Computer randomly restarts while charging, but NOT in safe mode??

[DuaneG]

Hello everyone,
Wasn't sure if this should be posted here or in hardware!

I'm running on a Toshiba laptop (L355) and it's recently started restarting itself randomly while plugged in. While running on batteries it does not restart, but on the charger every 5-10 minutes it'll restart itself OR much more often, it'll throw a random colored screen (black, gray, white, teal, red, etc) and lock up.
So I assumed it'd be the charger brick going bad.. however... When running the computer in safe mode it doesn't do it!

Anyone hear of this problem before?!

 

[Boston Pro Comp Serv LLC]

Have you done some basic diagnostics yet? What other configs have you tried, without the battery but plugged in? Etc.

 

[DuaneG]

Have you done some basic diagnostics yet? What other configs have you tried, without the battery but plugged in? Etc.

Yes, and I added a little more info to the first post. I'll reply with it here.

I've attempted it with battery in and plugged up. Problem persists.
Battery out and plugged up. Problem Persists.
Battery in and not plugged up. Problem Solved.

Much more often than restarting randomly (Recently anyway.. Before it'd restart more often) it'll throw a random colored screen (black, white, gray, teal, red) and lock up instantly.

I've never seen this before.

 

[FremontPC]

If you change to a full power profile whether plugged in or not, do you get the same problem?

Kind of a low end lappie. Don't waste too much time on it. Is the client a pet owner? Cleaned out the heatsink yet?

 

[Boston Pro Comp Serv LLC]

I think your going to have to run a full diag on it, you tried a new power supply? Windows 7?

 

[kwest]

Sounds like a heat issue. Install speed fan and watch the temps. Try propping up the back of it and see if it works.

 

[samfrees]

I was thinking it sounded like a heat issue as well.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

ditto .......................................

 

[AlexT]

If it was a heat issue, wouldn't it happen on the battery too?

 

[samfrees]

The power options are typically set to use less energy during battery power so things might not get quite as hot. If the temps are right on the borderline, that might be all it takes. I had a desktop that would reboot only while playing a certain game and that ended up being a bad CPU fan. Took a while to figure that one out.

 

[DuaneG]

The heat doesn't really change when on charger or not, HD1 runs at around 47C and SpeedFan is saying Temp1 Core0 and Core1 are all running around 65

 

[FremontPC]

"The power options are typically set to use less energy during battery power so things might not get quite as hot."

That's why I suggested switching it to the high performance profile in Power Options. If it still has problems, might well be the gpu is coming away from the mobo.

 

[mr m]

Try disabling any video utilities like Catalyst or whatever. The graphics are not pushed as hard in safe mode. Maybe lower the resolution to 800X600 and see what happens.

If no luck open up the case and look for dust blocking the heat sink and check the thermal pad on the GPU. The mobo/gpu might be on it's way out.

 

[carrcomp]

My guess : NEC TOKIN Proadlizer capacitor