1Working on Your ComputerBefore Working Inside Your ComputerUse the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help toensure your personal safety. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure included in this document assumesthat 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 removalprocedure in reverse order.WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped withyour computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory ComplianceHomepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_complianceCAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should onlyperform troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or asdirected by the online or telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that isnot authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty. Read and follow the safety instructionsthat came with the product.CAUTION: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap orby periodically touching an unpainted metal surface, such as a connector on the back of thecomputer.CAUTION: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contactson a card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as aprocessor 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 cableitself. 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, keepthem 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 inthis document.To avoid damaging your computer, perform the following steps before you begin working inside thecomputer.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).3. If the computer is connected to a docking device (docked) such as the optional Media Base orBattery Slice, undock it.5