Toshiba w. dead remote
 

Hi guys, hope this is in the right category,

I have a silver-color Toshiba 20" with built-in VCR and DVD from the 90s. (screen is only 20" but the cabinet is quite large and heavy due to the other components inside). Normally I watch OTA TV on it with a converter box and rabbit ears. The converter-box remote works fine for changing channels and adjusting the volume, but recently the original remote that came with the set, which turns the set on and off, died. I tried fresh batteries in it, still dead.

Is this possibly an "easy fix," or should I just go out and get a universal remote? I don't know how to fix tv's and don't really collect them (well, just a little, he-he :D)

It could be the remote itself or it could be something inside the TV. If you have an AM radio handy, tune it to a dead spot on the dial and turn the volume up. Place the remote next to the radio and press buttons on the remote. If the remote is putting out a signal, you will hear a constant, loud "pop-pop-pop" sound from the radio speaker.

If the remote is found to be working; the trouble will be in the TV. The most likely cause is the IR sensor inside the TV, the absence of B+ voltage to the sensor, or a problem with the system control IC.

Another test for the remote is a cellphone camera. Aim it at the remore and look to see if the infrared diode flashes when you depress the remote buttons. The camera converts the infrared to visible light. If it is working, I have seem a good number of remote pickup sensors that corrode off the board from too much glass cleaner sprayed on the front of the set. It runs down the cabinet and drips on the remote internally eating the leads off of it. I usually just clean the board, the pickup has new leads carefully soldered to whats left and reinstalled. If all this is good, make sure the pickup has voltage on two out of three leads. If only on one, usually a resistor is bad that provides bias to the output lead. I install a 2.2 kohm from the lead with voltage to the middle lead (usually the output of the pickup) and it brings most of them back to life.
Other than these fixes, the fun can really begin....

Just my observation, but... EVERY Toshiba set I've owned has had a horrid remote. On the set I bought new, I thought it was an issue with the set. A Universal would work great, the factory one you had to stand about a foot from the TV.
I got a 90's era Toshiba set recently... SAME thing.
Good luck with yours, I know in your case (with an "all in one" set) you need the factory remote to work in order to use all the functions....

If you need the remote post a good photo of it, I have a bunch of 'em from a closed TV shop. Not too many Toshibas, but a few.

I tried radiotvnut's trick, and the remote DID make noises on an AM radio, so the problem is in the set itself, not the remote. I can use the buttons on the front panel to turn the set on and operate the VCR/DVD players, so I will just use it as/is for now.
Thanks to all for your suggestions.