The first thing you should consider is whether to get an OEM battery or a compatible battery. OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer and refers to a battery that comes directly from the manufacturer of your laptop. While you can rarely go wrong with an OEM battery, it is often the most expensive option, and for older laptops, OEM batteries may not even be available any longer. Compatible batteries are manufactured by a third party, but are designed to meet or exceed the specifications of the original to ensure compatibility and performance, and they are often much less expensive.

Here are a few terms and factors that you should know when shopping for a Toshiba laptop battery replacement:

Battery type

Most Toshiba laptop batteries will be Lithium-Ion batteries. Older laptops may use NiMH and NiCad Batteries; however these are older laptop battery technologies.

Voltage

Ensure that the replacement battery matches the voltage of your old battery. Common voltages are 10.8 volts, 11.1 volts, 14.4 and 14.8 volts. The voltage is typically printed right on the label of your original battery.

Capacity (mAh)

The mAh (milliampere-hour) measurement gives a general idea of the capacity of a battery. For example, a battery with 6600 mAh will provide a longer runtime than one with 4400 mAh. The battery’s capacity relates directly with Cell count and the capacity of the cells used to construct the laptop battery.

Cells

Batteries are made up of Lithium Ion cells, and different batteries utilize a different number of cells depending on the required voltage. In some cases, it is possible to find a replacement battery with more cells than the original, which should generally provide extended battery life. Often when more cells are added the physical size of the battery will be altered possibly making it larger and may cause it to protrude from the notebook unlike the original battery.

When shopping for a Toshiba laptop battery replacement, it is recommended that you use a quality supplier with a through selection. Also, try to find a supplier with the resources to properly identify a correct replacement laptop battery specifically for your model of machine. You can often find retailers online or even in your local area.

An inverter is the opposite of a rectifier converting DC current into AC current; static inverters are used in LCD technology and have no moving parts. After the current is inverted to AC, it can be used at any need voltage or frequency. The AC current allows the thin film transistor and components to present colors in the specified arrangement for the desired picture. The current is split after the inversion process to power each pixel or set of pixels in the display which are then altered and refracted to produce the picture again using AC current as power.

The inverter is one of the most important parts of an LCD display whether it is a TV or a laptop screen. Without the inverter no images or picture would be possible within the small case of a laptop. The inverter allows for smaller sizes and thicknesses of laptops and better screen resolutions as well as far more control over the picture itself. The inverter is how the screen allows the end user to specify color variances and adjustments. These adjustments take place at the electrical level and change the voltages that are applied to the screen to present better visibility and lower energy consumption. Without the inverter laptops would be far larger and less user friendly.

First and most people already own one, is the Phillips head screwdriver #1. This is a small standard screwdriver used for removing screws form any number of electronic equipment. This can be found in virtually every home in the US. The next tool is a Phillips head screwdriver #00 which is not found in most tool boxes anywhere. It is used to open particular places or panels on a MacBook, MacBook Pro and some G4 cases. Without it you will not be able to repair certain parts of the laptop.

A TORX screwdriver T6 size is needed to remove screws on the cases of the MacBook Pro and aluminum cases of the PowerBook G4. The TORX screwdrivers have a distinctive 6 pointed star shaped pattern and cannot be mistaken for anything else. Another TORX screwdriver is the T8 size. These screws are found on the casing of the MacBook as well as locations such as the hard drive cage for the PowerBook G4 titanium and the PowerBook G4 17 inch laptops. The final necessary tool is a non-marking pry tool. This item, more like a paint can opener, is a non-metal implement for easily removing components from the assembly of the laptops.

These tools, while not every needed tool, will help to get any novice or professional on the right track in repairing and upgrading Apple laptops and will help to save you time and money while performing these tasks.

At this point pull, ever so slightly, on the power jack to determine if all of the solder has been removed. It is typical that not all of the solder was removed, so you may need to simultaneously pull the jack and heat the contact points to loosen the solder and remove the jack. After the jack has been removed, clean the leads with a small knife to get rid of any corrosion or dirt that may have built up on it. Next you will need to apply fresh solder to the contacts of the jack to prepare it for re-entry to the motherboard.

Before the jack can be placed on the motherboard, the board should be cleared of flux, or the small left-overs from the solder. With a small toothbrush and a light amount of rubbing alcohol gently rub the surface of the motherboard clean of the flux. After, apply a small fresh coat of solder to the contact points on the motherboard. Be sure to coat both sides; above and below for best results. Place something under the motherboard as you re-solder the jack into place; this will keep the motherboard level. Apply solder to each contact and you have finished. Repeat these steps in reverse to finish your project.

Slide in the new memory module and replace the panel cover. Next to the panel is one of four screws holding the keyboard in place. The others are located to the right close to the edge of the laptop and two below the memory panel next to the bar codes and serial information. Remove these screws and carefully turn the laptop over. The keyboard is now able to be lifted from the assembly by use of a flathead screwdriver. Gently pry the keyboard up to release it from the laptop and then disconnect the cable attaching it to the motherboard.

While the keyboard has been removed, it is a good idea to spray the internal components with some compressed air to clean out the dust and dirt. The memory module is located at the top of the area below the keyboard; this one will slide towards the screen of the laptop away from you. Release it the same way as the previous module and insert the new one. Repeat these steps in reverse to finish the memory upgrade.

Turn off the laptop and disconnect the battery to prevent electric shock as you should with all electronic repair work. Turn the computer over with the front of the machine toward you and locate the plate covering the hard drive; this should be in the lower right hand corner of the laptop. Remove the two screws form the cover and remove the cover which will allow the hard drive to slide out of the side of the machine. At this point the drive bracket and the adapter need to be removed. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the screws and then, very carefully, slide the adapter off of the drive.

Once the adapter and screws have been removed they will be put into use on the new drive; follow these last steps in reverse for the new drive. Slide the new hard drive into the slot and reattach the screws. At this point the operating system will need to be reinstalled if a data transfer program was not used. The system CD will determine the type of hard drive you have installed and make the necessary changes to the system upon install. After the operating system is installed start the long process of transferring and uploading all of your data and files. Be sure to consult your laptop’s documentation for any questions.

First locate the Allen screws along the sides of the LCD screen, there should be four, and remove them. Be sure to have the right sized Allen wrench as the screw can become stripped and unusable. It is recommended that a small plastic container be used to keep all of the screws in while performing the repair. After removing the Allen screws you need to remove the back plate on the screen. Starting at the bottom of the screen start to snap the plate off slowly and gently working your way up and around the assembly; this should be fairly easy and simple to take off. At this point tilt the LCD screen forward slightly and locate the frame screws along its sides.

If you have a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi antenna be sure to note their placement for reinstallation. Remove the screws from the framing carefully and set them aside in your plastic container. Loosen the tape holding the LCD tray into place and slowly separate the LCD screen, it will still be attached by a cable, and it is easiest of the screen is removed from the tray like you were opening a laptop. Disconnect the LCD cable from the screen and remove the tape securing the cable to the screen. Where the bottom of the LCD screen meets the casing there will be two small wires connecting the LCD to the laptop. Remove the small white plug from the assembly; these are the LCD inverter connections. Reverse these steps when installing the new LCD screen.