BlueZangetsu

Join Date 04/2011

Toshiba Satellite series problem

Ok so every laptop I've owned to date has been a Toshiba Satellite however up till now I've never had a problem.

Here's what happened, I bought the new laptop a Toshiba Satellite A665-S6070, one of their newer models (at the time) about a year ago, it was suppose to have 3 hours of battery life however I got home, charged it first then set it up and its never had more then an hour's battery life, what normally happens is the battery life will jump around like one minute saying 20min left and the next saying 50min left, well I didn't think it was that big a deal since I rarely take it somewhere that doesnt have a wall outlet. However later for about a month straight I couldnt get the CD-Drive to open then when I finally did for another month every time I attempted to install something such as a game (Sins being one of them) I would blue screen, I had to use a work around of coping everything over to a USB. About 3 months ago I ran into another problem, my screen will randomly go black and then will come back saying that the Graphics card messed up, now I have a NVIDIA GEFORCE 310M and I've heard NVIDIA is a top of the line Graphics card producer so I have no idea why it would mess up. The final problem is that about a month and a 1/2 ago my laptop will randomly freeze after start up, I'd say about 5-10 min after start up but only from a cold boot.

I'm hoping someone here can offer some suggestions as to whats wrong because I'm taking it back to best buy today to get this stuff fixed through warranty but I'd prefer to get there and tell them the problems and see what they think the solutions are and see if they match up to what other people say.

Locked Post

Advanced Search

Watch this post

Do not email me updates for this post Email me updates for this post

Successfully updated karma reason!

LightStar

Join Date 12/2002

+1467

I had the same drive issue with my Toshiba laptop. Luckily it was still under warranty and I sent it back to Toshiba for repair. They had to put a new DVD/CD-Drive in it. As far as the rest of the issues you are having it sounds to me like it possibly needs to go to a repair facility. Your new graphics card could be bad or not seated correctly, or you are having software driver issues if you want to check those first.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Quoting LightStar,

reply 1

Alright, so how long would this take at best buy or are they allowed to fix stuff like this? or could I possibly using my warranty get a new computer out of this? For example: They say they would have to send it back to get it fixed, convince them to just give me a new laptop? If so cool although I might be little be depressed since other then the weird issues I love this computer

Successfully updated karma reason!

LightStar

Join Date 12/2002

+1467

I doubt if they will give you a new laptop. Your only choice would bet send it in for repair, and I do not know if Best Buy could fix it in store or not, or how long it would take. You might want to give them a call on it though.

Successfully updated karma reason!

HG_Eliminator

Join Date 07/2002

+354

I got the A305-S6837. It has some problems as well. The volume wheel on the front works sporadically and often one side of the sound cuts off, the SD card reader often stops working for a week then start again with no problem, ( the PC sees the card reader and said it was working properly but the drive wouldn't show in My Computer window).I use the SD reader for the ready boost.. when it's working...

The drivers for it are out dated and were stopped being updated within a year of my purchasing it. They wouldn't even release a "Toshiba" set of the newest Video card drivers ( it will not install the manufacturers latest drivers as they have to be From Toshiba to be installed, so im stuck with drivers from 2008.) Often the USB ports drop connection and reconnect in the middle of my watching a movie off my external hdd, or just typing as my external Keyboard losses connection and reloads..

All in all a great disappointment, I had expected Toshiba to at least keep the drivers up to date for a few years before dropping support, as this laptop was such a "new release" I had to go to 3 different stores to find one. Instead they updated them I think like 2x in the first year or so then, nothing.

Next time I'll go with a different Manufacturer..

Oh yeah and the battery never lasted more than an hour from the get go, Currently the battery wont even hold a charge long enough to boot.. sad since i rarely ever use battery power, but some how it wore out just sitting there..

Successfully updated karma reason!

Toshiba Satellite L775D-S7222 17.3" Laptop - $479.00

AMD Quad-Core A6-3400M Accelerated Processor with AMD Radeon™ HD 6520M Graphics (2.3GHz)
6GB installed memory
500GB hard drive
DVD SuperMulti drive supporting 11 formats
17.3" diagonal widescreen TruBrite® TFT display at 1600 x 900 native resolution (HD+)
Premium Keyboard with 10-Keypad (black)
Wi-Fi® Wireless networking (802.11b/g/n)
Integrated Webcam and microphone
6 cell/48Wh Lithium Ion battery pack; Up to 5 hours, 4 minutes of battery life
Dimensions 16.3"W x10.6"D x 1.10"/1.49"H (6.2lbs)
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
1 year warranty

Successfully updated karma reason!

RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2197

Quoting LightStar,

reply 1

Your new graphics card could be bad or not seated correctly

I could be off here, but isn't a laptop graphics "card" actually a chip? Therefore probably seated from the factory.

Quoting navigatsio,

reply 5

Off topic, I've never owned a Toshiba product, had anything with an AMD processor or used anything other than Nvidia graphics but I've been looking for a "backup" laptop (in case my Lenovo or MacBook dies ) for awhile and this Staples ad caught my eye this morning with this one going on sale tomorrow. Anyone have any "real world" feedback on Toshiba, AMD or ATI performance? Do the specs on this one look pretty good or should I keep on shopping?

