1Working on Your ComputerBefore Working Inside Your ComputerUse the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help to ensure yourpersonal safety. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure included in this document assumes that the followingconditions 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 inreverse order.WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. Foradditional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_complianceCAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only performtroubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online ortelephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by yourwarranty. 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 periodicallytouching 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 acard by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a processor by its edges, not by itspins.CAUTION: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its pull-tab, not on the cable itself. Somecables have connectors with locking tabs; if you are disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabsbefore you disconnect the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending anyconnector 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).3. If the computer is connected to a docking device (docked) such as the optional Media Base or Battery Slice,undock it.CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug thecable from the network device.4. Disconnect all network cables from the computer.5. Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.7