Cleaning Your Computer

Dell™ Latitude™ D530 User's Guide

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

Computer, Keyboard, and Display

CAUTION: Before you clean your computer, disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and remove any installed batteries. Clean your computer with a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners, which may contain flammable substances.

Use a can of compressed air to remove dust from between the keys on the keyboard.

NOTICE: To avoid damaging the computer or display, do not spray cleaning solution directly onto the display. Only use products specifically designed for cleaning displays, and follow the instructions that are included with the product.

Moisten a soft, lint-free cloth with either water or a display cleaner, and wipe the display until it is clean.
Moisten a soft, lint-free cloth with water and wipe the computer and keyboard. Do not allow water from the cloth to seep between the touch pad and the surrounding palm rest.

Touch Pad

Shut down and turn off your computer (see Turning Off Your Computer).
Disconnect any attached devices from the computer and from their electrical outlets.
Remove any installed batteries (see the Service Manual for your system on support.dell.com).
Moisten a soft, lint-free cloth with water, and wipe it gently across the surface of the touch pad. Do not allow water from the cloth to seep between the touch pad and the surrounding palm rest.

Floppy Drive

NOTICE: Do not attempt to clean drive heads with a swab. You might accidentally misalign the heads which prevents the drive from operating.

Clean your floppy drive using a commercially available cleaning kit. These kits contain pretreated floppy disks to remove contaminants that accumulate during normal operation.

CDs and DVDs

NOTICE: Always use compressed air to clean the lens in the CD/DVD drive, and follow the instructions that come with the compressed-air product. Never touch the lens in the drive.

If you notice problems, such as skipping, with the playback quality of your CDs or DVDs, try cleaning the discs.

Hold the disc by its outer edge. You can also touch the inside edge of the center hole.

NOTICE: To avoid damaging the surface, do not wipe in a circular motion around the disc.

With a soft, lint-free cloth, gently wipe the bottom of the disc (the unlabeled side) in a straight line from the center to the outer edge of the disc.

For stubborn dirt, try using water or a diluted solution of water and mild soap. You can also purchase commercial products that clean discs and provide some protection from dust, fingerprints, and scratches. Cleaning products for CDs are also safe to use on DVDs.

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