Toshiba Satellite L775D-S7222 17.3" Laptop - $479.00

AMD Quad-Core A6-3400M Accelerated Processor with AMD Radeon™ HD 6520M Graphics (2.3GHz)
6GB installed memory
500GB hard drive
DVD SuperMulti drive supporting 11 formats
17.3" diagonal widescreen TruBrite® TFT display at 1600 x 900 native resolution (HD+)
Premium Keyboard with 10-Keypad (black)
Wi-Fi® Wireless networking (802.11b/g/n)
Integrated Webcam and microphone
6 cell/48Wh Lithium Ion battery pack; Up to 5 hours, 4 minutes of battery life
Dimensions 16.3"W x10.6"D x 1.10"/1.49"H (6.2lbs)
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
1 year warranty

I have a Toshiba Satellite L675D-S7105. It has been a great product and I haven't had a minute's trouble out of it.

Successfully updated karma reason!

LightStar

Join Date 12/2002

+1467

Quoting RedneckDude,

reply 6

I could be off here, but isn't a laptop graphics "card" actually a chip? Therefore probably seated from the factory.

Yep, it sure is Jim, but they had their chip replaced if I read the OP correctly with an NVIDIA GEFORCE 310M chip. Maybe whoever installed it did not quite get it installed right. You never know.

Successfully updated karma reason!

RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2197

Quoting LightStar,

reply 7

had their chip replaced

Guess I missed that. Oopsie...

Successfully updated karma reason!

Thanks Jim! If they're redneck proof, they must be pretty good...

I believe this one has integrated graphics too but I suppose a chipset's a chipset whether it's integrated or on a separate card?!?! Just never used ATI...

(EDIT...Mountain Dew proof)

Successfully updated karma reason!

RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2197

http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/retail-product.jsp?poid=502614

Successfully updated karma reason!

We bought my son a Satellite A355D-S6930 for his high school graduation present and within 3 months the port for the AC adapter had broken loose. I contacted Toshiba and was told that I would need to send it in for repairs. I shipped it to them on Tuesday and it was returned completely repaired on Friday. Even more amazing is that when I made the initial phone call it was answered within 30 seconds! Other than the fact that it gets pretty hot, he's never had another problem with it.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Thanks Niac! Sounds like great customer support which is obviously a big consideration too...

Successfully updated karma reason!

Got it. Pretty darn good IMHO for a cheap laptop right out of the box. Now the tweaking and crapware removal begins.....

Successfully updated karma reason!

kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+82

$479 isn't exactly "cheap".

Successfully updated karma reason!

the_Monk

Join Date 01/2008

+221

Quoting kona0197,

reply 14

$479 isn't exactly "cheap".

Sure it is. I've never purchased a laptop for under $1,500.......might also be why I've never had any issues whatsoever.

For instance, one of my notebooks which I purchased back in 2005 for just under $2,500 is still going strong. Of course since then I've doubled the RAM, put in a bigger HD and replaced XP with Win7 but the basic notebook is still humming along fine.

By the way, I'm still using the original battery that came with my notebook back in 2005. Know how I saved it's life? Always ran the notebook with the battery REMOVED whenever I was actually using it plugged-in. Only installed the battery when I absolutely needed to be mobile. My son (whose notebook is years newer) didn't do that and I've had to "recondition" (freezer trick) his battery twice.

FYI, Asus makes better notebooks than Toshiba and their warranty is probably one of the best in the business! ....and no my 2005 notebook is not an Asus....just an fyi.

the Monk

Successfully updated karma reason!

kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+82

$479 is expensive. Try living on a very limited budget.

Successfully updated karma reason!

HG_Eliminator

Join Date 07/2002

+354

$479 is relatively cheap.. considering the average price of a laptop. Tho still unaffordable to some.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Quoting kona0197,

reply 16

$479 is expensive. Try living on a very limited budget.

On my buget, $4.79 is expensive.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Quoting Wizard1956,

reply 18

On my buget, $4.79 is expensive.

You're a card, Wiz...

Cheap'er' considering I paid more than twice that for the ThinkPad in '09 and for the MacBook in '08, well, to be honest I could kick myself in the ass for what I paid for it. This was supposed to be a "backup" lappy but if it keeps running the way it is, it might just become lead dawg...

Successfully updated karma reason!

RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2197

Quoting Wizard1956,

reply 18

Quoting kona0197,
reply 16
$479 is expensive. Try living on a very limited budget.

On my buget, $4.79 is expensive.

Wiz, on your budget even Ds are expensive...lol.

Successfully updated karma reason!

RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2197

Rick, a head's up. Toshiba will require a file to be modified in order to let you change the logon screen. See this thread.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Quoting RedneckDude,

reply 20

Wiz, on your budget even Ds are expensive...lol.

I usually use a modified "b"' but it was already in use.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Thanks Jim! You're so goooood!!!!!

Successfully updated karma reason!

RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2197

Successfully updated karma reason!

the_Monk

Join Date 01/2008

+221

Quoting kona0197,

reply 16

$479 is expensive. Try living on a very limited budget.

I didn't comment to your financial means. Being in the industry I can however comment on what constitutes a "cheap" laptop and $479.00 is a very cheap laptop indeed.

If you want quality and I mean decent quality in a notebook look to spend between $1,000 - $1,500 (superior quality meaning build-quality, individual component quality etc. can still cost upwards of $2,000 all things considered).

Anything under $500.00 is considered 1-2 year throw-a-way by most of the realistic IT folk. If you came to me with a notebook costing less than 500 bucks asking me to fix it I'd tell you it would cost you more in my fees to fix it than to buy a new one. Take that for what you will.....

Successfully updated karma reason!