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Removing and Replacing Parts: Dell™ Dimension™ 8100 System Reference

Overview 5.25-Inch Drive
Precautionary Measures Hard Drives
Recommended Tools Fan Assembly
Cover Card Guide Assembly
Front Panel Control Panel Board
Power Supply Cards
AGP Card Brace Memory
Drive Cage Socketed Microprocessor
5.25-Inch Front-Panel Insert Battery
3.5-Inch Floppy Drive System Board

Overview

Unless otherwise noted, each of the following procedures assumes:

Precautionary Measures

Before you remove or replace parts in the computer, read the following caution for your personal safety and to prevent damage to the computer from ESD.

caution.gif (709 bytes) CAUTION FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF THE EQUIPMENT.

Before you start to work on the computer, perform the following steps in the sequence listed:

  1. Turn off your computer and all devices.

  2. 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.

  1. 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.

  2. Disconnect the power cable to your computer, and then press the power button to ground the system board.

After you remove or replace parts in the computer, observe the following notice to prevent damage to the computer.

NOTICE: Make sure that all other system cables are connected before connecting the computer to its electrical outlet.

Recommended Tools

Cover

coverrls.gif (22923 bytes)
1 Back of computer
2 Padlock ring


To remove the cover:

  1. Turn off the computer and peripherals, and disconnect them from their electrical outlets.

  2. If installed, remove the padlock from the padlock ring on the back panel.

  3. Face the back of the computer, and slide the outer padlock ring to the left to unlock the cover release mechanism.

  4. Press the cover release button located at the bottom-left corner of the front panel.

  5. Rotate the bottom of the cover outward and lift it away from the computer.

    coverrmv.gif (21655 bytes)
    1 Cover release button
    2 Cover
  1. Turn the computer on its right side before you begin working inside the computer.

To replace the cover:

  1. Check all cable connections and fold the cables out of the way so that they do not catch on the computer cover. Ensure that cables are not routed over the drive cage–they will prevent the cover from closing properly.

  2. Ensure that no tools or extra parts (including screws) are left inside the computer.

  3. Hold the cover at a slight angle as shown in the following figure. While aligning the top of the cover with the top of the computer, insert the three hooks on the cover into the three recessed slots on the computer.

    coverrpl.gif (25673 bytes)
    1 Hooks (3)
    2 Recessed slots (3)
  4. Rotate the cover downward toward the bottom of the computer. With both hands, press against the bottom edge of the cover to ensure that the securing hooks at the bottom of the cover click into place.

    caution.gif (709 bytes) CAUTION: To prevent cuts, keep your hands clear of the metal edges on the computer and fan guard as you slide the cover back.
  1. Slide the two parts of the padlock ring together to lock the cover release mechanism.

Front Panel

bezelRMV.gif (28859 bytes)
1 Front-panel release button
2 Retaining hooks (2)
3 Retaining slots (2)

To remove the front panel:

  1. Remove the computer cover.

  2. Release the front panel by pressing the green front-panel release button.

  3. While pressing the front-panel release button, rotate the top of the panel outward, away from the computer.

  4. Lift the panel away from the computer.

To replace the front panel:

  1. Fit the two front-panel retaining hooks (see the previous figure) into the recessed slots at the bottom of the computer.

  2. Rotate the top of the panel toward the computer until the front-panel latches snap into the tabs on the front of the computer.

Power Supply

pwrotate.gif (27140 bytes)
1 Power supply
2 Power cable
3 Release tab
4 Securing tab

To remove the power supply:

  1. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, and wait at least 5 seconds. Press and release the power button to drain the power from the computer, and then remove the computer cover.

  2. Make sure that the power cable is disconnected from the power receptacle on the back of the power supply.

  3. Free the power supply from the securing tab by pressing the release tab. Then rotate the power supply upward until it locks in its extended position.

  4. Press and release the power button to drain the power from the computer.

When you have finished accessing the components on the system board, rotate the power supply back to its original position until the release tab snaps into the securing tab.

