international copyright and intellectual property laws. Dell™ and the Dell logo are trademarks
of Dell Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names
mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
2015 - 08
Rev. A00
Contents
Before working inside your computer.....................................9
Before you begin ...............................................................................................9
Flashing the BIOS.................................................................... 104
8
Before working inside your
computer
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards, handle
them by their edges and avoid touching pins and contacts.
NOTE: The images in this document may differ from your computer
depending on the configuration you ordered.
Before you begin
1 Save and close all open files and exit all open applications.
2 Shut down your computer.
– Windows 10: Click or tap Start → Power → Shut down.
– Windows 8.1: On the Start screen, click or tap the power icon →
Shut down.
– Windows 7: Click or tap Start → Shut down.
NOTE: If you are using a different operating system, see the
documentation of your operating system for shut-down
instructions.
3 Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical
outlets.
4 Disconnect all cables such as telephone cables, network cables and so
on, from your computer.
5 Disconnect all attached devices and peripherals, such as keyboard,
mouse, monitor, and so on, from your computer.
6 Remove any media card and optical disc from your computer, if
applicable.
Safety instructions
Use the following safety guidelines to protect your computer from potential
damage and ensure your personal safety.
9
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
WARNING: Disconnect all power sources before opening the
computer cover or panels. After you finish working inside the
computer, replace all covers, panels, and screws before connecting to
the power source.
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the computer, ensure that the work
surface is flat and clean.
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards, handle
them by their edges and avoid touching pins and contacts.
CAUTION: You should only perform troubleshooting and repairs as
authorized or directed by the Dell technical assistance team. Damage
due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your
warranty. See the safety instructions that shipped with the product or
at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground
yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface, such as the metal at
the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an
unpainted metal surface to dissipate static electricity, which could
harm internal components.
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 or thumb-screws that you must disengage before
disconnecting the cable. When disconnecting cables, keep them
evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. When connecting
cables, ensure that the ports and connectors are correctly oriented
and aligned.
CAUTION: Press and eject any installed card from the media-card
reader.
Recommended tools
The procedures in this document may require the following tools:
•Phillips screwdriver
10
•Plastic scribe
11
After working inside your
computer
CAUTION: Leaving stray or loose screws inside your computer may
severely damage your computer.
1 Replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside your
computer.
2 Connect any external devices, peripherals, and cables you removed
before working on your computer.
3 Replace any media cards, discs, and any other parts that you removed
before working on your computer.
4 Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical
outlets.
5 Turn on your computer.
12
Removing the base cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before working inside your computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After working inside your
computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Close the display and turn the computer over.
2 Remove the screws that secure the base cover to the base frame.
3 Using a plastic scribe, pry the base cover out of the base frame.
13
4 Slide and lift the base cover off the base frame.
1plastic scribe2screws (2)
3base cover4tabs
5base frame
14
Replacing the base cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before working inside your computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After working inside your
computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Slide the tabs on the base cover into the slots on the base frame.
2 Press down on the base cover to snap it in place.
3 Replace the screws that secure the base cover to the base frame.
15
Removing the battery
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before working inside your computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After working inside your
computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
Remove the base cover.
Procedure
1 Remove the screws that secure the battery to the base frame.
2 Lift the battery off the base frame.
1screws (2)2battery
3 Turn the computer over, open the display, and press the power button
for five seconds to ground the system board.
16
Replacing the battery
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before working inside your computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After working inside your
computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the screw holes on the battery with the screw holes on the base
frame and press down on the battery to connect it to the battery
connector.
2 Replace the screws that secure the battery to the base frame.
Post-requisites
Replace the base cover.
17
Removing the hard drive
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before working inside your computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After working inside your
computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Hard drives are fragile. Exercise care when handling the
hard drive.
CAUTION: To avoid data loss, do not remove the hard drive while the
computer is in sleep or on state.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
Procedure
1 Remove the screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the base
frame.
18
2 Gently lift the hard-drive assembly out of the base frame and disconnect
the hard-drive cable from the hard drive.
1screws (3)2hard drive
3hard-drive cable
3 Remove the screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard drive.
19
4 Lift the hard-drive bracket off the hard drive.
1screws (4)2hard-drive bracket
3hard drive
20
Replacing the hard drive
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before working inside your computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After working inside your
computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Hard drives are fragile. Exercise care when handling the
hard drive.
Procedure
1 Place the hard-drive bracket on the hard drive.
2 Align the screw holes on the hard drive-bracket with the screw holes on
the hard drive.
3 Replace the screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard drive.
4 Connect the hard-drive cable to the hard drive.
5 Place the hard-drive assembly in the base frame and align the screw
holes on the hard-drive assembly with the screw holes on the base
frame.
6 Replace the screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the base
frame.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the battery.
2 Replace the base cover.
21
Removing the wireless card
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before working inside your computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After working inside your
computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
Procedure
1 Remove the screw that secures the wireless-card bracket and the
wireless card to the system board.
NOTE: The wireless-card bracket may not be available on all
models.
2 Lift the wireless-card bracket off the wireless card.
3 Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card.
22
4 Lift and slide the wireless card out of the wireless-card slot.
1screw2wireless-card bracket
3antenna cables (2)4wireless card
5wireless-card slot
23
Replacing the wireless card
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before working inside your computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After working inside your
computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
CAUTION: To avoid damage to the wireless card, do not place any
cables under it.
1 Align the notch on the wireless card with the tab on the wireless-card
slot and slide the card into the slot.
2 Align the screw hole on the wireless card with the screw hole on the
system board.
3 Connect the antenna cables to the wireless card.
The following table provides the antenna-cable color scheme for the
wireless card supported by your computer.
Connectors on the wireless cardAntenna-cable color
Main (white triangle)white
Auxiliary (black triangle)black
4 Place the wireless-card bracket on the wireless card and align the screw
hole on the wireless-card bracket with the screw hole on the system
board.
24
5 Replace the screw that secures the wireless card and the wireless-card