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Removing and Replacing Parts: Dell Dimension L Series Reference
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Removing and Replacing Parts: Dell™ Dimension™ L Series
Reference
Unless otherwise noted, each of the following procedures assumes:
- You have the recommended tools.
- You have performed the steps in "Precautionary Measures."
- You have removed the computer cover.
- You can replace or reinstall a part by performing the removal
procedure in reverse order.
Before you remove or replace parts in the system, read the following
caution for your personal safety and to prevent damage to the system from electrostatic
discharge (ESD).
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CAUTION FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY
AND PROTECTION OF THE EQUIPMENT. Before you
start to work on the system, perform the following steps in the sequence listed:
- Turn off your computer and all devices.
- Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface at the back of
the computer before touching anything inside your computer.
While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the
computer to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.
- Disconnect any devices connected to the computer, including the
monitor, from their electrical outlets to reduce the potential for personal injury or
shock. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
- Disconnect the power cable to your computer, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
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After you remove or replace parts in the system, observe the
following notice to prevent damage to the system:
| NOTICE: Make sure that all other
system cables are connected before connecting the computer to its electrical outlet. |
- Small flat-blade screwdriver
- Wide flat-blade screwdriver
- #1 and #2 Phillips-head screwdrivers
- 1/4-inch nut driver
- Tweezers or long-nose pliers
- Wrist grounding strap
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| 1 |
Release latch |
| 2 |
Computer cover |
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To remove the computer cover, perform the following steps.
| NOTICE: To avoid inadvertently damaging the
system board, be sure you that disconnect the system from the electrical outlet,
disconnect the power cable from the back of the chassis, and press the power button before
removing the computer cover. This system continues to receive a small amount of power when
the system is turned off and attached to an electrical outlet (the system-board power
indicator is on when power is detected). |
- Face the front of the chassis. Place your left hand on the left side
of the chassis. Push back the release latch at the top back edge of the chassis to release
the computer cover into your left hand.
- Lift the cover out from the curves at the bottom of the chassis.
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CAUTION: To prevent cuts, keep
your hands clear of the metal edges on the chassis and fan guard as you slide the cover
back. |
To replace the computer cover, perform the following steps:
- Check all cable connections, especially those that might have come
loose during your work. Fold cables and unused connectors out of the way so that they do
not catch on the computer cover or interfere with airflow inside the computer.
- Check to see that no tools or extra parts (including screws) are left
inside the computer.
- Place the chassis upright with the front facing you. Align the
computer cover so that its bottom hooks fit in the chassis curves.
- Lift up the cover, making sure to keep the bottom hooks aligned with
the curves in the chassis.
- Gently squeeze the right and left sides of the computer together
until the cover clicks into position.
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| 1 |
Release latch |
| 2 |
Power supply |
| 3 |
Cable retainer |
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- Remove the computer cover.
- Lay the computer on its side.
- Press the release latch while lifting the power supply. Rotate the
power supply out of the chassis while keeping the power cables clear.
- When you rotate the power supply back into the chassis, gently lift
the cable retainer and hold the drive cables out of the way.
- Rotate the power supply into position until its release latch clicks.
- Wrap the drive cables along the top of the latch in the retainers, as
shown in the following figure.
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| 1 |
Cable retainer |
| 2 |
Drive power cables |
| 3 |
Power supply |
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| 1 |
Bezel release tab |
| 2 |
Retaining hooks |
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To remove the bezel, perform the following steps:
- Remove the computer cover.
- While facing the front of the computer, press in the bezel release
tab the top of the chassis.
- Swing the bezel away from the chassis, disengage the two retaining
hooks at the bottom of the bezel, and carefully pull it away from the chassis.
- To replace the bezel, fit the two bezel retaining hooks into their
corresponding slots on the chassis. Rotate the bezel toward the chassis until the bezel
latches into position.
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| 1 |
Insert |
| 2 |
Tabs (2) |
| 3 |
Release tab |
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To remove a 3.5-inch insert, perform the following steps:
- Remove the bezel.
- From the back of the bezel, press the release tab to the side.
- Rotate the insert toward you, and remove it from the bezel.
