Comments on: Laptop overheating

Question: Laptop overheating

poweredbybeard — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:21:32 -0800

Please help me figure out how to access the heatsink on my laptop.

My laptop is overheating regularly. I suppose I should take a look at the heatsink. Can anyone tell me where, in this picture, I should start? Is it by any chance that panel right below the fan?

By: JigSawMan

JigSawMan — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:26:46 -0800

I have not worked on a Toshiba for a while. The last one I did, I accessed the CPU and GPU from the keyboard side, not the back. Picture of keyboard side?

By: JigSawMan

JigSawMan — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:28:49 -0800

Oh, and a model number would help too..

By: Floydd

Floydd — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:30:47 -0800

Try this site: How to take apart Toshiba Laptops.

By: JigSawMan

JigSawMan — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:31:14 -0800

You might also google "toshiba laptop schematic"

By: poweredbybeard

poweredbybeard — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:41:50 -0800

It's a Satellite M70, which I wasn't able to find via Google or on that site Floydd linked. Picture of keyboard side coming shortly.

By: poweredbybeard

poweredbybeard — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:47:24 -0800

Keyboard

By: a3matrix

a3matrix — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:28:23 -0800

You are going to have to dismantle your laptop a bit. You have to separate the shell and remove the keyboard, unless you can just flip it out of the way. The heatsink is in the guts.
You should look on Toshiba's site for a manual as you will need guidance.
Laptops are lots of tiny screws and secret hidden screws and annoying why did they do it this way moments.
Depending on your comfort level, you may not want to do this at all. If you do go for it. Clear a nice table are to work at. Get something to put screws in, preferably things you can put different screws in to keep the sizes separate. Make notes on what size came from where. Take your time, be methodical. You don't want to have to go back in when you are done because of extra parts.
Also, the heat sink is probably not the culprit. Unless it is very loose. But the fan on the heat sink may be screwed.
Does that run at all? You should hear it kick on when the laptop gets good and hot.
Good luck.

By: mu~ha~ha~ha~har

mu~ha~ha~ha~har — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:34:23 -0800

I can see the dust in your fan from here! Ever tried cleaning that sucker? You'd be amazed how nasty things can get in there. And how well it works once it can move freely again...

By: poweredbybeard

poweredbybeard — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:10:01 -0800

Does that run at all? You should hear it kick on when the laptop gets good and hot.

The fan is running nearly non-stop - way more often than it used to.

I've read that overheating was a common problem with Satellites, and that a clogged heatsink is often the issue. (Mu~ha~etc., I think it's mostly a trick of the light in that photograph, since the picture does make it look far more dusty than it actually is...)

I guess maybe I could just get some compressed air and blast it through the vents?