I’m working on a friend’s laptop: Toshiba, Satellite M65 - S9092

Original problem: The laptop started shutting down after few minutes of use. (Probable overheating)

Took the laptop apart and clean it out. The heatsink, fan and outlets were really plugged up. Put it back together and did a clean re-install, Windows XP. Had few issues with USB drivers not being recognized but worked it out. Ran stress test for a whole day, no problem.

Worked for few days and then USB wasn’t being recognized again and the screen started freezing up. Re-installed os again but it is still freezing up after few minutes, and stays that way till hard shut down.

Screen freezes even in safe mode and in BIOS. (No blue screens)
Switched existing RAM’s around (2 - 512MB), one stick, two sticks, etc…still freezing up. Wanted to upgrade the BIOS but can’t get pass the screen freezing. Not sure if the motherboard may be shot from previous overheating or need new RAM.
Don’t want to spend money till I’m sure I’m replacing the right part.

Any assistance is appreciated.
Where did the Drivers come from ? ?
The original Driver CD ? ?

The chipset drivers need to be installed 1st...

Do NOT rely on Windows to install the correct drivers...visit the manuf. site for best results...Thanks for the reply.
First time from original CD, second from manufacturer. Unfortunately at this point it freezes before I can install any new drivers or update BIOS. Any thoughts whether new re-install would be worth it or any other options.
Can you work in safemode ? ?
To enter safemode tap F8 repeatedly on start and before the WQin splash screen...

As opposed to a re-install there is another option

Repair Install of XP...No, as I mention in the heading it freezes in safe mode and when I’m in BIOS.
I have tried going in safe mode numerous times, I can get in to a point but so far every time I start trying something it freezes. Same in BIOS, I can change few setting but before I can complete anything it freezes.
Try it with the battery removed and the laptop only on mains...I tried it before same result.

Just tried it again, this time couple of different things happened.

1 – It took longer before it started freezing up
2 – At times the pointer froze but the tab, windows key, enter and direction keys functioned and opened files. (even downloaded few os updates)
3 – After about 10 minutes of running the pointer and the keys froze at the same time, it was freezing on and off
4 – After about 15-20 minutes everything is frozen and none responsive

It's one of those problems that I never ran into, especially when it freezes in BIOS.
If it freezes loading the BIOS with the battery removed then it's almost certainly a power supply issue...
You have to decise whether it's worth the money to replace it...

I could be wrong on this diagnosis so wait for others to chime in on this...But i believe that's the issue...Check also for any bad connectors that needed to be replaced. Connectors connecting to and from motherboard.  I have the EXACT same problem with my toshiba a135. Coincidence? Toshiba sucks. Mine overheated past 90*C and freezes now, like yours.. And the computer was cleaned the day before. All connectors are plugged in right. I can operate it for 40+ minutes with a PCMCIA USB card and USB mouse and keybaord. But without it, it freezes like yours with static coming out from the speakers...Additional info on the progress:

I tried doing a clean boot but unfortunately I can’t get far enough before the screen freezes.

Later I ran the MEMTEST 86+ and got the following results. (without the battery in the laptop)

It didn’t run the test. The screen was incomplete/partial.
After the line Setting: RAM, the rest of info was blank and incomplete
Line with 88k, e820 and off was VISIBLE, which is for: “RsvdMem” “MemMap” and “ECC”
Also under “memory spd information” everything was blank
Tested each ram module in every slot. The + icon was blinking, screen didn't freeze.
I ran the same memtest 86+ CD on two other COMPUTERS and it ran fine.

I picked up a PC diagnostic card and got this far:
The BIOS are Phoenix, but I can’t get far enough to find out which version.
When I started the laptop multiple times the initial readout on the PC diagnostics card is: 9d55

9D55
9d - Initialize SECURITY engine (optional)
55 - Enable USB devices
After the boot cycles pressing S1 the readout are (multiple starts with freezing):
5755 – 569d – 55CC - 588A
55 - Enable USB devices
56 - Enable keyboard
57 - Test for unexpected interrupts
58 - Test for unexpected interrupts
9D - Initialize security engine (optional)
8A - Initialize extended BIOS data area
CC - Redirect Int 10h to enable remote serial video
http://www.bioscentral.com/postcodes/phoenixbios.htm

The test may be inconclusive because of freezing but any thoughts on the post code results