The most common problem for laptop keyboards is a bad key or keys. In this case, when a user presses the key, it doesn’t register, or only registers intermittently. In most cases, the only way to fix this issue is to replace the laptop keyboard.

A less common problem is that the entire keyboard stops responding. This can be a symptom of a defective keyboard, but can also be caused by a driver issue in the operating system. It can also be caused by a damaged connector cable, or one that has become unplugged. It is a good idea to check the cable to ensure a solid connection before replacing the entire keyboard.

Another problem associated with laptop keyboards are stuck keys, or keys that stick intermittently. In many cases, this can be caused by liquid damage, such as soda pop that has gotten under the keys, causing them to stick. It may be possible to remove individual keys in order to clean out the liquid damage underneath them. Always disconnect the AC adapter and remove the battery before cleaning any part of a laptop, and allow plenty of time for drying before reconnecting power.

Once you have ruled out any software issues and other more simple explanations for your keyboard problems, it may be time to replace the defective keyboard. Find a compatible replacement and a clear set of instructions before attempting it yourself, or take it to a professional repair center.

First off, you’ll want to remove your battery. If your laptop is only receiving intermittent power, your battery will kick in and mask this problem, causing you to miss some important symptoms. Power on your laptop and basically start wiggling everything. It sounds silly, but it really is an easy and effective objective test. Start from your charger’s cord where it connects to the wall, all the way to wiggling the adapter in your DC jack. If your laptop shuts down, you have found a bad connection. If it occurred when moving your adapter’s cord, you have a bad adapter. If you see the charging/power light flickering or flashing, you may have a DC jack issue.

To verify further, try a different AC adapter, or try that adapter in a different compatible machine. If you don’t have a spare adapter or machine around, you will have to use a multimeter. Check the connection inside the jack to see if you get a reading. Attach the multimeter to your adapter’s jack, and then wiggle the cord behind it. If the meter jumps or fluctuates, your adapter is likely bad. You can also attach an Ohm meter to your laptop’s DC jack. If it is seated properly, you should see some brief continuity readings. If you don’t, your DC jack may have come unseated from your motherboard.

If you think you may have an issue with your hard drive, you should first run a disk check. In your Windows prompt, open “Run…” and type “chkdsk.exe”. A window should pop up briefly, and then disappear. Restart your machine. As your BIOS boots up, the disk check will run, checking your hard drive for any errors, and repairing them as it is able. If there are problems it finds which it cannot repair, it will notify you of these.

If your disk is running slowly, you can also try running a Disk Defragmenter, which is typically already a part of your machine’s operating system. In Windows, go to the Accessories folder, and go under System Tools. Open the Disk Defragmenter, select your drive, and allow it to run. While running the Disk Defragmenter, you should not use your computer, as this will be moving files around on your machine, and could conflict with whatever you may be doing. This will reorganize your file system to free up memory and space, and possibly correct minor errors caused by your machine’s file storage.

If neither of the above options solves your problem, you may have a hardware issue. Listen to your machine as it boots and listen for any pops or clicks that may indicate hardware failure. Also, open your computer’s tower and double check that all cables are properly connected. Keep in mind that this will vary between SATA and IDE drive types. If this is the case, you will need to contact a computer repair shop for assistance with data recovery and drive replacement.

The first sign of laptop overheating is simply and plainly, heat. It is common for a laptop to be warm to the touch, but when warm becomes too hot to touch it is time for concern. As soon as possible shut down the machine to stop the heat from building and potentially causing hardware damage, then check to see if there is a hot spot in particular. Nine times out of ten, it will be hotter around the processor. In this case you can have either a bad processor or some kind of fault in your ventilation, for example a blocked vent or malfunctioning fan. It’s also possible that the thermal compound that is between the processor and the heat sink has simply has lost its thermal conductivity and is not properly transferring the heat from the CPU to the heat sink material. Always make sure that the back, sides, and bottom of your laptop are free of obstruction and able to get cool air into your machine. Also, check when you turn on your machine that you can hear your fan running. If it’s hot and the fan never kicks on, you may have to get your fan repaired. You may also hear your fan running at full speed all the time, possibly from the time the machine comes. This may indicate a fan problem and should be addressed.

If your laptop is overheating without your notice, the next step is that programs will begin to freeze or lock up as your system becomes too hot to function, followed shortly afterward by a system shutdown. Your computer may shut itself down to avoid any damage, and if this happens allow the system to sit as you check it over for possible causes.

To prevent further issues with laptop overheating, be sure to clean air intakes on your machine regularly, keeping them free of dust and debris. Also, pay attention to your fans. If they run routinely at their highest and loudest setting, something may be wrong with your processor or your heat sink, which may require repair or replacement.

The most common and frustrating problem that occurs with the IBM Lenovo notebook is the infamous frozen screen or “shaky” screen. Hundreds of victims go through countless virus tests and reformats to fix this issue, seldom is the source of the problem found. If no visible damage is seen on the screen, the next and most overlooked possibility would be to examine the video card for failures and burnouts. This is often the last precaution that is taken.



Along with Acer, IBM has been known for their terrible battery port. The connection has proven flawed over time, and has been said to lose strength and hold within the computer. This problem needs to be examined carefully and executed with precision. Many times re-soldering is required to repair this problem and professional attention may be required. Other times there is a more simple explanation and the problem can be as easy as a faulty battery or power chord.

Toshiba’s biggest issue lies within the power jack. It is the most commonly occurring problem and can become incredibly stressful when it goes unnoticed. The power jack gets loose and the positive pin stops making a good connection with the motherboard. This is the reason that the battery power is being used, even when the power chord is plugged into the computer. To solve this problem you must disassemble the laptop, remove the motherboard, and re-solder the power jack back into a solid standing position.



Over heating is a problem for all laptops. Even with external fan sources, the heat from many laptops can still be too much to bear. This issue is caused by the accumulation of dust between the internal fan and the heat-sync. When this problem occurs, heat that is produced by the processor becomes trapped inside the laptop and leads to overheating and random shut downs. There is no reason to panic, but when it happens, almost everyone does.



The most permanent and damaging issue that is most common with Toshiba laptops is flawed memory. In the event that it goes bad, you’ll have to replace the entire motherboard, not just the memory. If the laptop starts up with weird characters or rows of dots on the screen, then most likely there is a problem with the onboard memory. In any case, the only course of action to take is to purchase a new motherboard.