ok, i will try that!

to remove the CMOS battery/clear the CMOS, you have to take it completely apart to access it on the motherboard?

i found a site with pictures illustrating how to take a laptop apart: http://www.irisvista.com/tech/

wish me luck.

google the model # for CMOS / BIOS contacts reset or so, (or take a really hi res pic and post it here.)

my brother had a toshiba given to him (the exact same one he already had), because the guy's son put a BIOS Password on it.

When i cleared the BIOS for him, it was 2 contacts underneath the RAM slots on the bottom, you had to run one stick of ram while shorting the 2 contacts.


Sounds like the battery died and sent a surge to the board.

thanks for your help. i will continue with what you suggest, but it might be a while before i can do that. let me think.

i don't have a camera, but i can take a picture and post it tomorrow.

i will take the memory out and see if i can spot anything.


i found this post about a satellite a215 s5818: http://forums.techarena.in/operating-systems/1183281.htm

# Remove Laptop computer Battery
# Remove Memory Cover
# Spread spring clips to outside &
# pull out RAM memory
# Remove clear vinyl label opposite RAM memory slots
# In the upper left corner you will notice JOPEN1 with a white silkscreen square

Place one end of the clip inside the yellow square (PAD503) and touch the other end on the metal post. Hold it there for 30 seconds or so then tada! Bios is cleared

i took the memory out and what i can see doesn't match what is described in the thread i linked to in my last post.

however, there is a small brass colored rectangular metal "pad" labeled Pad 06.

it seems like maybe this could be the CMOS clear jumper.

i shorted it out on a metal post for 30 seconds but it didn't do any good.

is that the way to do it or do i need to start the computer while Pad 06 is shorted out?

on my brother's toshiba it was 2 small square pads in close proximity,

you have to power on with it shorted on to short it.

if the mainboard or BIOS is toast, a new mainboard is about $140 for the P105-S6104

thanks.

i will figure it out.

i will probably go ahead and open it up and take the battery out.

yeah if you cant find the contacts to short, the battery might be a better option.


long shot but you can try Function + F5 to toggle display priority (just in case its stuck on external).

SUCCESS!!!

i read about another model of Toshiba laptop where the jumper pins were located under the wireless card.

i removed it and found 2 pins labeled JP 8.

i shorted them and started the computer and the display and computer are working again!



thanks SkateZilla! and everyone else for your help.

congrats on bringing her back from the dead!