What Does It Mean When a Toshiba Laptop Satellite Power Light Flashes Red & Blue?
By James T Wood
The front of a Toshiba Satellite laptop has three light emitting diodes (LEDs) to indicate the functionality of the system. On the left is the green LED, indicating the presence of alternating current (AC) power. The middle is a blue LED denoting the system is powered on. On the right is an LED that is red or amber when the battery is charging and green when the battery is full.
Dust
A Toshiba laptop has a heat sensor that shuts off the computer when the temperature is too high. The front LEDs can flash to indicate a high temperature in advance of the system shutting down. Often overheating is caused by dust and dirt clogging the exhaust vents on the computer. Use canned air to blow out the fans and vents on the computer. Do this several times to clear out all of the dust, then power the computer on again.
Power Cord
If the power cord is not providing adequate current to power both the battery and the computer operation, the LEDs may flash. If the battery isn't charging while the computer is powered on, but will charge when the computer is powered off and the power cord is plugged in, you may have a faulty power supply. Contact Toshiba for a replacement (see Resources).
Battery
The battery may not be holding a charge or making good connection with the conductors in the battery bay. If the battery intermittently works and/or the computer runs only off the AC power, the battery may be faulty. If possible, test this theory by swapping a different battery into the bay to see if it charges. If the battery feels loose, you may be able to press on it to make a better connection. Also clean the metal connectors on the battery and in the battery bay using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. If the battery is loose you can use a folded piece of paper to wedge it into place. Fold the paper to sit inside the battery bay but not near the contacts. Replace the battery as soon as possible.
Power Plug Contact
The port where the power cord plugs into the Toshiba Satellite may become loose and have an intermittent connection that causes the computer to think that there is no power available. This port is connected to the motherboard of the computer. If you've ruled out all other possibilities you can wrap some conductive tape around the tip of the power adapter that plugs into the laptop to increase the surface area of the connection. Contact Toshiba for a replacement motherboard, since the power port is loose (see Resources).
References
Writer Bio
James T Wood is a teacher, blogger and author. Since 2009 he has published two books and numerous articles, both online and in print. His work experience has spanned the computer world, from sales and support to training and repair. He is also an accomplished public speaker and PowerPoint presenter.