Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of johnsonconsult
johnsonconsult

asked on

Toshiba Laptop is having display issues and keeps going into standby mode

Hello,

I have a Toshiba Satellite 2415-S205 and am having issues with the display.  When I boot into XP Professional the screen will work for about 2 minutes and then turn off.  The system will then go into standby mode.  When I press the power button to resume it will power back on for another several minutes.  I changed my power setting in XP to always on so there is no way that windows is initiating the shutdown.  This happens when or not the power cord is plugged in or not - I have also tried with just the power cord and no battery.  

These will persist for three or four times and finally when the system comes back from standby the display will not turn on at all.  I can plug an external monitor into the computer and I can use the computer just fine.  

Upon reboot the bios screen will not even be viewable on the laptop display.  

If I leave the laptop unplugged with no battery for several days the situation seems to reset and I can view the screen for several minutes in XP.

The laptop showed this behavior several months ago, then one day "fixed itself" for several months.  Unfortunately I am now having problems again.


Thank you for your help!
Avatar of Irwin Santos
Irwin Santos
Flag of United States of America image

How about replacing the CMOS battery?

Should that not resolve your problem.. then I'm thinking the motherboard is flaking on you.
Avatar of nobus
try booting from a bootable cd, like knoppix; if it is ok there, you have a soft ware problem, if not, it is hard.

www.knoppix.org
Could be a temperature problem, things get hot and the PC shuts off to prevent things from burning. Try to open the thing and blow out all the dust you can. Also make sure any fans turn smoothly.
Avatar of johnsonconsult
johnsonconsult

ASKER

I have looked around the laptop - taken off the keyboard to expose the motherboard and was not able to find the CMOS battery - could you help me figure out where it is.

The laptop will boot into knoppix but still has problems with the display.

I opened up the pc and blew out the dust which was minimal.  The fans seem to be working well.
>>   The laptop will boot into knoppix but still has problems with the display  <<  then it is a hard problem, video card ot display.
What would be some steps to fix the display issue - the video card is working properly for the external monitor - are thter any fixes that you would reccomend?
Where would I find the CMOS battery?  I have looked around the net for instructions and cannot find any.
Often it is accessible when the keyboard is removed or also between the normal battery and the mainboard. Laptop cmos batteries also very often don't look like the normal PC rtc batteries (button cells), but are usually packaged into plastic cases and come with wire leads that make the connection to the mainboard.
>>  What would be some steps to fix the display issue   << replace the display - no other i know of.
What about the wire bundle that connects the display to the mainboard or graphics card?  I have read about these going bad - any reccomendations for toshiba parts vendors or if this would even fix the problem.
the only thing you can do with it is disconnect it and reseat it, but i doubt that would cause your problem.
But it does not hurt to try
Let me clarify... is it:
1) screen turns off
2) system goes on standby after not touching anything? as in it enters standby normally?
Is your system set to enter standby if the screen is closed?
Depending on how soon it enters standby (i'm not sure the details based on the description), it could be that the notebook thinks the screen is being closed. Basically, there should be a tiny hardware switch or button (very small, like the size of a pencil tip).

See if there's something wrong with it. I am inclined to believe the problem is in the cable that goes fromthe screen to the notebook body, but this is an alternative thing to look for.

as nobus said, doesn't hurt to try.
I have fixed the standby issue within windows - It no longer goes into standby no matter what (this is what I wanted)

Poeticlykist:  I like your idea about the switch for the screen.  I also know that there is a sensor that detects the lcd in the left hand side of the notebook near the volume control - I guess this could be malfunctioning.  

Does anyone know of a good online vendor for the monitor cable, lcd sensor, and the latch switch?  Are there any factory manuals on the net with disassembly instructions?   Finally is there a piece of software that would monitor the various hardware switches so I could troubleshoot them before replacing various hardware?

Thank you very much


>>   good online vendor for the monitor cable, lcd sensor, and the latch switch?   <<  not that i know of. Only sources known to me are : manufacturer of laptop, and e-bay (look for  the part, or for the same laptop, even a broken one can help)
I suggest you get a toothpick, boot the PC, wait till the lcd dulls and then bounce the toothpick in the lid latch hole. If you see the screen start to come back to full color gradually then the lid latch is the fault.

2 Methods for fixing the lid latch. The first is to blow out the switch hole. As this depression is like a belly button, it gathers the same stuff ...LOL ... Blow while bouncing the toothpick. You may be lucky and have belly button lint??

The 2nd method is R&R on the switch. I've never seen this switch cost more than $15 U.S. and usually just removal of keyboard and case top for replacement.

As a cost saver I suggest you bypass the switch and let standby do the job. It's only a 2 wire lead with on or off.
Are you able to use another display/monitor other than the laptop's screen?
The Toshiba laptop that I own does not have a lid latch switch.  Instead it has a LCD sensor that is effected by magnetic fields - this is located somewhere in the front left of the case near the touchpad.  I have taken the laptop apart looking for a way to bypass the switch but have not had any luck.  

I checked the BIOS battery voltage and it was in perfect condition.

I reseated the LCD screen connector.

The laptop will boot just fine but after several minutes the LCD display just stops functioning.  The external monitor will continue to work just fine.

Any suggestions?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of nobus
nobus
Flag of Belgium image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial