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Overview

This section provides procedures for removing and replacing the components, assemblies, and subassemblies in the Dell OptiPlex low-profile chassis GX110 system.

Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist:

• You have performed the steps in "Precautionary Measures."
  
  
• You have removed the computer cover.
  
  
• You can replace or reinstall a part by performing the removal procedure in reverse order unless additional information is provided.

Recommended Tools

Most of the procedures in this file require the use of one or more of the following tools:

• Small flat-blade screwdriver
  
  
• Wide flat-blade screwdriver
  
  
• #1 and #2 Phillips-head screwdrivers
  
  
• 1/4-inch nut driver
  

Also, use a wrist grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures."

Precautionary Measures

Before you perform any procedure in this section, take a few moments to read the following caution for your personal safety and to prevent damage to the system from ESD.

Computer Cover

To remove the low-profile chassis computer cover, perform the following steps:

1. Press in on the two securing buttons until the cover is free to swing up (see Figure 3).
   
   
2. Raise the back  of the cover, and pivot it toward the front of the computer.
   
   
3. Lift the cover off the hooks at the front of the chassis.
   
   
4. Disengage the tabs that secure the cover to the top of the chassis, and lift the cover away.
   

To remove the eject, power, and reset buttons, perform the following steps:

1. Lay the computer cover on a flat work surface, with the inside of the top cover facing up.
   
   
2. To remove the 3.5-inch diskette-drive eject button, pull gently on the plastic part of the button until it comes free.
   
   
3. To remove the power button or the reset button, use a small screwdriver and push in the two or three plastic clips that hold the button to the bezel.  When these clips are released, the buttons come free from the bezel.

Front-Panel Inserts

Figure 6.  5.25-Inch Front-Panel Insert Removal

To remove a 5.25-inch front-panel insert, perform the following steps:

1. Hold the bezel with the front facing you.
   
   
2. From the front of the top cover, use your thumbs to press inward on the insert until it snaps free of the cover.

To replace a 5.25-inch front-panel insert, position the two ring-tabs over the posts on the inside of the bay opening, and then press the ring tabs over the posts.

Control Panel

1 Control panel 2 Chassis intrusion switch

To remove the chassis intrusion switch in the low-profile chassis, perform the following steps:

1. Disconnect the chassis intrusion switch cable connector from the control panel on the front of the chassis as shown in Figure 8.
   
   
   Note the routing of the chassis intrusion cable as you remove it from the chassis. Hooks on the chassis keep the cable in place.
   
   
2. Slide the chassis intrusion switch out of its slot to remove it from the chassis (see Figure 8).
   
   
3. Install the replacement chassis intrusion switch and cable.
   
   
4. To reset the chassis intrusion detector, enter System Setup during the system's POST. In the Chassis Intrusion option, press the left- or right-arrow key to select Reset, and then choose Enabled, Enabled-Silent, or Disabled (see your User's Guide for instructions).

Drives

NOTE: In all of the following procedures, left and right refer to your left and right as you face the front of the computer.

Figure 9. Drive Locations

1 5.25-inch  drive 2 3.5-inch diskette drive 3 Hard-disk drive 4 Chassis intrusion switch

NOTE: Computer configurations differ. Your computer may have an Iomega Zip drive installed instead of a 3.5-inch diskette drive, or your computer may have no externally accessible drives installed.

3.5-Inch Diskette Drive

To remove the 3.5-inch diskette drive assembly from the drive shelf, perform the following steps:

1. Disconnect the DC power cable and the interface cable from the back of the drive.
   
   
2. Press both release latches on the left side of the 3.5-inch diskette drive.
   
   
3. Pivot the 3.5-inch diskette drive upward 1 inch (2.5 cm), and then pull the drive away from the notched tabs on the right chassis wall.
   
   
4. Remove the bracket from the diskette drive you just removed.

5.25-inch Drive

To remove the 5.25-inch drive/bracket assembly, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the diskette drive and bracket.
   
