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I'm having problems with a Toshiba Satellite A305-S. The AC converter that is 19v/3.95A doesn't even bring the charging light on. I have tried a Toshiba 19v/3.42A converter. It brings on the charging light, momentarily tries to bring the hard drive on and runs the fan. The monitor stays black the whole time.

Is it possible that this second converter doesn't have enough juice to bring the monitor on?

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a replacement converter and battery for this computer or that's a waste of money.

I've checked the hard drive by pulling it and attaching it with a USB device to another computer. The hard drive seems fine.

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Brief expert summary and next steps tied to the thread: ’s symptoms (one 19 V adapter does nothing, a second 19 V/3.42 A brings the charging LED and fan but the screen stays black) point to two independent issues to rule out in order — power delivery versus the display circuitry. ’s suggestion to check the charger with a multimeter is the correct first move. (ifixit.com)

Recommended, low-risk diagnostic order (do these before buying parts):

  • Inspect the adapter label and measure the DC output at the barrel (center pin vs sleeve) with a DMM while the adapter is plugged into mains — the reported output should match the label.
  • Only use a replacement adapter that matches the laptop’s voltage exactly; its amperage may be equal or higher than the original.
  • With the battery removed, try powering the laptop from AC alone (this isolates battery problems).
  • If the machine powers but the screen is black, connect an external monitor and do the “flashlight” test (shine a bright light at an angle on the LCD to spot a faint image) to separate panel/backlight vs motherboard/GPU faults.
  • Reseat RAM and try one module at a time; a bad or loose stick can stop POST and video initialization. ()

How to interpret the results and whether to buy parts:

  • No DC voltage or wrong voltage → bad adapter (replace the adapter).
  • Correct adapter voltage but intermittent charging or LED only when wiggled → suspect DC jack/wiring.
  • Adapter good, faint image visible with flashlight or external monitor OK → LCD panel, inverter or cable (relatively inexpensive to replace).
  • No image on external monitor either → logic board/GPU issue (often the most expensive to fix). (ifixit.com)

Practical note: test the adapter and check the jack first at a shop if you lack a multimeter — many shops will check a charger/DC jack for free or cheap. Replacing both adapter and battery before those checks can be wasted money if the display or motherboard is the root cause. (tomshardware.com)

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Member Avatar for caperjack

the use of a digital multimeter would help in determining if the charger is putting out enough power ,a laptop doesn't need a battery to run if plugged into a power adapter ,so try removing the battery and just power up from the adapter .most good repair shops would have one and could check it for you
whats a multimeter(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimeter)

Edited by caperjack
Member Avatar for jm.magavero

It seemed likely that both the battery and ac converter need replacing- $170 if using Toshiba original equipment. The machine may have additional problems such as power jack, motherboard, or monitor cable. The less expensive alternative was to pull the hard drive, memory, and dvd burner and put them into an older Toshiba. Thank you for your suggestions.

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