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Working on Your Computer
Before Working Inside Your Computer
Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help to ensure your
personal safety. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure included in this document assumes that the following
conditions exist:
• You have read the safety information that shipped with your computer.
• A component can be replaced or--if purchased separately--installed by performing the removal procedure in
reverse order.
WARNING: 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
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.
CAUTION: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically
touching an unpainted metal surface, such as a connector on the back of the computer.
CAUTION: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a card. Hold a
card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a processor by its edges, not by its
pins.
CAUTION: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its pull-tab, not on the cable itself. Some
cables have connectors with locking tabs; if you are disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs
before you disconnect the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any
connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, ensure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
NOTE: The color of your computer and certain components may appear differently than shown in this document.
To avoid damaging your computer, perform the following steps before you begin working inside the computer.
1. Ensure that your work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer cover from being scratched.
2. Turn off your computer (see Turning Off Your Computer).
CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug the
cable from the network device.
3. Disconnect all network cables from the computer.
4. Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.
5. Press and hold the power button while the computer is unplugged to ground the system board.
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