   
2. Disconnect the DC power cable and EIDE cable from the drive.
   
   
3. Lift the 5.25-inch drive/bracket straight up and out of the chassis.

Hard-Disk Drive Removal

Figure 10. Hard-Disk Drive/Bracket Assembly Removal

1 Captive screw 2 Hinge tabs on back of drive bracket (2) 3 Slots in floor divider (3)

To remove the hard-disk drive/bracket assembly, perform the following steps:

1. Disconnect the DC power cable and EIDE cable from the drive.
   
   
2. Loosen the captive screw securing the hard-disk drive/bracket to the bottom of the chassis.
   
   
3. Grasp the drive/bracket, and pivot it upward from the chassis until the two hinge tabs (located on the side opposite the screw) clear the floor divider (see Figure 10). Then lift the bracket upward and out of the chassis.

4. To remove the hard-disk drive from the bracket, place the drive/bracket on a flat surface with the bracket facing up.
   
   
5. Remove the four screws that secure the bracket to the drive.

Figure 11. Hard-Disk Drive to Bracket Installation

1 Hard-disk drive 2 Bracket 3 Screws (4)

To install a replacement hard-disk drive, perform the following steps. 

CAUTION: To avoid the possibility of electric shock, turn off the computer and any peripherals, disconnect them from electrical outlets, and then wait at least 5 seconds before you remove the computer cover. Also, before you install a drive, see the other precautions in "Precautionary Measures."

NOTICE: To avoid damaging the drive by electrostatic discharge (ESD), ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

NOTICE: When you unpack the drive, do not set it on a hard surface, which may damage the drive. Instead, set the drive on a surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

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

2. If not already done, remove the computer cover.
   
   
3. To install the hard-disk drive to the bracket, place the drive top-down on a flat surface with the bracket mounting holes facing up.
   
   
4. Position the bracket over the holes and install four screws to secure the bracket to the drive.
   
   
5. Insert the bracket's hinge tabs into the chassis slots so that the tabs hook over the slots.
   
   
6. Rotate the bracket toward the chassis floor and secure the bracket with a screw.
   
   
7. Connect a power cable to the power input connector on the back of the drive (see Figure 12).
   
   
8. Check all connectors to ensure that they are properly cabled and firmly seated.
   
   
9. Connect one of the device connectors on the EIDE cable to the 40-pin interface connector on the back of the hard-disk drive.

NOTICE: You must match the red colored stripe on the EIDE cable with pin 1 on the drive's interface connector to avoid possible damage to your system.

Figure 12. Hard-Disk Drive Cable Attachment

1 Power cable 2 EIDE interface cable 3 IDE1 connector on system board

NOTICE: You must attach the blue connector on the EIDE interface cable to the IDE1 connector on the system board to avoid possible damage to your system.

NOTICE: You must match the red colored stripe on the EIDE interface cable with pin 1 on the IDE1 connector to avoid possible damage to your system.

10. If it is not already connected, connect the blue connector on the EIDE interface cable to the IDE1 connector on the system board.
    
    To locate the IDE1 connector on the system board, see "System Board Components."
    
    
11. Replace the computer cover. Then reconnect your computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
    
    
12. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, insert a bootable diskette into drive A.
    
    
13. Turn on the computer system.
    
    
14. Enter System Setup and update the appropriate Primary Drive option, 0 or 1 (see the online System User's Guide for complete information).
    
    
15. After you update the System Setup settings, reboot the system.
    
    
16. Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step.
    
    See the documentation for your operating system for instructions.
    
    

    NOTE: On systems with hard-disk drives larger than 2 GB, create a primary partition of 2 GB and divide the remaining capacity into partitions of 2 GB or less. For example, a system with a 2.5-GB hard-disk drive would have a primary partition of 2 GB (drive C) and a second partition of 500 MB (drive D). Hard-disk drives must be partitioned this way because MS-DOS®–based operating systems (including Microsoft® Windows NT®, when using a FAT16 file system) do not support drive partitions larger than 2 GB.

17. Test the hard-disk drive by running the Dell Diagnostics (see the online System User's Guide for complete information.
    
    
18. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, install your operating system on the hard-disk drive.