To remove the upper 3.5-inch drive plate and install a new drive,
perform the following steps:
- Remove the bezel.
- Remove the 3.5-inch front
panel insert.
- Rotate the power supply away
from the system board. While holding the power supply, place the computer in the upright
position.
- Remove the metal plate covering the bay by using a screwdriver to pop
out the metal plate from the left or right side of the chassis.
- Remove the extra rails from the inside front of the chassis.
- Install the rails on the sides of the drive.
The rails are marked “L” for installation on the left side of the drive and
“R” for the right side of the drive.
- Slide the drive assembly into the drive bay.
- Connect the power supply cable and drive interface cables to the
drive.
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| 1 |
Drive-release rail tabs (2) |
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To remove the 3.5-inch diskette drive from the lower bay, perform
the following steps:
- Remove the bezel.
- Rotate the power supply away
from the system board.
- While holding the power supply, place the computer in the upright
position.
- Disconnect the power and interface cables from the back of the
diskette drive.
- Press the two drive-release rail tabs, and slide the drive out of the
drive bay.
Before you install the new drive, install the drive-release rails on
the sides of the replacement diskette drive.
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| 1 |
Drive-release rail tabs (2) |
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To remove the 5.25-inch drive, perform the following steps:
- Remove the bezel.
- Rotate the power supply away
from the system board.
- While holding the power supply, place the computer in the upright
position.
- Disconnect the power and interface cables from the back of the drive.
- Press the two drive-release rail tabs, and slide the drive out of the
drive bay (see Figure 8).
Before you install the new drive, install the drive-release rails on
the sides of the replacement drive.
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| 1 |
Screws (2) |
| 2 |
Clip |
| 3 |
Hard-disk drive |
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To remove the primary hard-disk drive, perform the following steps:
- Remove the bezel.
- Rotate the power supply away
from the system board.
- While holding the power supply, place the computer in the upright position.
- Remove the two screws securing the hard-disk drive to the front of the
chassis.
- Release the clip that secures the drive to the chassis, and rotate the drive
out of the chassis.
- Disconnect any cables attached to the drive.
- Remove the existing drive from the bay.
To reinstall the primary hard-disk drive, perform the following
steps.
NOTICE: When you reinstall the hard-disk drive, make sure
that the control panel wires are not caught underneath the hard-disk drive.
- Orient the new drive with its circuit board facing the
front of the chassis.
- Press the drive between the two brackets until the drive
is secured by the clip.
- Secure the drive to the front of the chassis with the two
screws you removed.
- Connect the power supply cable and the hard-disk drive interface
cable to the new drive.
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| 1 |
Power-supply retaining clips |
| 2 |
Power supply and fan assembly |
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To remove the power supply and fan assembly, perform the following
steps:
- Disconnect the AC power cable from the computer.
- Remove the computer cover.
- Rotate the power supply
away from the system board.
- Disconnect the DC power cables from the POWER and OPTIONAL
POWER connectors on the system
board.
- Disconnect the DC power cables from all the drives.
- Press the power-supply retaining clips and lift the power supply and
fan assembly out of the chassis.
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| 1 |
Control panel assembly |
| 2 |
Mounting tabs |
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To remove the control panel, perform the following steps:
- Remove the bezel.
- Disconnect the control panel from the system board.
- Press the mounting tabs to release the control panel and remove the
control panel assembly.
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| 1 |
Card-edge connector |
| 2 |
Expansion card |
| 3 |
Expansion-card connector |
| 4 |
Expansion-card mounting bracket and screw |
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To install an expansion card, perform the following steps:
- Remove the computer cover.
- Rotate the power supply.
- Choose an expansion-card connector for the card.
- Unscrew and remove the metal filler bracket that covers the card-slot
opening for the expansion slot you intend to use.
- Insert the expansion card firmly into the expansion-card connector.
Align the cutouts in the card-edge connector with the
crossbars in the expansion card connector. Gently rock the connector until it is
fully seated.
- When the card is firmly seated in the connector, secure the
card-mounting bracket with the screw you removed.
To remove an expansion card, perform the following steps:
- Remove the computer cover.
