NOTICE: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your
computer. Damage or inoperability due to servicing not authorized by Dell is
not covered by your warranty.
HINT: Unless otherwise
noted, each procedure in
this document assumes
that a part can be
replaced by performing
the removal procedure in
reverse order.
NOTICE: To dissipate any static electricity while you work, periodically touch
an unpainted metal surface on the surface of the computer, such as the I/O
panel on the back of the computer chassis.
NOTICE: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the
components or contacts on a card. Hold a card by it edges or by its metal
mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a microprocessor by its edges,
not by its pins.
To avoid damaging the computer, perform the following steps before
you begin working inside the computer.
Make sure that the work surface is clean to prevent scratching the
computer cover.
Save any work in progress and close all open programs.
HINT: Make sure the
computer is turned off and
not in standby or
hibernate mode. If you
cannot shut down the
computer using the
computer's operating
system, press and hold the
power button for 4
seconds.
Turn off the computer and all attached devices.
Make sure the computer is not connected to a port replicator.
Disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet.
NOTICE: To avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 10 to 20
seconds before you disconnect any attached devices.
Disconnect all external cables and attached devices from the
computer.
Remove any installed PC Cards or plastic blanks from the PC Card
slot.
Close the display and turn the computer upside down on a flat work
surface.
Remove the battery from the battery bay.
NOTICE: To avoid damaging the system board, you must remove the battery
before you service the computer.
Before removing and replacing components, photocopy the screw placemat as a tool to help keep track of the screws. The placemat provides the number of screws and the sizes.
NOTICE: When reinstalling a screw, you must use a screw of the correct
diameter and length. Make sure that the screw is properly aligned with its
corresponding hole, and avoid over tightening.
NOTICE: To avoid damaging the system board, you must remove the battery
before you service the computer.
NOTICE: Make sure that the work surface is clean to prevent scratching the
computer cover.
NOTICE: The disk drive is very sensitive to shock. Handle the assembly by its
edges (do not squeeze the top of the hard drive case), and avoid dropping it.
Close the display, turn the computer upside down on a flat work
surface, and remove the battery.
Remove the device from the media bay.
Push the module latch toward the right side of the computer. Keep
holding the latch open while pulling the device out of the media bay
with the other hand.
NOTICE: Disconnect the computer and attached devices from electrical
outlets and remove any installed battery.
NOTICE: To avoid possible damage to the memory module from ESD, ground
yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an
unpainted metal surface on the computer.
HINT: Memory modules
are keyed, or designed to
fit into their connectors,
in only one direction.
If you only have one memory module, install it in the connector
labeled "DIMM A." If you have two memory modules, install the
second module in the connector labeled "DIMM B."
Insert the memory module's edge connector with the slot at a 45-
degree angle, and press the memory module firmly into the slot.
Pivot the memory module down until it clicks into place. If you do not
hear a click, remove the module and reinstall it.
Insert the metal tabs on the memory module cover into the bottom
case assembly. Rotate the cover down and replace the screw.
NOTICE: Disconnect the computer and attached devices from electrical
outlets and remove any installed battery.
NOTICE: To avoid ESD, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or
by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer.
You must remove the optional Mini PCI card assembly before the system board assembly can be removed. A Mini PCI card assembly may consist of a modem or a modem and network adapter combination. A modem or modem and network adapter combination must be connected to the wiring harness as appropriate.
Remove the 6-mm screws that secures the flex cable to the strain relief,
and then use the pull loop to remove the flex cable from the system
board.
NOTICE: When reconnecting the flex cable, press down on both ends of the
connector, not in the middle. Pressing the middle of the connector can damage
fragile components.
Open the display and remove the two screws (marked with a "circle
D") that secure the display assembly to the bottom case assembly.
With the display in an upright position, lift the display assembly from
the bottom case assembly.
Use a scribe to pry loose the four rubber screw covers located across the
top of the bezel.
Remove the four 4-mm screws located across the top of the bezel.
Use a scribe at the indentations to pry loose the two rubber screw
covers located at the bottom of the bezel.
Remove the two 4-mm screws located at the bottom of the bezel.
Separate the bezel from the display-assembly top cover.
The bezel is secured to the display assembly top cover with plastic tabs around the sides. Use a plastic scribe to help separate the bezel from the top cover.
Remove the screw securing the flex cable to its strain relief, and then
use the pull loop to remove the flex cable from the system board.
NOTICE: When reconnecting the flex cable, press down on both ends of the
connector, not in the middle. Pressing the middle of the connector can damage
fragile components.
Use a scribe to pry loose the four rubber screw covers located across the
top of the bezel.
Remove the four 4-mm screws located across the top of the bezel.
Use a scribe at the indentations to pry loose the two rubber screw
covers located at the bottom of the bezel.
Remove the two 4-mm screws located at the bottom of the bezel.
Separate the bezel from the display-assembly top cover.
