshibas do, and the Windows sticker on the bottom of the computer has burned off it's lettering from the heat. I suspect this heat might have done something to the computer but I don't know if that's the cause. The HDD, memory, and dvd drive all work fine when the thing starts so I know they're not at fault.
Thanks.
.

[Geezus]

A friend of mine gave me her laptop to look at. It was a Toshiba with similar issues. For starters, I just re-seated the memory modules, and that seemed to fix the issue. Also, try to get some compressed air cans and clean out the vents. I hope this helps and saves you some dough.

[SoCal326]

One problem with laptops is that after time they end up with lint in the heat sink and can't cool themselves properly. When they overheat, they will eventually shut themselves down to prevent damage to the hardware. It sounds like this may be part of your problem.

Your computer should be taken apart, cleaned out, and thermal grease should be reapplied to the top of the CPU. If you are comfortable taking your computer apart then find the service manual for your computer and follow the instructions. Dell has great service manuals for their computers, not sure about toshiba though, I have only dealt with Dell. Try watching a few YouTube vids that will walk you through the process. This is what you should do as soon as you start to have issues with overheating.

Thermal grease is a media that conducts heat from the CPU to a copper wire inside of the computer. The heat runs along the wire to the heat sink where it is blown out the back of your computer. Eventually the Greece dries up and no longer transfers the heat to the heat sink. When this happens all that heat is stuck in your computer and eventually will cause parts to melt. Hopefully your computer shuts itself off before damage occurs though.

I live in San Diego, otherwise I would be happy to help you out. Too many people get rid of perfectly good computers when a bit of mantainance is all they need. If you don't feel up to the task then take it to a pro. They are good at what they do.

Good Luck

[gorn5150]

Run the model number through google. That will bring up any known issues with it. I had a toshiba laptop that I used as a network download box. Unknown to me that model had a design flaw that made it run too hot. It got hot enough that the video chip unsoldered it's self an quit booting.

[corrosively_armed]

You can ship it to my shop.
usalaptoprepair.com
I charge 75 dollars for this sort of thing which includes return shipping.

[bg]

Toshiba's do run hot and need to be cleaned out. There's every
chance the graphics chip will have to reballed, but I hope not.

Simply things first.

[DiscoBayJoe]

Laptops are Disposable. Unless it's an i3/i5/i7 class machine, pull the drive, toss the laptop, and then load your data into your new machine.

[Jeepers]

Toshiba's can and do run hot. That's why they need to vented and
taken down and cleaned out. I just hope you don't need a graphics
chip reball.

Simple things first.

you dont even want to try to re-ball a BGA chip been there done that hardware hacking years ago it takes the fun out of hacking ....lol

[bg]

^ I agree. It's little fun, in fact no fun at all.

[dwtt]

thanks for the tips everyone. I'll open up the case and see if there's anything I need to regrease or clean out. It's sad the laptop only lasted 2 1/2 years before failing since Dells and HPs last about 5 years before giving any problems. My wife's MSI computer is still going strong after 3 years. I'll never buy a Toshiba again.