You can replace or upgrade the video card in your Toshiba Satellite laptop to resolve a display problem or enhance its graphics performance. If you want to replace the video card to troubleshoot a display issue, diagnose the problem correctly to make sure the problem is caused by the video card and not some other component such as the LCD screen or inverter board. If your laptop's display problem is caused by its video card, connecting the laptop to an external monitor will show the same display problem. However, if an external monitor displays images correctly, the problem may be with some other component and not the video card. When upgrading your card, make sure the new component is compatible.
Step 1
Shut down the laptop and unplug its AC power cord. Place the laptop face down on a level surface at a comfortable working height. Remove the battery and hard disk drive from the base by releasing plastic covers shielding the battery bay and hard disk chamber. Lift off the components.
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Step 2
Undo securing screws to remove slot covers for memory (RAM), the wireless card and the modem. Remove the six screws and retain them in a small container. With its cover off, dismount the RAM modules by disengaging clips on the slot's mouth to release the module. Spread the clips away from the module and pull out its teeth from the slot.
Step 3
Remove the modem card and LAN jack assembly. Undo two screws to detach the modem card and unplug the LAN jack cable from the laptop's motherboard. With the modem card and LAN jack released from the motherboard, lift off the assembly.
Step 4
Remove all screws from the base and turn the laptop over. Remember to retain batches of screws in different containers, for easy reassembly. Open the laptop's lid and remove the securing strip—a long narrow strip placed at the top of the keyboard panel, holding it in place. Insert a flat tipped implement under the strip and maneuver the tool to pry the strip loose. When the strip comes off, remove two screws to release the keyboard. Lift it up the keyboard and disconnect its cable connection to the motherboard.
Step 5
Dismount the optical drive (CD or DVD drive). After disconnecting and removing the keyboard, the laptop's top cover will be accessible; remove a single screw from the top cover to release the optical drive. Detach the drive by sliding it out of the laptop's base, and pulling its head from the other end.
Step 6
Remove a metal plate located centrally on the top cover, shielding the video card connectors, by undoing a single screw. With the plate off, remove the top cover by undoing three screws. Disconnect cable connections to the motherboard, including the speaker cables, touchpad cable, inverter cable, and LCD cable.
Step 7
Lift off and remove the laptop's top cover and LCD lid. Since you did not remove the laptop's hinges, the lid will be attached to the top cover, and may be removed as a single assembly. Pull the lid and top cover assembly upward to detach it from the base. The motherboard is now completely accessible.
Step 8
Remove a single screw from a metal brace holding the hard disk connector and video card in place. Uninstall the video card by lifting it off the motherboard. Install the new video card by orientating it accordingly and aligning it with the slot. Push the card in until it is attached firmly. Reassemble the laptop after installing a new video card.
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