- Rotate the power supply.
- Disconnect any cables connected to the card.
- Remove the screw from the card-mounting bracket.
- Grasp the card by its top corners, and ease it out of its connector.
- If you are removing the card permanently, install a metal filler
bracket over the empty card-slot opening in the chassis.
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NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty
card-slot openings is necessary to maintain Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
certification of the system. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer. |
To remove a dual in-line memory module (DIMM), press down and out on
the securing clips at each end of the socket. The DIMM should pop up allowing you to lift
it out of the socket.
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| 1 |
Securing clips (2) |
| 2 |
Cutout |
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To install a DIMM, perform the following steps:
- Remove the computer cover.
- Rotate the power supply.
- Press outward on the securing clips at each end of the DIMM socket to
release the clips (step 1 in the preceding figure).
- Align the cutouts on the edge connector of the DIMM with the
crossbars in the central groove of the socket (step 2 in the preceding figure).
- Insert the DIMM straight down into the socket, making sure that it
fits into the vertical guides in the clips at each end of the socket (step 3 in the
preceding figure).
- Press firmly until the DIMM snaps into place.
| NOTICE: Do not press near the
middle of the DIMM. Doing so could break the module. |
If you have inserted the DIMM correctly, the tabs on the securing
clips will snap into the cutouts at each end of the DIMM.
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| 1 |
Heat sink and fan assembly |
| 2 |
Heat-sink securing clip |
| 3 |
Microprocessor |
| 4 |
Microprocessor socket |
| 5 |
Heat-sink securing tab |
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The heat sink in your system will be one of those pictured in the
preceding figure. To remove and replace the microprocessor and heat sink, perform the
following steps:
- Remove the computer cover.
- Rotate the power supply.
- Locate the microprocessor socket on the system board.
- Release the metal clip that secures the heat sink and fan assembly to
the microprocessor socket. Then remove the heat sink and fan assembly from the
microprocessor chip.
Disconnect
the fan from the system board. - Remove and replace the
microprocessor chip from the socket.
- Unpack the heat sink and fan assembly included in your upgrade kit.
NOTICE: Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of
the computer.
- Peel the release liner from the adhesive tape that is attached to the bottom of the heat
sink and fan assembly.
- Replace the heat sink and fan assembly by performing the following steps:
NOTICE: When you install the heat sink and fan assembly, make sure that the
heat sink is flat against the surface of the processor while you are installing the clip.
If the heat sink becomes tilted when you install the clip, excess heat can damage the
processor.
- Place the heat sink and fan assembly on top of the microprocessor chip.
- Orient the securing clip and hook the shorter side of the clip over the tab on the top
edge of the microprocessor socket.
- Press down on the top to the fan to snap the clip over the tab on the bottom edge of the
microprocessor socket.
- Connect the fan to the system board.
- Replace the computer cover, and then
reconnect your computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets and turn them on.
As the system boots, it detects the presence of the new microprocessor and
automatically changes the system configuration information in the system setup program.
- Enter the system setup program,
and confirm that the Processor Type and Processor Speed
options correctly identify the newly installed microprocessor.
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| 1 |
Microprocessor chip |
| 2 |
Release lever |
| 3 |
Microprocessor socket |
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NOTICE: Be careful not to bend any of the pins when you remove the
microprocessor chip from its socket. Bending the pins can permanently damage the
microprocessor chip.
Your microprocessor socket is a zero insertion force (ZIF) socket with a lever-type
handle that secures the chip in (or releases it from) the socket.
- To remove the chip, pull the microprocessor-socket release lever out to unlock it and
then straight up until the chip is released.
- Remove the chip from the socket. Leave the release lever extended so that the socket is
ready for the new microprocessor.
NOTICE: Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of
the computer.
NOTICE: Be careful not to bend any of the pins when you unpack the
microprocessor. Bending the pins can permanently damage the microprocessor.
- Unpack the new microprocessor.
If any of the pins on the chip appear to be bent, obtain technical assistance.
