Dell Inspiron 17-7746 Video Card/Motherboard Replacement

Disconnect the laptop from the AC adapter and turn off the laptop.

Place the laptop so the bottom faces up.

Remove the silver 15mm PH 1 screw that holds the plastic cover in place over the battery.

Remove the 8mm PH 1 screw that holds the plastic cover in place over the battery.

Using the metal jimmy, pry up the first half of the cover.

Apply pressure with your fingertips on top of the cover and drag toward the front of the laptop. This will make the plate slide off exposing the hard drive.

Remove the two black PH1 6mm screws that anchor the battery.

Grab the black tab on the battery with index finger and thumb.

Pull upwards, removing the battery from the laptop.

Remove the three black 6mm PH1 screws that anchor the hard drive.

This screw hole will be empty because the 15mm silver screw that holds the plastic cover will anchor the hard drive down when completely reassembled.

Using your hands, gently lift the hard drive out of its slot.

Disconnect the Seta Cable attaching the hard drive to the laptop by gently wiggling loose the connector from the hard drive using your hands.

Pry up the plate covering the RAM, using the metal jimmy.

Remove all eleven (11) PH1 screws.

Using the tip of the plastic spudger, push the metal tab towards the outer edge of the laptop. This pushes the CD ROM out.

Using your fingers, pull out the CD ROM.

Turn the laptop over and open it up, exposing the keyboard.

Using the plastic spudger tool, place the tip of the spudger into the small notches at the top of the keyboard and push in the notch to release the top portion of the keyboard. Repeat on all notches.

Push all five tabs back to lift the keyboard.

Using the plastic spudger, lift the top part of the keyboard and gently lift the keyboard out.

Using your hands, gently remove the narrow flat ribbon cable from the motherboard port by gently pulling the cable.

Using your hands, gently remove the wide flat ribbon cable from the motherboard port by gently pulling the cable.

Remove the 15mm PH 1 screw holding the bottom plate in place.

Close the laptop and flip it over exposing the bottom surface. Use the metal jimmy and blue opening tool, gently pry the bottom cover off. Repeat this process around the entire perimeter of the laptop.

Gently pick up the bottom cover, exposing all other components of the device.

The wireless card is near the left hinge of the laptop and has two little connectors attached to it. Gently lift the left black connector off the board and then lift the board out of the laptop.

Repeat the same process with the white connector.

Replace the wireless card and reconnect the black and white cables.

Black cable goes to the connector on the wireless card labeled as "1."

White cable goes to the connector on the wireless card labeled as "2."

Remove all wires and ribbon cables attached to the motherboard.

Some Wires have small black tabs on top of them. Meaning one must grab the tab and pull directly upward, gently.

Some ribbon cables may require the blue opening tool to release the cable's connectors before pulling it out.

Finally, some cables have a plastic head with small notches on the side. Use your hand to gently wiggle this cable side to side to remove.

Remove the 6mm PH1 screw from the motherboard.

Grab the board near where the RAM was, and gently pull and lift.

Go ahead and replace the motherboard at this time.