The bezel is secured to the display assembly top cover with plastic tabs around the sides. Use a plastic scribe to help separate the bezel from the top cover.
Remove the screw securing the flex cable to its strain relief, and then
use the pull loop to remove the flex cable from the system board.
NOTICE: When reconnecting the flex cable, press down on both ends of the
connector, not in the middle. Pressing the middle of the connector can damage
fragile components.
Remove the screw securing the flex cable to its strain relief, and then
use the pull loop to remove the flex cable from the system board
memory cache card.
NOTICE: When reconnecting the flex cable, press down on both ends of the
connector, not in the middle. Pressing the middle of the connector can damage
fragile components.
NOTICE: To ensure maximum cooling for the microprocessor, do not touch
the heat transfer areas on the thermal cooling assembly. The oils in your skin
reduce the heat transfer capability of the thermal pads.
Insert a pry stick into the latch mechanism at the left side of the
microprocessor retaining clip, and pry open the clip.
NOTICE: To ensure maximum cooling for the microprocessor, do not touch
the heat transfer areas on the thermal cooling assembly. The oils in your skin
reduce the heat transfer capability of the thermal pads.
Remove the microprocessor module.
NOTICE: When removing the microprocessor module, pull the module
straight up. Do not bend the pins.
Loosen the microprocessor socket cam lock screw. The location of
the screw and the rotation direction may vary with the socket
manufacturer; look for small icons indicating open and locked
positions.
Use the microprocessor extraction tool to remove the
microprocessor module.
To remove the microprocessor module, pull the module straight up.
Do not bend the pins.
NOTICE: After replacing the microprocessor module, update the BIOS using
a flash BIOS update program floppy disk or CD that came with the
replacement microprocessor.
NOTICE: Proper seating of the microprocessor module does not require force.
NOTICE: A microprocessor module that is not properly seated can result in
an intermittent connection and subsequent failures.
Align the pin-1 triangle on the microprocessor toward the pin-1
triangle in the socket, insert the microprocessor into the socket, and
move it around slightly until you feel it settle into the socket.
When the microprocessor module is correctly seated, all four corners are aligned to the same height. If one or more corners of the module are higher than the others, the module is not seated correctly.
Tighten the cam lock screw.
NOTICE: Do not over or under tighten the screw. Tighten it until the screw
indicator points to the "closed" or "locked" indicator on the socket.
Replace the microprocessor thermal cooling assembly.
While pressing lightly down on the center of the retaining clip, insert a
pry stick into the latch mechanism and pivot the top of the pry stick
away from the clip to close the latch.
Keep the display open, and tilt the computer back so that you can
access the bottom of the computer.
Slide and hold the latch release on the left side, and remove any device
installed in the media bay.
Slide and hold the latch release on the right side, and remove any
battery installed in the battery bay.
Locate the indentation under each palm rest insert, place your thumbs
on the indentation, and gently push to release the palm rest inserts.
Remove the palm rest inserts.
To replace a palm rest insert, align it with the slots on the computer.
Then press along the outside edges of the palm rest insert until it
snaps into place.
NOTICE: Disconnect the computer and attached devices from electrical
outlets and remove any installed battery.
NOTICE: To avoid ESD, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or
by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer.
The system board's BIOS contains the system service tag number, which is also visible on a bar-code label on the bottom of the computer. The replacement kit for the system board assembly includes a floppy disk or CD that provides a utility for transferring the service tag number to the replacement system board assembly.
NOTICE: After replacing the microprocessor module, update the BIOS using
a flash BIOS update program floppy disk or CD that came with the
replacement microprocessor.
Remove a latch button from the bottom case assembly by squeezing
the snap tabs in the center of the latch.
Apply downward pressure to the tabs while squeezing them together (tweezers work well) to eject the latch button from the bottom of the case without loosening the upper latch assembly (spring and slider). If the upper latch assembly does come loose:
Reinsert the spring onto the slider, and reinstall both pieces in the
latch housing on the inside of the case.
Ensure that the slider is inserted so that the side with the two
bumps is facing the back of the case, and the surface with the wear
ribs is facing the bottom of the case.
Hold the upper latch assembly in place while you snap the new latch
button in from underneath the base, making certain the snap tabs are
fully engaged in the slider.
Ensure that the newly installed latch assembly moves smoothly and
freely when pushed and released.
Remove the three 4-mm screws from the fan assembly.
Disconnect the two fan cables from the system board.
Pull the fan assembly away from the back-panel bracket.
NOTICE: When reconnecting the fan cables, connect the shorter cable to the
connector closest to the fan assembly. Route both cables so that they will not be
pinched by the thermal cooling assembly.
Remove one or both of the plastic connector covers (one or both of the
covers may be installed) by slipping a nonmarring tool into the cutout
at the top and pivoting the tool up to disengage the inner securing tab.
To replace a connector cover, orient the cover notch-side-up and snap it into the connector cutout.
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