AGP Card Brace

HINT: The AGP card brace is not present on systems that use an AGP card clip.
1 AGP card brace
2 Screw
3 AGP card
4 AGP retention lever
5 Tab
6 Slot
caution.gif (709 bytes) CAUTION: The AGP bar is spring-loaded and can spring out when the screw is removed.

To remove the AGP card brace:

  1. Remove the screw that secures the AGP card brace to the computer.

  2. Rotate the brace up until it disengages from the slot at the front of the computer. Then lift the brace away from the computer.

To replace the AGP card brace:

  1. Insert the tab on one end of the brace into the slot at the front of the computer.

  2. Lower the brace, ensuring that the AGP retention lever on the bottom of the brace is aligned with the top of the AGP card.

  3. Replace the screw that secures the brace to the computer.

Drive Cage

drvcgermv.gif (28042 bytes)
1 Slide rail
2 Hinge slots (3)
3 Hinge tabs (3)
4 Sliding tab
5 Screw
6 Drive cage

To remove the drive cage:

  1. Gently remove the power cable from the drive(s) located inside the drive cage.

  2. Remove the hard-drive ribbon cable using the pull tab located on the ribbon.

  3. Remove the screw that secures the drive cage to the computer.

  4. Grasp the drive cage and rotate it outward from the computer until the sliding tab clears the slide rail on the computer.
  1. Lift the drive cage up slightly to free its hinge tabs from the hinge slots.

5.25-Inch Front-Panel Inserts

1 Front panel
2 5.25-inch inserts (2)

To remove the 5.25-inch front panel inserts:

  1. Remove the front panel.

  2. From the front of the panel, push the insert(s) out through the back of the panel by gently pressing on each side simultaneously.

Reinstall the insert by pressing it firmly into the slot from which it came. The insert will snap when it is correctly fitted into the slot.

3.5-Inch Floppy Drive

3-5drrmv.gif (13839 bytes)  
1 Drive-release tab

To remove the 3.5-inch drive:

  1. Remove the computer cover.

  2. Remove the front panel.

  3. Disconnect the power and interface cables from the back of the floppy drive.

  4. Press the drive-release tab, and slide the drive out of the drive bay.

Before you install the new drive, transfer the drive-release tabs to the replacement floppy drive.

5.25-Inch Drive

drivermv.gif (16186 bytes)
1 5.25-inch drive
2 Bracket tabs (2)

To remove the 5.25-inch drive:

  1. Remove the front panel.

  2. Remove the cables attached to the back of the drive.

  3. Press the two bracket tabs on each side of the drive, and pull the drive straight out.

When you replace a drive, set the jumpers on the replacement drive to match the jumpers on the drive you removed. For additional information about jumper settings on EIDE drives, see "EIDE Subsystem."

Hard Drives

hdd-ins.gif (16953 bytes)
1 Drive bracket
2 Hard drive
3 Screws (4)

To remove a hard drive:

  1. Remove the cover.

  2. Remove the front panel.

  3. Gently remove the power cable from the drive.

  4. Remove the hard-drive ribbon cable using the pull tab located on the ribbon.

  5. Remove the single screw that secures the drive cage to the computer.

  6. Rotate the cage upward just past a 90-degree angle, and slide the cage toward the top of the computer to release it.

  7. Support the hard drive with one hand while removing the four screws that connect the hard drive to the drive cage.

  8. Gently grasp the hard drive at the end with the cable connections and pull it from the drive cage.

To add an additional drive:

  1. Insert the hard drive into the drive cage.

  2. Align the hard-drive screw holes on the drive cage where it is marked HD2.

  3. Secure the hard drive to the drive cage with the four screws that came with the hard drive.

  4. Align the drive cage tabs with the notches on the computer and rotate the drive cage back down in to the computer.

    wpe4.jpg (1184 bytes) HINT: Match the notch, but do not force the drive cage down in to the computer..
  1. Insert the screw that connects the drive cage to the computer.
caution.gif (709 bytes) CAUTION: Be sure not to catch your fingers in the pinch points of the optical cage.
  1. Reattach the cable(s); drive 1 to the first cable and drive 2 to the second cable.

    wpe4.jpg (1184 bytes) HINT: The cables are labeled HDD1 and HDD2.
  1. Replace the power cable (2 cables if there are 2 drives).

