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General discussion

New Toshiba Notebook Problems

Mar 13, 2005 9:43PM PST

Recently I purchased a new Toshiba Portege M300 (only available in Canada) and I have been experiencing problems similar to those that have been reported for the Toshiba Satellites. I had a Toshiba Satellite for 2.5 years and it worked pefectly in my apartment. I decided to get a new notebook because the old one was so heavy. First I tried Dell (don't ask me why) and I had trouble with their computers so I decided to return them. The problem with the Dell I had was that the computer would not recognize any devices plugged in to the USB ports and sometimes it would shut down and not turn back on. It would take 20 or 30 times to turn on. With the new Toshiba, I have lost power twice and the computer will not turn on at all - there is blinking plug light that supposedly indicates a power problem. I took the computer to get repaired, and they had to replace the motherboard entirely. I was worried that I had a power surge or something so I bought a new power bar just to be safe. Yet it happened again. This does not seem to be a power surge problem because I have other electronics plugged into the power bar including a t.v. and light yet they do not even flicker when the power shuts off to the computer. So I am wondering if this is the static problem mentioned on this board or something else. If it is a static problem, then why was my first toshiba fine? Are the new thin and light notebooks more susceptible to this problem? If anyone knows what this could be or how I can avoid this happening in the future, please let me know. I don't want to have to replace the motherboard every week or two (so far this has happened twice in the 3 weeks that I have had the toshiba).

Thanks,
Lisa

Discussion is locked

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To avoid the issue...
Mar 13, 2005 9:50PM PST

Get another make or model. It's a new machine and you'll have to make your case that you have no faith this model and wish them to either refund your purchase or exchange for another model.

bob

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Re: To avoid this issue..
Mar 13, 2005 10:32PM PST

Thanks for the reply, Bob. I would take your advice except that this is the fourth computer that I've had since January and it seems that this must be a problem that is extraneous to the computers. If I get a new one, I am worried that it will continue to happen. The first three computers were all Dell Inspiron 700m. As I mentioned previously, I was experiencing USB problems at first and then every once in a while the computer would shut down and it did not want to restart. Dell exchanged this computer for me 3 times until I finally told them that I wanted to return the computer (at this time I thought that it must be a problem with the 700m since I have never experienced any problems with my first toshiba satellite).

Then I purchased the Toshiba Portege, every once in a while the USB mouse would pause like it did with the Dells, but it would continue to work again. Each time the computer shuts off and I had to replace the motherboard, the mouse pauses for a second just before the computer loses power.

So my concern is that even if I get another computer model or make I will experience the same problem. I am hoping that there is some way to solve this without moving (since I have only had this problem in my apartment and not at school or my parent's place). Is there anyway that I can test for electrical or static problems? Or is it possible that the mouse could cause these problems (since I used the same one on each computer)?

Thanks again,
Lisa

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I'll write unlikely.
Mar 13, 2005 10:56PM PST

What can I write here? You are experiencing an in-warranty multiple trip to the factory issue (you did write it was more than once) and have a lemon.

Show and voice your concern and make it clear that you've called it a lemon and will not be happy till you get another model.

Toshiba does have a current design issue with static sensitivity (read this forum!) so why should you suffer with it too.

Bob