Removing and Replacing Parts: Dell™ Inspiron™ 3500 Portable Computer System
Reference
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CAUTION FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF THE
EQUIPMENT Before you start to work on the computer, perform the
following steps in the sequence indicated:
- Ground yourself by attaching an antistatic grounding strap to your wrist and to
an unpainted metal surface on the computer’s I/O panel. If an antistatic grounding
strap is not available, periodically discharge static electricity from your body by
touching one of the connectors on the I/O panel.
- Turn off the computer and any attached peripherals.
- Disconnect the computer and any attached peripherals from electrical outlets to
reduce the potential for personal injury or shock.
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You must also take the following steps:
- If the computer is docked in a port replicator, undock the computer.
- Disconnect all other external cables from the computer.
- Remove any installed PC Cards.
- Remove any devices from the media bay.
- Remove the battery from the battery bay.
- Remove the hard-disk drive.
The preceding steps are described in detail in Procedures for
Customer-Replaceable Parts.
Procedures for Customer-Replaceable Parts
To disconnect the computer from the AC adapter and port replicator, and to remove the
main battery, PC Cards, hard-disk drive, RAM door, memory modules, and device in the media
bay, perform the following steps.
 |
NOTE: The following procedures can be performed by customers as
well as Dell-certified repair technicians. |
- Determine the power state of the computer.
If the computer is on, go to step 2.
If you are unsure whether the computer is on, press the power button to shut down
and restart the computer, and then go to step 2.
- Turn off any attached peripherals, and then shut down the computer.
- Disconnect the computer and any attached peripherals from electrical outlets to reduce
the potential for personal injury or shock.
If the computer has an AC adapter, disconnect the AC power cable from the electrical
outlet and then from the AC adapter. Disconnect the AC adapter cable from the AC adapter
connector on the computer or on the port replicator.
 |
| 1 |
AC adapter connector |
| 2 |
AC adapter cable |
| 3 |
AC adapter |
| 4 |
AC power cable |
| 5 |
LED |
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- If the computer is connected to a port replicator, pull both release handles on the
sides of the replicator to undock the computer.
- Remove the main battery from the battery bay.
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CAUTION: The battery is designed to work with Dell Inspiron
3500 computers only. Do not use a battery from another computer with the Dell Inspiron
3500 computer. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type purchased from
Dell. Using the wrong battery type may present a risk of fire or explosion. |
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CAUTION: The battery may present a fire or chemical burn
hazard if mistreated. Do not disassemble, expose the battery to temperatures above 60�C
(140�F), or incinerate. Keep the battery away from children. Handle damaged or leaking
batteries with extreme care. If the battery is damaged, electrolytes may leak from the
cells and cause personal injury. Dispose of a used battery promptly. |
Pull the battery-bay release latch (located on the side of the computer next to the
battery bay) toward you. With your thumb, gently rotate the latch out until the battery
pops out of the bay. Grasp the battery firmly and remove.
 |
| 1 |
Battery-bay release latch (released position) |
| 2 |
Battery bay |
| 3 |
Battery |
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- Remove any PC Cards.
To remove a PC Card, use your finger to flip the eject button out so that it is
perpendicular to the computer. Push in the eject button to release the card. Gently remove
the PC Card.
- Remove the hard-disk drive.
| Type of Screw |
Torque |
| FPH 3 x 4 (1) |
2.0–2.5 kgf-cm |
NOTICE: Hard-disk drives are extremely fragile and must be handled carefully. Even a
slight jar or bump can damage the spinning heads and plates, thus rendering the drive
inoperable.
NOTICE: Hard-disk drives are extremely fragile and must be handled carefully. Even a
slight jar or bump can damage the spinning heads and plates, thus rendering the drive
inoperable.
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CAUTION: The hard-disk drive may be hot to the touch.
Do not touch the plastic carrier of the hard-disk drive if you remove the drive from the
computer when the drive is hot. |
Turn the computer over and remove the 4-mm screw securing the hard-disk drive to the
bottom of the computer. The screw has an H tooled into the plastic beside it.
