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Removing and Replacing Parts: Dell™ Inspiron™ 3500 Portable Computer System Reference

Precautionary Measures Recommended Tools
Procedures for Customer-Replaceable Parts Screw Identification and Tightening
Procedures for Field- and Depot-Replaceable Parts ZIF Connectors

Precautionary Measures

CAUTION FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF THE EQUIPMENT

Before you start to work on the computer, perform the following steps in the sequence indicated:

  1. Ground yourself by attaching an antistatic grounding strap to your wrist and to an unpainted metal surface on the computer’s I/O panel. If an antistatic grounding strap is not available, periodically discharge static electricity from your body by touching one of the connectors on the I/O panel.
  2. Turn off the computer and any attached peripherals.
  3. Disconnect the computer and any attached peripherals from electrical outlets to reduce the potential for personal injury or shock.

You must also take the following steps:

  1. If the computer is docked in a port replicator, undock the computer.
  2. Disconnect all other external cables from the computer.
  3. Remove any installed PC Cards.
  4. Remove any devices from the media bay.
  5. Remove the battery from the battery bay.
  6. Remove the hard-disk drive.

The preceding steps are described in detail in Procedures for Customer-Replaceable Parts.

Procedures for Customer-Replaceable Parts

To disconnect the computer from the AC adapter and port replicator, and to remove the main battery, PC Cards, hard-disk drive, RAM door, memory modules, and device in the media bay, perform the following steps.

NOTE: The following procedures can be performed by customers as well as Dell-certified repair technicians.
  1. Determine the power state of the computer.
    If the computer is on, go to step 2.
    If you are unsure whether the computer is on, press the power button to shut down and restart the computer, and then go to step 2.
  2. Turn off any attached peripherals, and then shut down the computer.
  3. Disconnect the computer and any attached peripherals from electrical outlets to reduce the potential for personal injury or shock.
    If the computer has an AC adapter, disconnect the AC power cable from the electrical outlet and then from the AC adapter. Disconnect the AC adapter cable from the AC adapter connector on the computer or on the port replicator.
    AC Adapter
    1 AC adapter connector
    2 AC adapter cable
    3 AC adapter
    4 AC power cable
    5 LED
  4. If the computer is connected to a port replicator, pull both release handles on the sides of the replicator to undock the computer.
    Undock the Computer
    1 Release handles (2)
  5. Remove the main battery from the battery bay.
    CAUTION: The battery is designed to work with Dell Inspiron 3500 computers only. Do not use a battery from another computer with the Dell Inspiron 3500 computer. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type purchased from Dell. Using the wrong battery type may present a risk of fire or explosion.
    CAUTION: The battery may present a fire or chemical burn hazard if mistreated. Do not disassemble, expose the battery to temperatures above 60ºC (140ºF), or incinerate. Keep the battery away from children. Handle damaged or leaking batteries with extreme care. If the battery is damaged, electrolytes may leak from the cells and cause personal injury. Dispose of a used battery promptly.

    Pull the battery-bay release latch (located on the side of the computer next to the battery bay) toward you. With your thumb, gently rotate the latch out until the battery pops out of the bay. Grasp the battery firmly and remove.

    Remove the Battery
    1 Battery-bay release latch (released position)
    2 Battery bay
    3 Battery
  6. Remove any PC Cards.
    To remove a PC Card, use your finger to flip the eject button out so that it is perpendicular to the computer. Push in the eject button to release the card. Gently remove the PC Card.
    Remove PC Card
    1 PC Card
    2 Eject button
  7. Remove the hard-disk drive.
    Type of Screw Torque
    FPH 3 x 4 (1) 2.0–2.5 kgf-cm

    NOTICE: Hard-disk drives are extremely fragile and must be handled carefully. Even a slight jar or bump can damage the spinning heads and plates, thus rendering the drive inoperable.

    NOTICE: Hard-disk drives are extremely fragile and must be handled carefully. Even a slight jar or bump can damage the spinning heads and plates, thus rendering the drive inoperable.

    CAUTION: The hard-disk drive may be hot to the touch. Do not touch the plastic carrier of the hard-disk drive if you remove the drive from the computer when the drive is hot.

    Turn the computer over and remove the 4-mm screw securing the hard-disk drive to the bottom of the computer. The screw has an H tooled into the plastic beside it. Grasp the plastic tab and pull the hard-disk drive forward and out.

