20 Most Recent Toshiba Satellite A15-S157 Notebook Questions & Answers

That is a bad message. Use a partitioning software to repartition your drive. Make sure your OS is in the active partition. Then format it.

When you face those problems you can solve it two ways:one way is to boot the pc with linux or something else and to copy the file NTLDR on your pcThe other way is to format and reinstall the operating system. I would recommend you anyway to perform a bacup

Try press ctrl+F2

coln_barnes2,IF, there is no display on the external VGA monitor, you have a bad graphics chipset.Small primer:Chip and Chipset are slang terms for I.C.Integrated Circuit,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_CircuitThe I.C., or chipset used for graphics is a graphics chipset.Proper name is Graphics Processing Unit, or abbreviated as GPU,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPUThe GPU for your Satellite A15 series of Notebook PC, is incorporated into the Intel 852GM motherboard chipset,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_chipsets#Pentium_4-M.2FPentium_M.2FCeleron_M_mobile_chipsetshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Intel_graphics_processing_units#Second_generationIt is Integrated Graphics. Primer over.I'm betting you get a display on the external VGA monitor, and your graphics chipset is OK.Video Cable:The Video Cable connects to the motherboard, immediately right above the Keyboard, (F9 key), and under the Switch Cover.http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaA15/SatelliteA15_laptop_disassembly_2.htmClick on the photo in Step 14. The single Red arrow points to the motherboard connection, of the Video Cable.[ Entire pictorial disassembly guide from start,http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaA15/SatelliteA15_laptop_disassembly_1.htm ](Switch Cover is the thin plastic strip, that is above the Keyboard, and below the LCD screen. Has the Power On Button )From the motherboard the Video Cable loops over to the left Hinge, and up into the Display Assembly.The Video Cable has a separate cable that goes TO the screen Inverter, and the main part of the Video Cable attaches to the back of the LCD screen.[ Example of screen Inverter,http://battery-adapter.com/product_info.php/products_id/3410/vSatellite+A15-S157 The screen Inverter is located behind the Display Bezel, and mounted to the bottom/middle of the LCD Screen Frame]Repeated normal opening, and closing of the laptop, can cause the Video Cable to be pulled on.This can cause a loose connection at the motherboard side, or LCD screen side. (Also check screen Inverter connection)Solution is to PHYSICALLY check, by trying to plug the connections in tighter. (Yes. Switch Cover is removed, and Display Assembly is opened up, and connections checked.With LCD screen assembly propped up against the Display Cover; Battery is reinstalled, AC adapter { Charger } is hooked up, laptop is turned on, and display is checked )Also visually check the sheath of the Video Cable.Damage to the sheath may mean damage to the tiny wires, inside the Video Cable. (Stretched/Broken)The ONLY way to be assured that the Video Cable is Not the problem, is to perform a continuity check (OHMs) with a multimeter, Or replace the Video Cable.Perhaps there is a 'Mom and Pop' computer store nearby.The tech will check continuity of every wire in the Video Cable.(NO. Not talking about 'Geeks Are Us. No techs)http://www.notebookparts.com/products/description.php?II=57579[ Click to enlarge photo.The Motherboard plug connector is on the far Right.The screen Inverter plug connector is in the MiddleThe LCD screen connector is on the far Left ]I still think it's a loose connection of the Video Cable, or the screen Inverter.Testing a screen Inverter requires a Sensitive multimeter. Read fairly expensive,http://www.fonerbooks.com/test.htm[NOTE*A screen Inverter and an LCD screen are a MATCHED unit ]Primer:An LCD screen cannot produce light,http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/NA_Optical/Systems/BehindTheScenes/Optics101/(Click on the monitor image)It needs an additional light source.A Backlight is the additional light source.A Backlight can be a CCFL, (Or two of them), or a series of LED's.(Light Emitting Diode)The Toshiba Satellite A15-S127 uses a single CCFL for a Backlight.CCFL = Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp. (Bulb)Similar to Fluorescent lighting used in homes, and businesses, but on a MUCH smaller scale.Average thickness is 2mm. That is a little larger than 1/16th of an Inch.Average length is almost as long, as the LCD screen is in height.View the last 8 photos for a general example,http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2007/12/09/replace-laptop-backlight-ccfl-lamp/Fluorescent lamps, (Bulb) contain MERCURY.Highly poisonous. Replacing a CCFL should be performed by a qualified tech.A screen Inverter is used to convert the power, (Electricity), from the laptop, for the LCD screen, and Backlight.90 PERCENT OF THE TIME the fault is a bad screen Inverter.Primer over.Remember, ALL power removed before working on laptop.AC adapter (Charger), and Battery.For additional questions please post in a Comment.Regards,joecoolvette

That you can't fix that just means your hard drive is getting slower and it is starting to die.

To get enable or disable the Touch Pad you have to pulse the Fn + F9

You can also set this function as follow:

Start >> Control Panel >> Printers and other hardware

Click Mouse >> Touchpad (enable or disable)

go to services.msc and chk if the wireless zero is on or off

the bears might have gone on the fan buy a new fan

Yes you can by using a USB External Portable CD/DVD Drive. This are any basic methods to run or boot from the CD/DVD Drive.
I use it, good luck!

try to install the driver again

The TouchPad is enabled by default. To change the enable/
disable TouchPad setting by using the Fn + F9 keys, see
“Disabling or enabling the TouchPad” on page 234.
You may also change the enable/disable setting as follows:
1 Click Start, Control Panel.
The Control Panel window appears.
2 Click Printers and Other Hardware.
3 Click Mouse.
The Mouse Properties window appears.
4 Click the TouchPAD ON/OFF tab.
The TouchPAD ON/OFF tab view window appears.
5 Select Disable or Enable, whichever is appropriate.
6 Click Apply.
7 Click OK.
The Mouse Properties window closes.
8 Close the Printers and Other Hardware window.
9 Close the Control Panel window.


Or you can get the manual on the link below. Just type in the # code and click on download now. Page 61 tells you how to unlock the mouse pad.

http://www.retrevo.com/search/v2/jsp/mytrevo/myTrevo.jsp?page=man

Good Luck and please rate 4 thumbs up for the free answer

frequently pressing F2 soon as the PC boots

Hi

What have you attempted to do so far? have you tried reseting the router to factory defaults so that all security is removed and you should be able to connect to it right away?

The initial message you see may be an indication that the CPU fan is not working. I suggest you remove the bottom cover of your notebook and use a compressed air can to clean it up throughly. It'll help with the overheating problem.

Most notebooks have an electronic fan control, but the fan should be ON all the time (it may slow down or speed up). I suggest you downlaod CPUID's Hardware Manager from here (it's free):

http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php

Install and check the temp of the CPU for a couple of days to be sure it's never higher than 80 C.