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

System Power Supply

Figure 13. Power Supply Removal

1 AC power cord 2 AC power receptacle 3 Power supply 4 DC power cables 5 Securing screw

To remove the system power supply, perform the following steps:

1. Disconnect the AC power cable from the back of the power supply.
   
   
2. Disconnect the DC power cables from the system board and the drives. 
   
   Note the routing of the DC power cables underneath the tabs in the chassis as you remove them from the system board and drives. It is important to route these cables properly when you replace them to prevent them from being pinched or crimped.
   
   
3. Remove the screw below the fan guard on the back of the chassis.
   
   
4. Slide the power supply toward the front of the computer approximately 1 inch.
   
   
5. Lift the power supply up and out of the chassis. 

Expansion-Card Cage

Figure 14. Expansion-Card Cage Removal

1 Securing lever 2 Expansion-card cage 3 Slots (2) 4 Tabs (2)

To remove the expansion-card cage, perform the following steps:

1. Examine any cables connected to expansion cards through the back-panel openings and disconnect any cables that will not reach to where the cage must be placed upon removal from the chassis.

To replace the expansion-card cage into the low-profile chassis, perform the following steps:

1. With the securing lever in the upright position, align the expansion-card cage slots with the tabs in the chassis opening for the expansion-card cage (see Figure 14). Slide the expansion-card cage into place.
   
   
2. Rotate the securing lever downward until it is flush with the top of the chassis. Make sure that the riser board is fully seated in the RISER connector on the system board.
   
   
3. Reconnect any cables you removed in step 1 of the previous procedure.

Riser Board

The low-profile chassis has a PCI riser board (see Figure 15). The PCI riser board provides three PCI expansion-card slots.

Figure 15. PCI Riser Board

1 Auxiliary power indicator LED (AUX_LED) 2 Wakeup On LAN (WOL) connector 3 PCI expansion slot 1 (PCI1) 4 PCI expansion slot 2 (PCI2) 5 PCI expansion slot 3 (PCI3)

CAUTION: Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

System Board Components

Figure 16. System Board Components

1 NIC connector 2 Video connector 3 Fan power connector 4 Serial port 2 connector 5 USB connectors (2) 6 Mouse (upper) and keyboard (lower) connectors 7 Parallel port (upper) and serial port 1 (lower) connectors 8 Riser board connector 9 System board jumpers 10 IDE1 connector 11 IDE2 connector 12 Diskette/tape-drive connector 13 Battery 14 Microprocessor 15 3.3-V power connector 16 Control panel connector 17 DC power connector 18 Auxiliary power indicator 19 DIMM connectors (2)

System Board Jumpers

Figure 17. Layout of System Board Jumpers

NOTICE: Make sure your system is turned off before you change a jumper setting. Otherwise, damage to your system or unpredictable results may occur.

System Board Labels

Table 1 lists the labels for connectors and sockets on your system board, and it gives a brief description of their functions.

Table 1. System Board Connectors and Sockets

Expansion Cards

The low-profile GX110 chassis can accommodate three 32-bit PCI expansion cards. Figure 18 shows an example of a 32-bit PCI expansion card.

Figure 18. 32-Bit PCI Expansion Card Example

Expansion-Card Removal

CAUTION: Use a wrist grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures."

To remove an expansion card, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the computer cover.
   

NOTE: After you remove and replace the cover, the chassis intrusion detector will cause the following message to be displayed at the next system start-up: ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

NOTE: If a setup password has been assigned by someone else, contact your network administrator for information on resetting the chassis intrusion detector.

Expansion-Card Installation

Figure 19. Expansion-Card Installation

1 Expansion card 2 Card-edge connector 3 Riser board 4 Expansion-card connector 5 Expansion-card cage

CAUTION: Use a wrist grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures."

CAUTION: Some network cards automatically start the system when they are connected. To guard against electrical shock, be sure to unplug your computer from its electrical outlet before installing any expansion cards

To install an expansion card, perform the following steps:

1. Prepare the expansion card for installation, and remove the computer cover.
   
   See the documentation that came with the expansion card for information on configuring the card, making internal connections, or otherwise customizing it for your system.
   