When you replace a hard drive, set the jumpers on the replacement drive to match the jumpers on the drive you removed. For additional information about jumper settings on EIDE drives, see "EIDE Subsystem."

As you insert the replacement hard drive into the drive bracket, make sure that the two bracket tabs fit into the mounting holes on the side of the drive.

When you reinstall the hard drive assembly, make sure that the rails on the assembly slide into the grooves of the card guide assembly.

Fan Assembly

fan-rmv.gif (19652 bytes)
1 Fan cable
2 Fan assembly
3 Release tab

To remove the fan assembly:

  1. Disconnect the fan cable from the FAN connector on the system board.

  2. Press the release tab and lift the fan assembly out of the computer.

Card Guide Assembly

crdguide.gif (18991 bytes)
1 Outer tab
2 Card guide assembly

To remove the card guide assembly:

  1. Disconnect any cables connected to full-length cards, and remove these cards.

  2. Remove the 3.5-inch floppy drive.

  3. Remove the primary hard drive.

  4. Remove the secondary hard drive if one is present.

  5. Disconnect the control panel cable from the NIC connector on the system board.

  6. Press the outer tab to release the card guide assembly, and pull the card guide assembly out of the computer.

Control Panel Board

cntrlpnl.gif (16987 bytes)
1 Control panel
2 Screw
3 Control panel connector

To remove the control panel board:

  1. Remove the front panel.

  2. Remove the hard drive.

  3. Remove the card cage.

  4. Remove the speaker cable.

  5. Detach the control panel from the system board.

  6. Slide the ribbon cable under the bridge and remove it from the cable retaining clips.

  7. Remove the single screw on the control panel board.

  8. Remove the control panel cable from the board.

  9. Press the mounting tab to release the control panel board from the card guide assembly, and remove the control panel board.

Cards

exp-crd.gif (21215 bytes)
1 Card connector
2 Edge connector
3 Card
4 Card bracket
5 Screw
6 Card guide

To remove a card:

  1. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, and wait at least 5 seconds. Press and release the power button to drain the power from the computer, and then remove the computer cover.

  2. If you are removing an AGP card that uses an AGP card brace, remove the AGP card brace. 

  3. If necessary, remove any cables connected to the card.

  4. Remove the screw that secures the card bracket to the computer.

  5. If you removing an AGP card that uses an AGP card clip, release the AGP card from the AGP clip. 
  6. Grasp the card by its top corners, and ease it out of its connector.

  7. If you are removing the card permanently, install a filler bracket in the empty card-slot opening, using the screw you removed in step 4.

    wpe4.jpg (1184 bytes) HINT: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC certification of the computer. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of the computer.
  1. If you removed the AGP card brace, replace it.

  2. Replace the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

  3. If you removed a sound card, enter the system setup program, select Integrated Devices and change the setting for Sound to On.

To replace or install a card:

  1. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, and wait at least 5 seconds. Press and release the power button to drain the power from the computer, and then remove the computer cover.

  2. If you are replacing or installing an AGP card that uses an AGP card brace, remove the AGP card brace. 

  3. Prepare the card for installation.

    See the documentation that came with the card for information on configuring the card, making internal connections, or otherwise customizing it for the computer.

  4. Remove the screw that secures the slot filler bracket to the computer, and remove the bracket from the computer.

    Save the screw to use when installing the card later in this procedure.

    bracket.gif (5717 bytes)
    1 Screw
    2 Filler bracket
    caution.gif (709 bytes) CAUTION: Some network cards automatically start up the computer when they are connected. To guard against electrical shock, be sure to unplug the computer from its electrical outlet before installing any cards. Verify that the standby power LED on the system board is off.

  5. If you are removing an AGP card that uses an AGP card brace, remove the AGP card brace.

  6. Insert the card's edge connector into the card connector.

    If the card is full-length, insert the card bracket into the card guide as you lower the card toward its connector on the system board. Insert the card firmly into the card connector on the system board.

If you are installing an AGP card that uses an AGP card clip, secure the card with the AGP card clip. 

