Toshiba Satellite A200 Random Shutdown

[Ondro]

Hi,

I think it's a time to write to Toshiba(to update the bios, maybe this is a problem).
Who will be the initiator?

 

[Ondro]

Btw., when you disable one core. It works fine. But not for long 🙁

 

[corsa59]

Here is a solution that I found, and it has worked for me, so far.......

My guess is your laptops are exhibiting the same problem I faced, random crashes and freezes, with no warning.

I replaced the hard drive, reinstalled windows vista, same result.
Replaced ram, no better.
Replaced power supply, no good.
Run in safe mode, works fine, but very limited use.
Removed all the startup programs, still crashed.
Pulled my hair out, that worked for 10 minutes......
Replaced CPU, new thermal paste, reseated everything, and reassembled, and it worked perfectly, for about 3 hours, and then started crashing and freezing again.
Replaced vista with 7, and it wouldn't start at all........

Then I found a forum article that suggested that it only occurred when BOTH the battery and AC power supply where plugged in, disconnected the AC, started on battery only, and the problem seems to have completely dissappeared.

Not a solution, but certainly a step in the right direction. Now it appears then that something causes the computer to freeze on the motherboard at the AC point, or in the connection between the AC and the battery.

Forum suggested changing a bios setting.

Change the following setting in the bios setup, under the 'Advanced' tab
Dynamic CPU Frequency Mode = Always Low (NOT DYNAMIC)
Save and Restart

Now, this laptop has been running on battery only power without a problem for 2hours without a hitch, I was lucky if I could get 20 minutes out of it before, and most times it would not even start.

I am about to connect the AC power (whilst running) to see what happens, so I will report back on the result in the morning after it has been running for 5 or 6 hours.

Hope this helps. Will report back with further results

 

[corsa59]

Adding further to the previous post, woke up this morning to discover the computer FROZEN again. Worked for 1/2 hour with the AC plug in before I went to bed, not sure how long before it froze. So changing the Dynamic CPU Frequency Mode appears NOT to work.

Following another suggestion at the moment, and I have disabled the multi core feauture of the CPU in the bios, so now in Device Manager under processors i see only 1 processor, not 2.

First impression, I have had the computer working (with the AC plugged in) long enough to find this thread again, and write this reply, and no crash yet.......

The computer is occasionally pausing, sometimes for an instant, and sometimes for a few seconds, assuming this has something to do with only running in single core, it didn't do it before, but at least it comes back to life, and doesn't freeze or crash (so far).

Further reports to come.....

25 minutes later, pc still working, pausing appears to be related to this forum as it is not doing it with any other software. Going out for a couple of hours, let you know how it goes when I get back.

 

[corsa59]

6 hours later, and the a200 has NOT missed a beat. AC power attached, battery in, all the startup programs running, including the vdeo card drivers and utility, the CPU set to single core, and the Dynamic CPU Frequency Mode set to Always low, and the computer has NOT frozen or crashed once. Used it for 1 hour, then went to work for 5 hours. Never in the past week have I come back to find the PC not frozen. Maybe I have solved the problem from this computer, hope it works for you too......

 

[Donbato]

Hello,
Just joint this forum and to say thanks for your help guys as I am having problems with a200 toshiba,by the way toshiba used to be good but nowadays are all rubbish,anyway thanks,I just unistall processor and also display adapter,both are double under device manager,and put low instead dynamic CPU and seems to be working for the first time with ac charger. I tried previously almost everything,update CPU,new xp,silver compound,definitely toshiba fault,like all other models,eg,toshiba tecra 9100 yamaha sound problem with sp2,still not solved a problem,downloaded at least 50 drivers,using this one for diagnostics/com port,also qosmio g30,gpu repair program,toshiba fault again-at least theta admitted,asked for repair over 200 pounds,sold it.
Once again thanks and let you know if I have problems again.
I read so many replies regarding this but ussualy people say it's problem with gpu or dirt,it is nothing to do with that as laptop switching off sometimes in cole of seconds with ac charger,and finally I also tried to run benchmark and speed fun but could not Finnish it as it swithes off.
Regards
Donbato

 

[corsa59]

Good to hear Donbato

No need to uninstall the video card drivers. Although it works using a standard VGA adapter driver, using the settings I recommended for the CPU frequency, and only using a single core of the processor is STILL working for this computer using the ATI drivers after 24 hours of solid operation.

Much better screen resolution from the ATI drivers than from the VGA drivers.

No freezing or crashes, hopefully this will continue.

