CAUTION: 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.
NOTE: The system does not support IDE devices.
NOTE: The 3.5-inch Media Card Reader is not interchangeable with the hard drive carrier.
Replacing a Hard Drive
NOTICE: If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep, back up your files before you begin this procedure.
Disconnect the power and data cables from the 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.
1
power cable
2
hard drive cable
Press in on the tabs on each side of the drive and slide the drive up and out.
1
tabs (2)
2
hard drive
If removing this drive changes the drive configuration, you must ensure
that the changes are reflected in the BIOS. When you restart your
computer, enter system setup (see System Setup). On the setup screen go
to the "Drives" section and set the SATA ports (SATA 0 through 4) to
the correct configuration.
Unpack the replacement hard drive, and prepare it for installation.
Check the documentation that came with the drive to verify that the drive
is configured for your computer.
If your replacement hard drive does not have the hard-drive bracket
attached, remove the bracket from the old hard drive by unsnapping it
from the drive.
Snap the hard-drive bracket onto the replacement hard drive.
1
hard drive
2
hard-drive bracket
Install the hard drive into the computer by sliding the drive into place
until it clicks into place.
Connect the power and hard drive cables to the hard drive.
Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and
firmly seated.
Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn
them on.
If installing this drive changes the drive configuration, ensure that you
reflect these changes in the BIOS. When you restart your computer, enter
system setup (see System Setup). On the setup screen go to the "Drives"
section and set the SATA ports (SATA 0 through 4) to the correct
configuration.
See the documentation that came with the hard drive for instructions
about installing any software required for the operation of the hard drive.
Installing a Hard Drive in the FlexBay
The top FlexBay drive on your system can hold an additional hard drive.
Remove the shoulder screws from the inside of the drive-panel insert and
attach the screws to the new drive (see Replacing the Drive-Panel Insert).
Turn the FlexBay knob on the cage by 90 degrees, in the anti-clockwise
direction.
NOTICE: Ensure the FlexBay knob is turned in the anticlockwise direction, failing which can result in the knob being broken.
NOTE: Turning the FlexBay knob once opens up the drive space to accommodate a larger device like a hard drive. The knob at this stage is in a horizontal position.
Pull the sliding plate lever down and hold in place.
Slide the hard drive into the flex bay drive until the sliding plate clicks into
place and the drive snaps into position.
Attach the power and hard drive cables to the hard drive.
Disconnect the power and hard-drive cables from the back of the drive.
Pull the sliding plate down and hold in place.
Slide the hard drive out of the FlexBay.
NOTICE: Ensure the FlexBay knob is turned in the anticlockwise direction, failing which can result in the knob being broken.
Turn the FlexBay knob to its default position. See the illustration for
Installing a Hard Drive in the FlexBay to note the default FlexBay knob
position.
Grasping the lever on the sliding plate, pull the sliding plate downward
and hold in place.
NOTE: The sliding plate secures and releases the drive panel and helps to secure the drives. Push from the inside and pivot the drive panel to the left to release the panel from its side hinges.
The drive panel clicks open. Gently ease it out and set it aside in a secure
location.
To replace the drive panel:
Align the drive panel tabs with the side-door hinges.
Rotate the drive panel towards the computer until the sliding plate
lever clicks into place and the drive panel snaps into place on the front
panel.
Turn the drive panel around to find and hold both outer edges of the
drive- panel insert tab. Pull the drive-panel insert tabs inwards to ease it
out of the latches that hold it in place.
Set the drive-panel insert aside in a secure location.
To replace the drive-panel insert:
Align the notches on the drive-panel insert to the corresponding slots
on the drive panel and snap into place.
Ensure that the drive-panel insert is correctly seated in the drive panel.
Disconnect the power cable and the optical drive data cable from the back
of the drive.
NOTE: If you are uninstalling the only optical drive in your computer and will not replace it at this time, disconnect the data cable from the system board and set it aside.
1
optical drive cable
2
power cable
3
system board
Pull the sliding plate towards the bottom of the system and hold; then,
slide the drive out through the front of the computer.
Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and then
turn them on.
Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics
(see "Dell Diagnostics" in the Quick Reference Guide).
Replacing a Media Card Reader
NOTICE: Carefully note the routing of each cable before you disconnect it, so that you are sure to re-route cables correctly. An incorrectly routed or a disconnected cable could lead to computer problems.
Disconnect the USB cable from the back of the Media Card Reader.
Disconnect the other end of the cable from the USB connector
(FLEXBAY) on the system board (see System Board Components).
1
sliding plate
2
sliding plate lever
3
Media Card Reader (not present on all computers)
Pull the sliding plate towards the bottom of the system and hold; then,
slide the drive out through the front of the computer.
NOTICE: Ensure the FlexBay knob is turned in the anticlockwise direction, failing which can result in the knob being broken.
NOTE: If you have already installed an additional hard drive in the FlexBay and you want to replace it with a Media Card Reader, ensure that the FlexBay knob is rotated anticlockwise, back to its default vertical position. See the illustration for Installing a Hard Drive in the FlexBay.
