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Beware the New Toshiba Satellite Computers: Model A215 S7437 Especially
I'm afraid that Toshiba's newest Satellite computers may have some quality control problems, or may have some trouble using Vista (of course, that's true for most computers, except, perhaps, the Mac). I purchased my son a Toshiba Satellite A215 S7437. Great computer - except it froze up with the black screen of doom several times while in use. He took it back to Best Buy and got a replacement. After a couple hours of use, the same problem occurred. He took it back in the locked-up state of doom for the to see. Instead of replacing it, they suggested some updates to try. So he came home and downloaded the latest Vista updates to the system and restarted. After a short while, the same problem occurred. This is just using basic Microsoft software, nothing unusual or demanding. It froze for me, once, just moving through folders in Explorer. It froze looking at a simple Web page and also playing a DVD.
So he took it back and upgraded to a lower-cost HP computer.
Toshiba, what's up? I've got an older Toshiba that has been fine. Is it Vista or Toshiba to blame for this? Three computers in a row all failed. Ouch.
I had the same problem with this Toshiba series. I just opened the box
yesterday (however I've had the laptop now for over a couple of weeks), and
the moment I tried to run it for the first time and set it up, it crashed.
Even when it tried to reboot it crashed. It was starting to get annoying
and disturbing that I gave up and ajust let it sit overnight. This morning
I was researching online to see if anyone else was having similar problems
and to my surprise, I wasn't the only one. This one website was very
helpful:
I just bought the A215-S7437 laptop the other day... so far it's already
slower on many levels and I JUST received that black screen of doom. How
disappointing! This computer is BRAND NEW!!! No excuses! I hate Vista
too I'm coming to realize.
I'm using the A215-S7422 model and the same thing happens: I get the black
screen of doom! I'm never going to get another Toshiba EVER AGAIN!!
I unfortunately have the same issue. We bought the S7437 215 Toshiba and
we have the dreaded blackout screen. We also have experienced it during
web browsing, while in e-mail and simply working in explorer. There is
nothing you can do but shutdown and restart. We bought from Best Buy and
although we showed them numerous complaints about the same issue, the won't
take it back without charging a restock fee which really bothers us. Of
course, they could not recreate the problem while we were there and we told
them ahead of time that they probably couldn't. We adjusted power settings
and it didn't help. We called Toshiba and they couldn't help. We have
heard nightmares about people sending in the computer to Toshiba and we
simply don't have that luxury, so that's not really an option for us. We
did go about three weeks before it happened again, but alas, it did. We
are also looking at getting an HP but we're just so disappointed that we
got such a great price for this spec computer. It's not worth it if at any
moment you can lose what you are working on :-( I would not recommend this
computer to anyone and if anyone is looking to buy from Best Buy - beware
of the restocking fee. Circuit City does not charge a fee, so we're
looking at getting the next one there or at another place that does not
charge of fee if you have problems and need to take it back.
I have the same toshiba, and I am getting the black screen too. the first
time it happened, it was black and white stripes across the screen. I took
it back to best buy, after 3 hours with the geek squad, I got an exchange
for another A215. took it home, an hour later, black screen. I'm taking it
back tomorrow, and hoping to exchange it for another brand with the same
specs.
Just out of curiosity, I wonder how many of you who are having the blackout
problem still have McAfee Security still installed on your machine? Mine
crashed and Vista notified me that there was a known bug with McAfee
(believe it or not!). So, I uninstalled McAfee and installed Norton
Internet Security instead. So far, no black screens at all. Just a
thought.
I wonder, if you guys now this entry in the official Toshiba support forum:
http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/forums/message.jspa?messageID=11
0515#110515
I have added the unbroken link in the URL.