Miscellaneous laptop discussions forum: My computer is shocking me

Jack, thank you for the information. Everything is 3 prong plug, but it could be the actual outlet. I appreciate you being specific in your post about what can happen and your instructions on how to rule out the options.

Teresa

It's possible it's the battery static grounding itself via you, which would sugest inproper earthing, although this would probably stop the machine from booting up due to the static, try removing the battery and putting it back in to conduct any static from it? I personally would take it back asap though, it's obviously a fault of some kind.

I have a toshiba satellite a-75 series. I have been round and round with toshiba; they admit that the shock, which comes from the speakers and bottom screws is a problem, they had me send it off to a tech II level technician (at my expense) who said it was the adapter (two prong) so toshiba said they would send me a three prong; when the adapter came in (finally) it was two prong so I called back and spoke with another technician, he said they did not make a three prong but that that was not the problem, he said they didn't like to talk about it or admit it but that there was a law suite because they were having problems with some of the laptops electrocuting people because the motherboard was not grounded. He forwarded my call to another person who said they were sorry but even though they agree and are aware of my problem; there was a class action laws suite addressing the problems and the cut off time for there own liability was two months ago. I told them I had never been notified of any recall or class action law suite, and they sent me to another person who told me; that because they had already looked at my laptop and sent me a new (be it non grounded) adapter they had met the quota required by law for each user that had a faulty laptop. they went on to say there was nothing else they were willing to do for me. I am furious!! I told them the first tech. said there was really no problem with the laptop, but that the adapter was bad. they said "we are so sorry you are being shocked but we are not willing to do anymore for you, good by" and they hung up on me! I believe I am going to open up the laptop and see if I can see what is not 'grounded' on the motherboard. interesting enough; through out the past few month in dealing with toshiba I have been told everything from it's all in your head; to it's static, to "don't touch it, we don't want you being electrocuted" to, oh we hear this all them time, to we won't admit the problem exist. and to think.... It all started with a little prickly feeling out of my speakers onto my wrist, for the longest time I did think i was imagining it, then I thought it was a bent wire that was catching my skin, then I begin getting shocked by the screws on the back, and lastly the shock traveling up my arms, and I always feel a 'buzzing' feeling through the keyboard, mouse pad, and on the wrist rests. I covered the speakers with paper to keep my wrist safe. and yes, for the last poster, my fingertips always feel like they are numb or have fallen asleep. If any of you know how to ground the motherboard, I'd appreciate instructions. I hope toshiba is happy, they may have gained fifty bucks by not grounding my motherboard, but they have lost a customer for life and just maybe... (if my luck fails me) a customers life! if any of you want a shocking computer let me know, I think I can help you out!

Just you and this unit.

WHY NOT SELL IT AND GET SOMETHING YOU LIKE?

but your problem sounds like classic static discharge. You say it happens when getting up from your recliner with the laptop and laying it down. This means you've built up a charge on yourself, transferred it to the laptop and had the laptop discharge into the surface where you placed it. The shock felt is because it passed through the plastic frame into your body as an arc of electricity. The initial charge buildup might be from your and your clothing sliding on the seat of the chair. Some fabrics do this and, today, nylon microfiber is one of the worst. Anyway, you might try an experiment to see if this is true. Try having a metal object in your hand when you get off of the chair...even a fork or spoon. Walk to a large metal object such as a refrigerator or even a sink and, in an assertive motion, touch what's in your hand to the metal device to discharge the static build up. Now put your laptop down as before and see if you still get zapped.

Then the next stop is a repair counter or asking Toshipba for where to get repairs.
Bob