   
2. Remove the screw and remove the metal filler bracket that covers the card-slot opening for the expansion-card slot you intend to use (see Figure 20).
   
   Save the screw to use when installing the expansion card later in this procedure.

Figure 20. Filler Bracket Removal

1 Filler bracket

NOTE: After you remove and replace the cover, the chassis intrusion detector will cause the following message to be displayed at the next system start-up: ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

7. To reset the chassis intrusion detector, enter System Setup during the system's POST. In the Chassis Intrusion option, press the left- or right-arrow key to select Reset, and then choose Enabled, Enabled-Silent, or Disabled.

See the User's Guide for detailed information on the chassis intrusion detector.

NOTE: If a setup password has been assigned by someone else, contact your network administrator for information on resetting the chassis intrusion detector.

DIMMs

Figure 21. DIMM Removal

1 Ejectors (2)

CAUTION: Use a wrist grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures."

To remove a DIMM, perform the following steps:

1. Push outward on the two DIMM socket ejectors simultaneously until the DIMM is released from its socket.
   
   
2. Lift the DIMM away from the socket.
   
   

Figure 22. DIMM Installation

1 Ejectors (2) 2 Notches (2)

Microprocessor/Heat Sink Assembly

Figure 23. Microprocessor/Heat Sink Removal

1 Fan 2 Guide bracket assembly 3 Guide bracket assembly latch 4 Heat sink

	CAUTION: The microprocessor SEC cartridge/heat sink assembly can get extremely hot. Be sure that the assembly has had sufficient time to cool before you touch it.
	CAUTION: Use a wrist grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures."

NOTE: Dell recommends that only a technically knowledgeable person perform this procedure.

To replace a microprocessor, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the computer cover.
   
   
2. Locate the microprocessor socket on the system board.
   
   
3. Unplug the fan power connector on the system board.
   
   
4. Disconnect the fan from the system board.
   
   
5. Remove the screws securing the fan to the end of the heat sink assembly and remove the fan.
   
   
6. Gently pull out the guide-bracket assembly latch, grasp the existing microprocessor/heat sink assembly firmly, and pull straight up to remove it from the guide bracket assembly.
   
   You must use up to 15 pounds of force to disengage the microprocessor package from the connector. Do not rock the package while removing it.
   
   
7. Attach the fan to the new microprocessor/heat sink assembly.
   
   
8. Slide the new microprocessor package into the guide bracket assembly, with the heat sink toward the front of the computer, and firmly seat the microprocessor/heat sink assembly.
   
   You must use up to 25 pounds of force to seat the new microprocessor package. Do not rock the package while inserting it into the connector.
   

System Battery

Figure 27. System Battery Removal

1 Battery 2 Socket

CAUTION: There is a danger of the new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

To remove the system battery, perform the following steps:

1. If possible, enter System Setup and print the System Setup screens.
   
   
2. Remove the system battery by carefully prying it out of its socket with your fingers or with a blunt, nonconducting object such as a plastic screwdriver.

When you replace the system battery, orient the new battery with the "+" facing up. Insert the battery into its socket and snap it into place.

System Board

Figure 28. System Board Removal

To remove the system board, perform the following steps:

1. Disconnect all cables from their connectors at the back of the computer.
   
   
2. Remove the expansion-card cage.
   
   
3. Disconnect all cables from the system board.
   
   
4. Remove the screw that secures the system board to the bottom of the chassis.
   
   
5. Slide the system board toward the front of the chassis until it stops.
   
   
6. Carefully lift the system board out of the chassis (be sure to lift evenly and not twist the system board).

To replace the system board, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the DIMMs and the microprocessor/heat sink assembly, and install them on the replacement board.
   
   
2. Set the jumpers on the new system board so that they are identical to those on the old board, unless you are installing a microprocessor upgrade.
   
   
3. Push down near each slot to engage the grounding clip onto its corresponding tab.
   
   
4. Push evenly on both sides of the system board as you slide and lock it into position (do not twist the system board).

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