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  Drives

Drives

Your computer supports:

• One SATA hard drive
  
  
• One floppy drive or Media Card Reader
  
  
• One SATA optical drive
  
  

1

FlexBay for floppy drive or Media Card Reader

2

optical drive

3

hard drive

General Installation Guidelines

1. Connect a SATA hard drive to the connector labeled "SATA0" on the system board (see System Board Components).
   
   
2. Connect the SATA optical drive to the connector labeled "SATA1" on the system board.
   
   

Connecting Drive Cables

When you install a drive, you connect two cables—a DC power cable and a data cable—to the back of the drive.

Drive Interface Connectors

Serial ATA Connector

1

interface cable connector

2

interface connector

Interface connectors are keyed for correct insertion.

NOTICE: Inserting a cable incorrectly prevents the drive from operating and could damage the controller, the drive, or both.

Power Cable Connectors

Serial ATA Power Connector

1

power cable

2

power input connector

Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables

When connecting and disconnecting a SATA data cable, hold the cable by the black connector at each end.

Hard Drive

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

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

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the drive, do not set it on a hard surface. Instead, set the drive on a surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

Removing a Hard Drive

1. If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep, back up your files before you begin this procedure.
   
   
2. Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer.
   
   
3. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
4. Lay the computer on its side so that the system board is on the bottom of the inside of the computer.
   
   
5. Press in on the two blue securing tabs on each side of the drive and slide the drive up and out of the computer.
   
   

NOTICE: Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables. Doing so may cause damage to cables and the cable connectors.

6. Lift the drive out of the computer, careful not to pull the cables still attached to it.
   
   

1

securing tabs (2)

2

hard drive

7. Disconnect the power and data cable from the drive.
   
   

1

power cable

2

SATA data cable

3

fan cable

8. Disconnect the hard drive fan from the system board.
   
   

Installing a Hard Drive

1. Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer.
   
   

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the drive, do not set it on a hard surface. Instead, set the drive on a surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

2. Unpack the replacement hard drive, and prepare it for installation.
   
   
3. If your replacement hard drive does not have the plastic drive bracket attached, remove the bracket from the existing drive by unsnapping it from the drive.
   
   

1

release tabs (2)

2

drive

3

hard drive bracket

4. Connect the hard drive fan to the system board (see System Board Components).
   
   
5. Connect the power and data cables to the drive.
   
   

1

power cable

2

SATA data cable

3

fan cable

6. Gently position the drive until it clicks into place.
   
   

1

release tabs (2)

2

hard drive

7. Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and firmly seated.
   
   
8. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
9. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, insert bootable media into your boot drive.
   
   
10. Turn on the computer.
    
    
11. Enter system setup (see Entering System Setup) and update the appropriate Primary Drive option (0 or 2).
    
    
12. Exit system setup, and reboot the computer.
    
    
13. Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step.
    
    

For instructions, see the documentation that came with your operating system.

14. Test the hard drive by running the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
    
    
15. Install your operating system on the hard drive.
    
    

For instructions, see the documentation that came with your operating system.

Replacing a Hard-Drive Fan

1. Follow the instructions in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the hard drive (see Removing a Hard Drive).
   
   
3. Turn the hard drive upside down, so that the hard-drive fan is visible in the bottom of the drive bracket.
   
   
4. To remove the hard-drive fan:
   
   
   1. Lift the release tab on the back panel of the fan.
      
      
   2. Rotate the fan in the opposite direction from that indicated by the arrow on the back panel of the fan.
      
      
   3. Lift to remove the fan and its back panel from the hard-drive bracket.
      
      

1	fan release tab	2	fan with fan back panel	3	power cable
4	hard-drive bracket

5. To replace the hard-drive fan:
   
   
   1. Turn the fan upside-down, so that its backing faces up and align the triangle on the fan's back panel with the corresponding triangle on the back of the hard-drive bracket.
      
      
   2. Rotate the fan and its backing in the direction of the arrow on the fan's back panel.
      
      
6. Install the hard drive (see Installing a Hard Drive).
   
   

Optical Drive

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

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

Removing an Optical Drive

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Lay the computer on its side so that the system board is on the bottom of the inside of the computer.
   
   

NOTICE: Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables. Doing so may cause damage to cables and the cable connectors.

3. Pull up on the drive release latch and slide the drive towards the back of the computer. Then lift up to remove the drive from the computer.
   
   

1

drive release latch

2

optical drive

4. Disconnect the power and data cable from the back of the drive.
   
   

1

optical drive

2

data cable

3

power cable

Installing an Optical Drive

1. Unpack the drive and prepare it for installation.
   
   
2. Check the documentation that accompanied the drive to verify that the drive is configured for your computer.
   
   
3. Connect the power and data cable to the drive.
   
   

1

optical drive

2

data cable

3

power cable

4. Gently position the drive until it clicks into place.
   
   

5. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.
   
   
6. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
7. See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.
   
   
8. Enter system setup and select the appropriate Drive option (see Entering System Setup).
   
   
9. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
   
   

Floppy Drive and Media Card Reader

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

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

Removing a Floppy Drive or Media Card Reader

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Lay the computer on its side so that the system board is on the bottom of the inside of the computer.
   
   
3. Remove the optical drive and carefully set it aside (see Optical Drive).
   
   

NOTICE: Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables. Doing so may cause damage to cables and the cable connectors.

4. If you are removing a floppy drive, pull up the cable release tab to unlock it.
   
   
5. Gently lift the data cable from the floppy data cable edge connector.
   
   

1

cable release tab

2

data cable edge connector

6. If you are removing a Media Card Reader, disconnect the data cable.
   
   
7. If you are removing the Media Card Reader, remove the hard drive (see Removing a Hard Drive).
   
   
8. Disconnect the data cable from the system board.
   
   

1

Media Card Reader data cable

9. Pull up on the drive release latch and slide the floppy drive or Media Card Reader towards the back of the computer. Then lift up to remove the drive or Media Card Reader from the computer.
   
   

Installing a Floppy Drive or Media Card Reader

1

floppy drive or Media Card Reader

2

screws (3)

3

bracket rails (3)

1. If you are:
   
   
   • Installing a new floppy drive or Media Card Reader, remove the drive panel insert
     
     
   • Replacing a drive, remove the floppy drive or Media Card Reader (see Floppy Drive and Media Card Reader).
     
     
2. Align the screws on the drive or Media Card Reader with the bracket slots in the computer, and gently position the drive until it clicks into place.
   
   
3. If you are installing:
   
   
   • A floppy drive: insert the data cable into the cable release tab on the floppy drive and press down on the tab until it clicks to lock it in place.
     
     
   • A Media Card Reader: insert the cable into the connector on the Media Card Reader.
     
     
4. If you are installing:
   
   
   • A floppy drive: insert the data cable into the connector on the system board.
     
     

1

cable release tab

2

floppy drive data cable edge connector

• A Media Card Reader: remove the hard drive (see Removing a Hard Drive) and connect the cable to the system board connector labeled "USB1 (see System Board Components).
  
  

1

media card reader data cable

5. Replace the optical drive (see Optical Drive).
   
   
6. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.
   
   
7. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
8. Enter system setup and use the Diskette Drive option to enable your new floppy drive (see System Setup).
   
   

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

9. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
   
   

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