- Align the pin-1 corner of the microprocessor chip with the pin-1 corner of the
microprocessor socket, as shown in the following figure.
|
NOTE: You must identify the pin-1 corner to correctly
position the chip. |
The pin-1 corner of the microprocessor is the beveled corner. The pin-1 corner of the
socket, labeled "1," is the front-left corner of the socket as you face the back
of the computer.
 |
| 1 |
Pin-1 corners of chip and socket aligned |
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- Install the microprocessor chip in the socket (as shown in the preceding figure) by
performing the following steps.
NOTICE: You must position the microprocessor chip correctly in the socket to
avoid permanent damage to the chip and the computer when you turn on the system.
- If the release lever on the microprocessor socket is not all the way out, move it to
that position now.
- With the pin-1 corners of the chip and socket aligned, align the pins on the chip with
the holes in the socket.
- Set the chip lightly in the socket and make sure that all pins are headed into the
correct holes. Because your system uses a ZIF microprocessor socket, you do not need to
use force, which could bend the pins if the chip is misaligned. When the chip is
positioned correctly, press it with minimal pressure to seat the microprocessor in the
socket. Be careful not to bend the pins.
- When the chip is fully seated in the socket, pivot the microprocessor-socket release
lever back toward the socket until it snaps into place, securing the chip.
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| 1 |
Battery |
| 2 |
Battery socket |
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CAUTION: There is a danger of the new battery
exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or
equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the
manufacturer's instructions. |
To remove the 3-volt (V), CR2032 coin-cell battery, perform the following steps:
- Make a copy of the screens in the system setup program. Enter the system setup program, and print
(by pressing the <Print Screen> key) or copy the system configuration information
from the system setup screens.
- Remove the computer cover.
- Rotate the power supply.
- Pry the battery out of its socket with your fingers or with a blunt,
nonconductive object such as a plastic screwdriver.
To replace the battery, perform the following steps:
- Install the new battery with the "+" side facing up.
- Rotate the power supply back into place, replace the computer cover,
and reconnect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets and turn them on.
- Reboot the computer system, press <Del> when the blue Dell logo
screen appears to enter the system setup program, and restore the correct settings.
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| 1 |
System-board retaining clip |
| 2 |
System board |
| 3 |
Standoffs |
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- If possible, enter the
system setup program and print the system setup screens by pressing the <Print
Screen> key before you turn off the computer because you will have to restore the
configuration information after the system board is replaced.
- Remove the computer cover.
- Remove the power supply.
- Disconnect any cables connected to expansion cards, and remove these expansion cards.
- Disconnect all internal cables from the system board.
- Remove the
heat sink assembly.
- Remove the
microprocessor.
- Remove the DIMMs.
- Push the system-board retaining clip until it disengages.
- Slide the system board forward until is no longer held by the
standoffs that secure the system board to the chassis.
|
NOTE: You may need to slide the board toward the
front of the computer to clear the hooked standoffs before you can lift the board from the
computer. |
- Carefully lift the system board out of the input/output (I/O) gasket and remove
the board from the computer. The I/O gasket is on the back of the computer where all of
the input and output ports are located (see the system board).
When you install a replacement system board, angle the back of
the board downward and carefully align the connectors on the back edge of the board with
the cutouts in the I/O gasket. When properly aligned, the board connectors slide into the
I/O gasket as you lower the board into position in the chassis and reseat it on the
standoffs. Lock the board in place with the system-board retaining clip.
After you install the replacement system board, replace the microprocessor, the heat sink, the DIMMs,
and the expansion cards that you removed from the old
system board.
To configure the system after you install a replacement board,
perform the following steps:
- Install the jumper plug on pins 2 and 3 of configuration jumper J7A1 to
select Maintenance mode operation.
- Replace the computer cover, and start the system.
The computer automatically starts the system
setup program, adds the Maintenance option to the menu bar, and
displays the Maintenance screen.
- Select Clear All Passwords, and press <Enter>
twice.
- Press <F10> to exit the system setup program and save any
changes you made.
- Turn off the system, remove the computer cover, and replace the
jumper plug on pins 1 and 2 of configuration
jumper J7A1 to select Normal mode operation.
- Replace the cover, and start the system.
- Re-enter the
system setup program, and reset the system configuration information.
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