This chapter provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist:
You have read the safety information in your Dell Product Information Guide.
A component can be replaced—or if purchased separately—installed by performing the removal procedure in reverse order.
Recommended Tools
The procedures in this document may require the following tools:
Small flat-blade screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver
Small plastic scribe
Flash BIOS update (see the Dell Support website at support.dell.com)
Turning Off Your Computer
NOTICE: To avoid losing data, save and close any open files and exit any open programs before you turn off your computer.
Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.
Click Start , click the arrow , and then click Shut Down.
The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process finishes.
Ensure that the computer and any attached devices are turned off. If your
computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you
shut down your operating system, press and hold the power button for at
least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off.
Before Working Inside Your Computer
Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help ensure your own personal safety.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
CAUTION: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a processor by its edges, not by its pins.
NOTICE: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty.
NOTICE: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strain-relief loop, not on the cable itself. Some cables have a connector with locking tabs; if you are disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before you disconnect the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, ensure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on the back of the computer).
NOTICE: To help prevent damage to the computer, perform the following steps before you begin working inside the computer.
Ensure that the work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer
cover from being scratched.
NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer, and then unplug it from the network wall jack.
Disconnect any telephone or network cables from the computer.
Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.
NOTICE: To help prevent damage to the system board, you must remove the battery from the battery bay before you service the computer.
NOTE: To avoid damage to the computer, use only the battery designed for this particular Dell computer. Do not use batteries designed for other Dell computers.
Turn the computer over.
Slide the battery release latch toward the side of the computer until it is
engaged.
Slide the battery out of the battery bay.
1
battery release latch
2
battery
Turn the computer top-side up, open the display, and press the power
button to ground the system board.
CAUTION: If you remove the hard drive from the computer when the drive is hot, do not touch the metal housing of the hard drive.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
NOTICE: To prevent data loss, turn off your computer (see Turning Off Your Computer) before removing the hard drive. Do not remove the hard drive while the computer is on or in Sleep state.
NOTICE: Hard drives are extremely fragile. Exercise care when handling the hard drive.
NOTE: Dell does not guarantee compatibility or provide support for hard drives from sources other than Dell.
Turn the computer over and remove the two hard drive screws.
1
screws (2)
2
hard drive
NOTICE: When the hard drive is not in the computer, store it in protective antistatic packaging (see "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the Product Information Guide).
Slide the hard drive out of the computer.
Replacing the Hard Drive
Remove the new drive from its packaging.
Save the original packaging for storing or shipping the hard drive.
NOTICE: Use firm and even pressure to slide the drive into place. If you use excessive force, you may damage the connector.
Slide the hard drive into the bay until it is fully seated.
Using a plastic scribe, push the notch to release the optical drive from the bay.
Slide the optical drive out of the bay.
1
locking screw
2
notch
3
optical drive
Replacing the Optical Drive
Slide the optical drive into the bay.
Replace and tighten the locking screw.
Hinge Cover
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on the back of the computer).
NOTICE: To help prevent damage to the system board, you must remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on the back of the computer).
NOTICE: To help prevent damage to the system board, you must remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer.
NOTICE: The key caps on the keyboard are fragile, easily dislodged, and time-consuming to replace. Be careful when removing and handling the keyboard.
Lift the keyboard and hold it up and slightly forward to access to the
keyboard connector.
To disconnect the keyboard cable from the keyboard connector on the
system board, rotate the keyboard connector latch toward the front of the
computer.
Slide the keyboard cable out of the keyboard connector.
1
screws (2)
2
keyboard
3
keyboard tabs (5)
4
keyboard cable
5
keyboard connector latch
Replacing the Keyboard
Slide the keyboard cable into the keyboard connector.
Rotate the keyboard connector latch to secure the cable.
Hook the tabs along the front edge of the keyboard into the palmrest.
Press on the right edge near the top to snap the keyboard into place.
Replace the two screws on the top of the keyboard.
Memory
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
You can increase your computer memory by installing memory modules on the system board. See Specifications for information on the memory supported by your computer. Install only memory modules that are intended for your computer.
NOTE: Memory modules purchased from Dell are covered under your computer warranty.
Your computer has two user-accessible SODIMM sockets, DIMM A and DIMM B, accessed from the bottom of the computer.
