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Toshiba Satellite Pro 430CDT  -  Known Problems

This information may be suitable for the Toshiba Satellite Pro 430CDS and 435CDS as well.


The following I have learnt from my own 430CDT's.


SYMPTOM:  No video display.
On turn on of the 430CDT, all of the expected noises will be heard (e.g. beep from POST, hard drive as Windows 95 boots), but there is nothing shown on the display.
Video does not even show on an external VGA monitor (after required key combination used [Fn-F5]).
CAUSE:  A problem with the main battery.
Prove that by removing the main battery and then power on the 430CDT - you will see video if the battery was the cause.
FIX:  • It could be that the main battery simply needs to be adequately recharged (mine needed about 10 hours of charging).
• It could be that the main battery is faulty.
Note #1:  I have two batteries for my 430CDT.  After about six months of no use of the batteries, only one of them shows this symptom.
Maybe it is self-discharging more than the other.  Maybe it is faulty, but still useable to a degree.
Note #2:  Appears to be the issue described here, reported for the 400CS and 400CDT.
If that is the case, then the CMOS/RTC battery may need to be removed as well.
Note #3:  The 'no video display' symptom can have other causes.


SYMPTOM:  No video display.
On turn on of the 430CDT, all of the expected noises will be heard (e.g. beep from POST, hard drive as Windows 95 boots), but there is nothing shown on the display.
CAUSE:  An external monitor is connected to the VGA connector on the rear panel.
COMMENT:  It appears that, at power-on time, the BIOS redirects video to the external VGA connector if it senses that a monitor is attached there.
Fix #1:  Disconnect external monitor, then power the 430CDT back on.
Fix #2:  Use a Fn-F5 key combination to switch video back to the 430CDT.
Fix #3:  Set the 'Power On Display' option in SETUP from 'Internal/External' to 'Simultaneous'.
   
NOTE:  The 'no video display' symptom can have other causes.


SYMPTOM:  There was no video display.
On turn on of the 430CDT, all of the expected noises were heard (e.g. beep from POST, hard drive as Windows 95 boots), but there was nothing shown on the display. Sometimes, the screen stayed black. Sometimes, the screen would go light white, and if left powered on, strange patterns would appear.
FIX:  I slightly flexed the display section (the lid).
CAUSE:  Because of the fix, I assume that the cause was poor connection/s in the display section (the lid).
NOTE:  The symptom has reappeared.  Sometimes after flexing the display section, I have to power off/on the 430CDT.
NOTE:  The 'no video display' symptom can have other causes.


SYMPTOM:  Keyboard not working.
CAUSE:  The backup/resume battery had started leaking, damaging the keyboard connector on the system board, and damaging the ribbon cable on the keyboard.
NOTE:  This was on a second 430CDT, one that I bought for spare parts.  'Keyboard not working' was one of the listed problems.  The damage was too great for me to repair.