Problems with Toshiba Satellite M45-s331

jaide · 03-26-2008, 08:18 AM

I have had my toshiba for 2 years now. It had been working moderatley well and I was about ready to format it again and start over believing i had a virus. I had worked on it one night at home, took it to work the following day and attempted to turn it on. I pushed the power button and usually it turns blue then the computer starts. It turned blue for about 5 seconds then I hear a fan or drive start to work and it just shuts off. I tried plugging it in and still the same thing. Took it to the IT guy at work and he removed the hard drive and ram and tried it that way too. Still nothing. I took it home and tried to show my sister what was going on and it turned on. So I saved a bunch of files to my key drive and shut it off to see if it would work. Let it sit about 15 minutes and tried again it wouldn't work. Left it alone for a while longer and tried before I went to bed and it worked. So I used it until the battery died. I've tried it after that and the first few times, nothing, then I leave it alone and it works, My IT guy says it's my mother board, but I can't afford $400-$500. Is it possible it's my power button switch. I have had in the past to hold it down before it would shut off? Could I have messed up my power button? Thanks for all your help.

**TriggerFinger** · 03-26-2008, 09:14 AM

hi jaide,

i just need some clarifications here if you don't mind...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaide

I have had my toshiba for 2 years now. It had been working moderatley well and I was about ready to format it again and start over believing i had a virus. I had worked on it one night at home, took it to work the following day and attempted to turn it on. I pushed the power button and usually it turns blue then the computer starts. It turned blue for about 5 seconds then I hear a fan or drive start to work and it just shuts off. -- anything on the screen before it shut off?

I tried plugging it in and still the same thing. Took it to the IT guy at work and he removed the hard drive and ram and tried it that way too. -- did your IT guy power it ON without 'all' the RAM installed? I am not sure about this model but if you can verify if there is another RAM slot under the keyboard? How big is your RAM by the way?

Still nothing. I took it home and tried to show my sister what was going on and it turned on. So I saved a bunch of files to my key drive and shut it off to see if it would work. Let it sit about 15 minutes and tried again it wouldn't work. Left it alone for a while longer and tried before I went to bed and it worked. So I used it until the battery died. I've tried it after that and the first few times, nothing, then I leave it alone and it works, My IT guy says it's my mother board, but I can't afford $400-$500. -- probably not. at least not yet. check the vents if you can see some white matter inside that looked like clay. if yes, open it up and clean the heat sink.

Is it possible it's my power button switch. -- could be but, i do not think so at this point

I have had in the past to hold it down before it would shut off? Could I have messed up my power button? Thanks for all your help.

so i will need your help in 2 simple things:
1. Check RAM size and see if there is RAM slot under the keyboard. This might involve opening the laptop up. Also reseat the RAM modules in their sockets. If possible get a working spare for testing purposes.

2. Clean the insides. Since you are doing #1, why not give the insides a good clean.... free from dust and vents are clear.

when you are done with these 2... test your laptop again and post back any result...

Ifusaso · 11-08-2009, 08:17 PM

I'm also interested in this. I'm working free for a friend who has the same laptop with similar problems. I don't know any specifics about updates or software installed other than: it runs its original OS (Windows XP), it does not have SP3, its uses AVG antivrus, the laptop's primary use seems to be Word documents, and its not working properly

. I just got it so have not fully diagnosed it, but I'll say what I know as clearly as I can.

When booted in normal mode, it runs for about 2-4 minutes, and stops. Sometimes this is a freeze, but it usually restarts to the 'Toshiba' screen before windows loads. This sometimes freezes, and sometimes leads to a normal boot. Each succesive boot lasts longer before restarting. In the periods that it is up, I did not see any particularly suspicious activity in the task manager app or processes tab.

More disturbing, if not more problematic, is that when I try to boot into safe mode to inspect the software, it crashes without loading. It lists drivers in the Windows boot dos-style, but stops, flashs a Win XP blue screen error, and restarts.

My original guess related these problems to the battery, or more likely the AC/DC converter/cable. I don't have a replacement converter to test, but I was able to find that the battery charges ok if left alone. The computer is a couple years old and the battery is giving out as far as holding charge, but it was recieving power. Now I'm wondering if it is Toshiba hardware, something of Windows, or simply malware.

03-26-2008, 08:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
jaide Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1 OS: XP	Problems with Toshiba Satellite M45-s331 I have had my toshiba for 2 years now. It had been working moderatley well and I was about ready to format it again and start over believing i had a virus. I had worked on it one night at home, took it to work the following day and attempted to turn it on. I pushed the power button and usually it turns blue then the computer starts. It turned blue for about 5 seconds then I hear a fan or drive start to work and it just shuts off. I tried plugging it in and still the same thing. Took it to the IT guy at work and he removed the hard drive and ram and tried it that way too. Still nothing. I took it home and tried to show my sister what was going on and it turned on. So I saved a bunch of files to my key drive and shut it off to see if it would work. Let it sit about 15 minutes and tried again it wouldn't work. Left it alone for a while longer and tried before I went to bed and it worked. So I used it until the battery died. I've tried it after that and the first few times, nothing, then I leave it alone and it works, My IT guy says it's my mother board, but I can't afford $400-$500. Is it possible it's my power button switch. I have had in the past to hold it down before it would shut off? Could I have messed up my power button? Thanks for all your help.

11-08-2009, 08:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ifusaso Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1 OS: Windows XP SP3	Re: Problems with Toshiba Satellite M45-s331 I'm also interested in this. I'm working free for a friend who has the same laptop with similar problems. I don't know any specifics about updates or software installed other than: it runs its original OS (Windows XP), it does not have SP3, its uses AVG antivrus, the laptop's primary use seems to be Word documents, and its not working properly . I just got it so have not fully diagnosed it, but I'll say what I know as clearly as I can. When booted in normal mode, it runs for about 2-4 minutes, and stops. Sometimes this is a freeze, but it usually restarts to the 'Toshiba' screen before windows loads. This sometimes freezes, and sometimes leads to a normal boot. Each succesive boot lasts longer before restarting. In the periods that it is up, I did not see any particularly suspicious activity in the task manager app or processes tab. More disturbing, if not more problematic, is that when I try to boot into safe mode to inspect the software, it crashes without loading. It lists drivers in the Windows boot dos-style, but stops, flashs a Win XP blue screen error, and restarts. My original guess related these problems to the battery, or more likely the AC/DC converter/cable. I don't have a replacement converter to test, but I was able to find that the battery charges ok if left alone. The computer is a couple years old and the battery is giving out as far as holding charge, but it was recieving power. Now I'm wondering if it is Toshiba hardware, something of Windows, or simply malware.