 

[Donbato]

Hi Corsa59,
You are right,as I restarted it asked me to install again display driver,which I did,also as I held a laptop on knees it happens again,same story,but I suspect that there is a loose contact somewhere,but I did not put screws back,so that maybe a case,anyway when I put back all I will let you know,in mean time I am even moving it,just typing.
Regards

 

[Guest]

Hi!
Anyone try to connect another AC supply. An universal one, or kind of. Probably it helps, i would like to try, but i cant get anyone this days.

It's a new compatibility's problem between Windows and Toshiba, i dont know what, but sounds like everyone starts to have the problem since a few months. Who knows what the f*** is going on, but im starting to freak out with the random shutdowns.

By the way, using an only core...well, its a solution, but it decrease the potencial of our toshiba by 50%.

Thanks all!

 

[zeggutierrez]

Hello all
tnx for the tip....ive been fighting with my machine (satellite a305) for some weeks with no success.
i did try the sugestions here on my bios...now running only 1 cpu....but did not solve it. running on battery or safe mode is ok .
How are you guys dealing with it.....are you planning to leve the machine half capacity....any new clues
tnx

 

[Donbato]

Well I am sure that there is a loose contact,I assemble a laptop and it starts again randomly switching off,I tried to bend a little bit and it works fine,actually put a lighter under the wireless switch,perfect,so in my case the problem is a connection somewhere,by the way the plastics are so cheap,very soft,not solid like some other models.
I will try again sometimes to dissemble and try to find a loose connection.
Regards
Donbato

 

[Ondro]

Maybe it's a cold joint somewhere on the motherboard 🙁

 

[zeggutierrez]

any newsss?? im getting crazy with this machine!!!

 

[Guest]

I just registered on this forum to post a SOLUTION. I had the same symptoms, but working on Single core on my A200-1ZF (same as 1S9),always low cpu freq and only on battery is not a solution. Or is a solution if You'd like to go back to times like Commodore 64. Anyway. I called Toshiba Poland (as for my country) and they said nothing helpful cause my laptop is out of warranty. Anyway they said something about condensators but I didn't find any on my motherboard (sic!). Anyway problem occured after I upgraded Polish Vista 32 bit prof (the one sold on recovery disc) to US Win7 Prof. It occured after half a year of usage of Win7. Anyway I switched back to Vista,formatted the HD etc ,and NOTHING. I changed the RAM and the AC as my wife has the same laptop AND NOTHING. I cleaned the dust inside the laptop,changed thermal paste and NOTHING. Called Thosiba Poland again,they said that they can check my laptop for any faults which costs around 50 EUR! I said to myself FU Toshiba. I bought a laptop for nearly 700 EUR and I need it working. So after I switched back to Vista I d/l program called Toshiba Tempro. It has found like 15 drivers out of date and the ONE MOST IMPORTANT. BIOS UPDATE. I said to myself it's now or never. Guys when You update Your BIOS and the laptop will switch off it's gonna be dead and usless. Luckily for me it didn't shut down and after the BIOS update (I nearly ate all my finger nails) the problem VANISHED. Laptop is working now for like 2 days like it used to. High Performance with AC plugged in,2 cores working and the frequency Dynamic not always low. Hope it will help You guys as well

Cheers from Poland
Eden Prime

 

[Ondro]

Date of the BIOS?I have the last BIOS, it;s better but high perform. it's not working 🙁

 

[zeggutierrez]

thanks for the answer but not my case....since i have the latest bios found on toshiba site....perhaps should i downgrade it????

 

[zeggutierrez]

by the way mine is not a200 is a305

 

[jhyukkang]

hi, i have toshiba t135D, this tends to happen when battery is under 20%, and only saw once it did when it was plugged in. screen would just freeze for a second, and screen turns to black, but LCD backlight is on with power LED, WIFI LED, no HDD acti. i would have to turn it off by holding the power button. i have this posted a forum here little lower on same page, no one is helping me -_-
i thought this was pretty similar problem. called toshiba, told me to reformat, which still doesnt work

 

[Ondro]

Yes, you can downgrade it

 

[Guest]

Well, i have some news.
I think i solved the problem for now. For me, the random shutdown might be caused by the ******* wireless card. I shwitch off the wireless, and i've been with no problems for three days,playing, working, without shutdowns; and yesterday, i connect the wireless and....it shutdown! so i'm gonna buy a usb wireless, or maybe anoter wireless card to change it, i dunno now, i prefer to be sure that the wireless card is the problem, but i'm 80% sure that it is.

By the way, the solution with the bios update, im working with windows 7 64bits, and the bios updates from toshiba are only for vista 64bits/32bits. Should i update the bios whit the vista 64bits update, although im using windows 7 64bits?


Thanks and good look for all with this fu**ing problem!