Toshiba laptop just turns off

lonestarfan

I have a Satelite pro A210 1B1 model number PSAFHE-00800PEN.
It's cutting out possibly overheating, shuts itself down and when fully charged doesn't last long and always needs to be plugged in. Bought it in March 2008 so 4 yrs old now. I think we need a new battery and possibly one of those laptop coolers to help it cool down. Am I able to replace battery myself - is it simply buy another one and put it in - I've got the part number - if so where do u like to buy from as for memory I was recommended to use Crucial & was v happy. Also if I need a laptop cooler thing to hold the laptop & cool it when we r using it so that we can let air circulate and not always just rest it on the table - what do you think of them & where to buy and any recommendations including price etc would be appreciated. TIA.

J_B

My daughter has a Tosh' laptop that needs the 'fluff' removing from it every year.
A friend, who is more 'confident' than me, takes the back off and sorts it for me!

keithnic_2

Definitely sounds like an overheating issue. Try some compressed air to see if that clears away any of the dust. I've seen a Toshiba laptop where the heatsink was being held onto the processor by only one of its four legs so could be the issue too.
Try laptopbatteryshop.co.uk who are fine for batteries and quick on delivery.
You chould be able to change the battery yourself.
Crucial are good for memory too. Good luck.

Figment

Compressed air will only move the dust around inside the casing. You need to remove the bottom cover to clear it out properly.

lonestarfan

Thanks everyone. Any thoughts from anyone about those laptop cooler platform things. TIA.

GunJack

lonestarfan wrote: »

Thanks everyone. Any thoughts from anyone about those laptop cooler platform things. TIA.

waste of time - clean the fan & vents out properly which will allow it to breathe as designed, and follow the "lap"top golden rule....always use on a hard flat surface, NOT on your lap direct, or a cushion, duvet, carpet, etc., as this will just suck dust & fibres into the vents and fan or worse block the vents altogether. Either a cushion on your knee with a large book or tray on it with the lappy on top, or one of those self-levelling trays, or similar

Notmyrealname

lonestarfan wrote: »

I think we need a new battery and possibly one of those laptop coolers to help it cool down.

No, IT NEEDS FIXING PROPERLY. Those laptop coolers are just wallet emptiers. They won't stop it overheating as they cannot get air over the heatsink for the same reason the fan can't.

The gap between the fan and heatsink will be blocked solid with fluff. The only way to sort it is to get at that gap, remove the tape that bridges it, clean out the fluff and tape some glossy card glossy side down over the gap so it doesn't happen again.

This is typically what I find in home user laptops after 12-18 months so the fact yours has got to 4 years is actually a testament to how well you look after it.



If you continue to try and use it, the solder on the main chips may start to melt causing an intermittent connection and then you've a whole new problem.

lonestarfan

Gunjack- good to hear what u say as its always been used on a flat hard surface so your info is helpful to know that it helps with reducing the build up of dust etc.
Notmyrealname - really helpful foto & info thnx. We will certainly do that now and see if that improves things.

lonestarfan

The battery is a4000mAH. There are larger one I found when I looked on the net eg 9000 mAH. Is there any benefit to getting a bigger mAH or doesn't it work/deliver better performance etc. TIA.

Figment

In theory, the bigger the mAh rating the longer the battery lasts between charges

lonestarfan

Figment wrote: »

In theory, the bigger the mAh rating the longer the battery lasts between charges

That's interesting thnx. Think we might buy a bigger one then. Fingers crossed the clean and new battery solves the problems.