NOTICE: If you need to install memory modules in two connectors, install a memory module in the connector labeled "DIMMA" before you install a module in the connector labeled "DIMMB."
Removing Memory Module
The memory modules are located under the memory module cover on the bottom of the computer.
Turn the computer upside-down, loosen the eight captive screws on the
cover (see Bottom View), and remove the cover.
1
cover
2
captive screws (5)
NOTICE: To prevent damage to the memory module connector, do not use tools to spread the memory module securing clips.
NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on the back of the computer).
Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end
of the memory module connector until the module pops up.
Remove the module from the connector.
1
securing clips (2)
2
memory module
Replacing Memory Module
NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on the back of the computer).
Align the notch in the module edge connector with the tab in the
connector slot.
Slide the module firmly into the slot at a 45-degree angle, and rotate the
module down until it clicks into place. If you do not feel the click, remove
the module and reinstall it.
NOTE: If the memory module is not installed properly, the computer may not boot. No error message indicates this failure.
1
tab
2
notch
NOTICE: If the cover is difficult to close, remove the module and reinstall it. Forcing the cover to close may damage your computer.
Replace the memory module cover.
Insert the battery into the battery bay, or connect the AC adapter to your
computer and an electrical outlet.
Turn on the computer.
As the computer boots, it detects the additional memory and automatically updates the system configuration information.
To confirm the amount of memory installed in the computer, click Start ® Help and Support® Dell System Information.
Subscriber Identity Module (Optional)
Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM) identify users uniquely through an International Mobile Subscriber Identity.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
NOTE: Only GSM (HSDPA) type cards need a SIM. EVDO cards do not use a SIM.
Loosen the eight captive screws securing the cover and remove the cover.
1
cover
2
captive screws (5)
Disconnect the antenna cables from the Mini-card.
NOTE: The Mini-card may have two or three connectors, depending on the type of card you ordered.
1
antenna cable connectors
2
securing screw
Release the Mini-card by removing the securing screw.
Lift the card out of its system board connector.
1
Mini-card
Replacing Mini-Card
NOTICE: The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion. If you feel resistance, check the connectors on the card and on the system board, and realign the card.
NOTICE: To avoid damage to the Mini-card, never place cables under the card.
Insert the card connector into the system board connector at a 45-degree angle.
Press the other end of the card down into the slot on the system board
until the card clicks into place.
Replace the securing screw.
Connect the cables to the Mini-Card, ensuring that you route the cables
correctly.
NOTE: For more specific information about which cable to connect to which connector, see the documentation that came with your Mini Card.
Secure unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve.
Replace the cover and tighten the eight captive screws.
Flash Cache Module
The Flash Cache Module or FCM, is an internal memory card that helps improve the performance of your computer. The FCM card is also known as Intel Turbo Memory and the Intel Flash Cache Logic Chip Mini-card.
NOTE: This card is only compatible with the Microsoft Windows Vista™ operating system and Intel platform.
If you ordered an FCM with your computer, it is already installed.
Turn the computer over and remove the cover on the Mini Card
compartment.
Ground yourself by touching one of the metal connectors on the back of
the computer.
NOTE: If you leave the area, ground yourself again when you return to the computer.
Remove the M2 x 3-mm securing screw.
Remove the FCM.
1
FCM Card
2
M2 x 3-mm securing screw
Replacing the FCM
NOTICE: Install the FCM in the WWAN slot. Do not install an FCM in the WLAN card slot. Doing so may cause damage to your computer.
Insert the FCM connector at a 45-degree angle into the system board
connector labeled "FCM".
Press the other end of the FCM down into the slot on the system board
until the card clicks into place.
Replace the M2 x 3-mm securing screw.
Broadcom® Media PC Card
The Broadcom Media PC card is used in conjunction with blu-ray optical drives to render high definition content.
The Broadcom Media PC card can be installed either in the UWB or WWAN Mini-Card slots. You can remove and replace the Media PC card the same way you would remove or replace FCM. For more information, see Flash Cache Module.
Internal Card With Bluetooth® Wireless
Technology
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on the back of the computer).
NOTICE: To help prevent damage to the system board, you must remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer.
If you ordered a card with Bluetooth wireless technology with your computer, it is already installed.
, click the arrow 