  1. Secure the card bracket to the computer with the screw you removed in step 4.

  2. Connect any cables that should be attached to the card.

  3. If you removed the AGP card brace, replace it.

  4. Replace the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

  5. If you installed a sound card, enter the system setup program, select Integrated Devices and change the setting for Sound to Off.

Memory

dimm-ins.gif (18485 bytes)
1 Securing clips (2)
2 Memory module
wpe4.jpg (1184 bytes) HINT: If you upgrade the memory, the RIMMs must be upgraded in matched pairs of identical MB capacity in both sockets 1 and 2 or sockets 3 and 4.

wpe4.jpg (1184 bytes) HINT: Be sure to install RIMMs in the first two sockets nearest the processor before installing RIMMs in the outer two sockets.

wpe4.jpg (1184 bytes) HINT: RIMM slots without memory modules need to be populated with continuity modules.

To remove a memory module:

Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory connector until the memory module disengages from the connector.

To add a memory module:

  1. Remove the computer cover.

  2. Rotate the power supply.

  3. Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory connector.

  4. Align the notches on the bottom of the module with the crossbars in the connector.

    wpe4.jpg (1184 bytes) HINT: To avoid breaking the memory module, do not press near the middle of the module.
  1. Insert the module straight down into the connector, making sure that it fits into the vertical guides at each end of the connector. Press firmly on the ends until the memory module snaps into place.

    If you insert the module correctly, the securing clips snap into the cutouts at each end of the module.
wpe4.jpg (1184 bytes) HINT: To avoid breaking the memory module, do not press near the middle of the module.

Socketed Microprocessor

shroud.gif (23486 bytes)
1 Fan shroud tabs (2)
2 Shroud (your shroud may look slightly different than the illustration)
3 Microprocessor
4 Heat sink

NOTICE: Do not perform this procedure unless you are upgrading the installed socketed processor and heat sink assembly with an upgrade kit. Do not reuse the installed heat sink when replacing the socketed processor. Doing so can cause the microprocessor to overheat because of an inadequate amount of thermal compound between the heat sink assembly and the socketed processor.

caution.gif (709 bytes) CAUTION: The socketed processor and heat sink can get extremely hot during computer operation. Be sure that the assembly has had sufficient time to cool before you touch it.

caution.gif (709 bytes) CAUTION: When handling the socketed processor and heat sink assembly, take care to avoid sharp edges on the heat sink.

To remove a socketed processor from the ZIF socket connector:

  1. Remove the computer cover.

  2. Remove the fan shroud by pressing its two tabs and gently lifting the shroud until it clears the fan and heat sink assemblies. Set the shroud aside.
  1. Remove the fan assembly.

  2. Remove the metal retaining clips that secure the heat sink assembly to the socketed processor by gently pushing down on the folded part of the retaining clip with a small screwdriver.

    The retaining clip hooks over tabs on the sides of the ZIF socket connector.
htsnkrmv.gif (26325 bytes)
1 Retaining clip
2 Heat sink assembly
3 ZIF socket connector

caution.gif (709 bytes) CAUTION: The socketed processor and heat sink assembly can get extremely hot. To avoid burns, be sure that the processor and assembly have had sufficient time to cool before you touch them.
  1. Remove the heat sink assembly from the socketed processor.

NOTICE: Be careful not to bend any of the pins when you remove the socketed processor from the ZIF socket connector. Bending the pins can permanently damage the microprocessor.

  1. Detach and lift the socketed processor away from the ZIF socket connector.

    The ZIF socket connector has a lever-type handle that secures and releases the socketed processor from the ZIF socket connector.

    1. Pull the socket release lever straight out until the socketed processor releases.

    2. Remove the socketed processor from the socket connector.

    Leave the release lever extended so that the socket connector is ready for the installation of a socketed processor.

proc-rmv.gif (9326 bytes)
1 Socketed processor
2 Socket release lever

To replace the socketed processor and heat sink assembly:

  1. Unpack the new socketed processor.

NOTICE: You must position the socketed processor correctly in the ZIF socket connector to avoid permanent damage to the microprocessor and the computer when you turn on the computer.