Grasp the plastic tab and pull the hard-disk drive forward and out.
 |
| 1 |
Hard-disk drive |
| 2 |
4-mm screw |
|
- Remove the RAM door.
| Type of Screw |
Torque |
| FPH 3 x 4 (2) |
2.0–2.5 kgf-cm |
Remove the two 4-mm screws from the memory door (also known as the memory module
cover). Using your finger, lift the door off.
 |
| 1 |
Memory door |
| 2 |
4-mm screw |
|
- Remove the memory modules.
Carefully spread the inner plastic tabs of the memory module socket to disengage the
module from the socket. The module should pop up slightly. Gently pull the memory module
out of the socket.
 |
| 1 |
Memory module |
| 2 |
Plastic tab |
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- If present, remove the second battery, diskette drive, CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, or
Zip drive from the media bay.
Pull the media-bay release latch (located on the side of the computer next to the media
bay) toward you. With your thumb, gently rotate the latch out until the device pops out of
the bay. Grasp the device firmly and remove.
 |
| 1 |
Optional device |
| 2 |
Media-bay release latch (unlocked position) |
|
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NOTES: If the computer is booted with a diskette drive or second
battery in the media bay, you must reboot after installing another device in the media
bay. To remove the media from the CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, or Zip drive once the
power to the drive is off, insert a small, thin object (such as one end of a paper clip)
into the pinhole near or in the device’s LED. This ejects the media or the media tray
so you can retrieve the CD, DVD, or Zip disk. |
Procedures for Field- and Depot-Replaceable Parts
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CAUTION: Only a certified service technician should perform
these procedures for removal, replacement, and installation of parts. The warranty on the
computer becomes void if anyone other than a certified technician performs these
procedures. |
NOTICE: During the removal and replacement procedures, you will see Kapton tape in
many places on the computer. When reinstalling or replacing parts, be sure to replace the
Kapton tape correctly to retain the electrical protection and noise reduction the tape
provides.
Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes the following:
- You have the recommended tools.
- You have performed the steps in Precautionary Measures.
- The computer and any attached peripherals are turned off and the peripherals are
disconnected from the computer's I/O panel.
- You can replace or reinstall a part by performing the removal procedure in reverse order
unless additional information is provided.
Procedures for field- and depot-replaceable parts are described in these sections:
Recommended Tools
Most of the procedures require the use of one or more of the following tools:
- Small flat-blade screwdriver
- Number 1 Phillips-head screwdriver
- Antistatic grounding strap
- Dental pick or similar pointed instrument
- Small scribe or nylon flat blade
- Nut drivers (5 mm and 5.5 mm)
NOTICE: The correct-length screw must be used when reinstalling a screw. Otherwise,
hardware damage could result. Make sure that the screw is properly aligned with its
corresponding hole, and avoid overtightening.
Where applicable, information about screw lengths is provided with the illustrations.
The Inspiron 3500 portable computer contains many screws of various sizes. Be careful
not to scratch the computer plastic case by allowing screws to get between the disassembly
surface and the plastic case. Dell suggests a soft, padded work surface.
While removing and replacing parts, use a tackle or pill box as a storage device to
keep track of the screws. Use the following location template to store the screws during
disassembly.
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NOTE: Each removal and replacement procedure lists the type,
size, and torque value of screws removed during the procedure. Screw types include flat
head (FLH), flat pan-head (FPH), pan head (PNH), and jack screws. |
NOTICE: ZIF connectors are fragile. To avoid breaking the connectors, touch them
carefully. Do not apply too much pressure to the movable part of the connector when
opening or closing it.
Some of the computer’s interface connectors are ZIF connectors. These connectors
are not removable; they must be released to disconnect a cable from them.
To disconnect a cable from a ZIF connector, perform the following steps:
- Insert a small flat-blade screwdriver or dental pick under the movable part of the
connector.
For most ZIFs, carefully pry up one end of the movable part of the connector and then the
other end. Some ZIFs may need to be lifted in the center.
- Pull up gently on the movable part of the connector until the cable is released.
- Grasp the cable and pull it out of the connector.
To reconnect an interface cable to a ZIF connector, perform the following steps:
- Use the flat-blade screwdriver or dental pick to open the movable part of the ZIF
connector.
- Orient the end of the cable with the ZIF connector, and insert the end of the cable into
the connector.
- While holding the cable in place, close the ZIF connector.
To ensure a firm connection, make sure the ZIF connector is completely closed.
