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Drives

Dell™ Inspiron™ 535/537/545/546 Service Manual

  Removing a Hard Drive

  Replacing a Hard Drive

  Removing a Media Card Reader

  Replacing a Media Card Reader

  Removing an Optical Drive

  Replacing an Optical Drive

WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.

WARNING: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the cover.

WARNING: Do not operate your equipment with any cover(s) (including computer covers, bezels, filler brackets, front-panel inserts, etc.) removed.

Removing a Hard Drive

CAUTION: If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data that you want to keep, back up your files before you begin this procedure.

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover).
   
   
3. Disconnect the power cable and the data cable from the hard drive.
   
   

NOTE: If you are not replacing the hard drive at this time, disconnect the other end of the data cable from the system board and set it aside. You can use the data cable to install a hard drive at a later time.

NOTE: The location and number of SATA connectors may vary based on your computer model. For more information, see System Board Components.

1	screws (4)	2	power cable
3	data cable	4	SATA connector (on the system board)

CAUTION: Ensure that you do not scratch the screw holes with the screwdriver as the hard disk circuit board assembly is exposed here.

4. Remove the four screws securing the hard drive.
   
   
5. Slide the drive out towards the back of the computer.
   
   
6. If removing the hard drive changes the drive configuration, ensure that you reflect these changes in system setup (see System Setup).
   
   
7. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
8. Connect the computer and other devices to an electrical outlet.
   
   

Replacing a Hard Drive

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover).
   
   
3. Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer.
   
   
4. Slide the hard drive into the hard drive bay.
   
   
5. Align and replace the four screws that secure the hard drive to the hard drive bay.
   
   
6. Connect the power and data cables to the hard drive.
   
   
7. Connect the data cable to the system board connector.
   
   
8. Check all cables to be certain that they are properly connected and firmly seated.
   
   
9. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
10. Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.
    
    
11. See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.
    
    
12. Check the System Setup for drive configuration changes (see Entering System Setup).
    
    

Removing a Media Card Reader

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover).
   
   
3. Remove the bezel (see Removing the Front Bezel).
   
   

1	power cable	2	FlexBay USB cable	3	media card reader (not present on all computers)
4	custom screws (2)	5	USB connector (on the system board)

4. Disconnect the FlexBay USB cable and the power cable from the back of the media card reader.
   
   

NOTE: If you are not replacing the media card reader at this time, disconnect the other end of the FlexBay USB cable from the system board and set it aside. You can use the FlexBay USB cable to install a media card reader at a later time.

NOTE: The location of the internal USB connector may vary based on your computer model. For more information, see System Board Components.

5. Remove the two screws securing the media card reader.
   
   
6. Slide the media card reader out through the front of the computer.
   
   
7. Replace the bezel (see Replacing the Front Bezel).
   
   
8. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
9. Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.
   
   

Replacing a Media Card Reader

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover).
   
   
3. Remove the bezel (see Removing the Front Bezel).
   
   
4. If this is a new media card reader installation, remove the break-away metal plate. Align the tip of a Phillips screwdriver with the slot on the break-away metal plate and rotate the screwdriver outwards to break and remove the metal plate.
   
   

5. Gently slide the media card reader into place in the FlexBay slot.
   
   
6. Align the screw holes in the media card reader with the screw holes in the FlexBay slot.
   
   
7. Replace the two screws that secure the media card reader to the FlexBay slot.
   
   

NOTE: Ensure that the media card reader is installed before the FlexBay USB cable is connected.

8. Connect the FlexBay USB cable and power cable to the back of the media card reader.
   
   
9. Connect the FlexBay USB cable to the internal USB connector on the system board (see System Board Components).
   
   
10. Replace the bezel (see Replacing the Front Bezel).
    
    
11. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
    
    
12. Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.
    
    

Removing an Optical Drive

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover).
   
   
3. Remove the bezel (see Removing the Front Bezel).
   
   
4. Disconnect the power cable and the data cable from the back of the optical drive.
   
   

NOTE: If you are not replacing the optical drive at this time, disconnect the other end of the data cable from the system board and set it aside. You can use the data cable to install an optical drive at a later time.

NOTE: The location and number of SATA connectors may vary based on your computer model. For more information, see System Board Components.

1	power cable	2	data cable	3	optical drive
4	custom screws (2)	5	SATA connector (on the system board)

5. Remove the two screws securing the optical drive.
   
   
6. Slide the optical drive out through the front of the computer.
   
   
7. Replace the bezel (see Replacing the Front Bezel).
   
   
8. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
9. Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.
   
   
10. Configure the drives in system setup (see System Setup Options).
    
    

Replacing an Optical Drive

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover).
   
   
3. Remove the bezel (see Removing the Front Bezel).
   
   
4. Gently slide the optical drive into place.
   
   
5. Align the screw holes in the optical drive with the screw holes in the optical drive bay.
   
   
6. Replace the two screws that secure the optical drive to the optical drive bay.
   
   
7. Connect the power and data cables to the optical drive.
   
   
8. Replace the bezel (see Replacing the Front Bezel).
   
   
9. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
10. Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
    
    

See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.

11. Check the System Setup for drive configuration changes (see Entering System Setup).
    
    

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