  1. Install the socketed processor in the ZIF socket connector.

    1. If the release lever on the ZIF socket connector is not all the way out, move it to that position now.

    2. Align pin 1 (the beveled corner) of the socketed processor and pin 1 of the ZIF socket connector.

    3. Set the socketed processor lightly in the socket, making sure that all the pins are headed into the correct holes.

      Because your computer uses a ZIF socket connector, there is no need to use force (which could bend the pins if the socketed processor is misaligned).

    4. When the socketed processor is positioned correctly, press it with minimal pressure to fully seat it in the ZIF socket connector.

    5. When the socketed processor is fully seated, pivot the release lever back toward the system board until it snaps into place, securing the microprocessor.
proc-ins.gif (26197 bytes)
1 Socketed processor
2 Socket release lever
  1. Unpack the heat sink included in your upgrade kit.

NOTICE: Do not reuse the old heat sink when replacing the socketed processor. Doing so can cause the microprocessor to overheat because of an inadequate amount of thermal compound between the heat sink assembly and the microprocessor package.

  1. Replace the heat sink assembly.

    1. Peel the release liner from the adhesive tape that is attached to the bottom of the new heat sink assembly.

    2. Place the heat sink assembly on top of the socketed processor.

    3. Orient the metal retaining clip, and hook the unhinged end of the clip over the tab on the top edge of the ZIF socket connector.

    4. Press down on the hinged end of the clip to snap the clip over the tab on the bottom edge of the ZIF socket connector.
  1. Replace the fan assembly.

  2. Place the fan shroud over the fan assembly and heat sink assembly. Then gently press down the shroud until the two fan shroud tabs snap into the two slots on top of the fan assembly.
  1. Replace the computer cover, and reconnect the computer to an electrical outlet.

  2. Insert a floppy disk of the Dell Diagnostics into the floppy drive, and restart the computer. Run the System Set test group in the Dell Diagnostics.

If the tests do not complete successfully, see "Contacting Dell" in the Solutions Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Battery

batery.gif (8103 bytes)  
1 Battery
2 Battery socket

caution.gif (709 bytes) 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-V, CR2032 coin-cell battery:

wpe4.jpg (1184 bytes) HINT: Dell recommends that you write down the system configuration information in the system setup program screens for future reference.
  1. Remove the computer cover.

NOTICE: Do not use a metal object to remove the battery from the socket when you perform the next step. A metal object may short out the battery or the socket and damage the system board.

NOTICE: If you pry out the battery with a blunt object, insert the object between the battery and the socket. Otherwise, you may damage the system board by prying off the socket or by breaking circuit traces on the system board.

  1. Pry the battery out of its socket (labeled BATTERY) with your fingers or with a blunt, nonconductive object such as a plastic screwdriver.

To replace the battery:

  1. Install the new battery with the "+" side facing up.

  2. Start the system setup program, and reset the System Date and System Time settings.

  3. Compare the system configuration settings and restore any system configuration information that was lost when you replaced the battery.

System Board

sysbrdrm.gif (15860 bytes)
1 System board
2 System-board mounting screw

To remove the system board:

  1. If possible, enter the system setup program and write down the system setup program screen information before you turn off the computer because you will have to restore the configuration information after the system board is replaced.

  2. Disconnect any cables attached to the back of the computer.

  3. Disconnect any cables connected to cards, and remove these cards.

  4. Disconnect all internal cables from the system board.

  5. Remove the socketed processor and heat sink assembly.

  6. Remove the system-board mounting screw from the system board.
  1. Slide the system board toward the front of the computer until it stops.

  2. Carefully lift the system board out of the computer (be sure to lift evenly and not twist the system board).

To replace the system board:

  1. Transfer the memory modules and the microprocessor/heat sink assembly to the new system board.

  2. Set the jumpers on the new system board so that they are identical to those on the old board.

  3. Push down near each slot to connect the grounding clip onto its corresponding tab.

  4. Push evenly on both sides of the system board as you slide and lock it into position (do not twist the system board).

  5. Replace the system-board mounting screw.

  6. Reconnect all internal cables to the system board.

  7. Reconnect any cables connected to cards.

  8. Reconnect any cables attached to the back of the computer.

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