    Remove the Hard-Disk Drive
    1 Hard-disk drive
    2 4-mm screw
  8. Remove the RAM door.
    Type of Screw Torque
    FPH 3 x 4 (2) 2.0–2.5 kgf-cm

    Remove the two 4-mm screws from the memory door (also known as the memory module cover). Using your finger, lift the door off.

    Memory Door
    1 Memory door
    2 4-mm screw
  9. Remove the memory modules.
    Carefully spread the inner plastic tabs of the memory module socket to disengage the module from the socket. The module should pop up slightly. Gently pull the memory module out of the socket.
    Memory Module
    1 Memory module
    2 Plastic tab
  10. If present, remove the second battery, diskette drive, CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, or Zip drive from the media bay.
    Pull the media-bay release latch (located on the side of the computer next to the media bay) toward you. With your thumb, gently rotate the latch out until the device pops out of the bay. Grasp the device firmly and remove.
    Options Bay
    1 Optional device
    2 Media-bay release latch (unlocked position)
NOTES: If the computer is booted with a diskette drive or second battery in the media bay, you must reboot after installing another device in the media bay.

To remove the media from the CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, or Zip drive once the power to the drive is off, insert a small, thin object (such as one end of a paper clip) into the pinhole near or in the device’s LED. This ejects the media or the media tray so you can retrieve the CD, DVD, or Zip disk.

Procedures for Field- and Depot-Replaceable Parts

CAUTION: Only a certified service technician should perform these procedures for removal, replacement, and installation of parts. The warranty on the computer becomes void if anyone other than a certified technician performs these procedures.

NOTICE: During the removal and replacement procedures, you will see Kapton tape in many places on the computer. When reinstalling or replacing parts, be sure to replace the Kapton tape correctly to retain the electrical protection and noise reduction the tape provides.

Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes the following:

Procedures for field- and depot-replaceable parts are described in these sections:

Recommended Tools

Most of the procedures require the use of one or more of the following tools:

Screw Identification and Tightening

NOTICE: The correct-length screw must be used when reinstalling a screw. Otherwise, hardware damage could result. Make sure that the screw is properly aligned with its corresponding hole, and avoid overtightening.

Where applicable, information about screw lengths is provided with the illustrations.

The Inspiron 3500 portable computer contains many screws of various sizes. Be careful not to scratch the computer plastic case by allowing screws to get between the disassembly surface and the plastic case. Dell suggests a soft, padded work surface.

While removing and replacing parts, use a tackle or pill box as a storage device to keep track of the screws. Use the following location template to store the screws during disassembly.

NOTE: Each removal and replacement procedure lists the type, size, and torque value of screws removed during the procedure. Screw types include flat head (FLH), flat pan-head (FPH), pan head (PNH), and jack screws.
Hard-disk drive:

3 x 4 (1) (removing)
3 x 4 (1) (disassembling)

 RAM door:

3 x 4 (2)

 Display assembly:

2.5 x 19 (4)
2.5 x 5 (1)
2 x 2.5 (2)

Bezel:

2.5 x 5 (6)

 LCD interior assembly:

2.5 x 5 (2)

 LCD panel rails (13.3"):

2.5 x 5 (4)

LCD panel rails (14.1"):

2 x 4 (4)

 Diskette drive:

2.5 x 4 (2)

 CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive:

2 x 3 (3)
2.5 x 5 (2)

Iomega Zip drive:

2.5 x 5 (2)

 Keyboard:

2.5 x 16 (3)

 Infrared board:

2.5 x 5 (1)

Heat-sink fin cover:

2 x 3.5 (1)

 Processor module assembly:

2 x 14 (2)

 Fan cover:

2.5 x 5 (1)

Modem card:

2.5 x 14 (1)

 Video board:

2.5 x 4 (2)
2.5 x 14 (1)

 Palmrest:

2.5 x 19 (7)

Touch pad assembly:

2.5 x 5 (3)

 System board rails:

2.5 x 5 (2)
2.5 x 16 (1)

 DC/DC board:

2.5 x 14 (1)

PC Card cage:

2 x 14 (4)

 System board:

2.5 x 5 (1)
2.5 x 14 (1)

  

 

ZIF Connectors

ZIF Connector

NOTICE: ZIF connectors are fragile. To avoid breaking the connectors, touch them carefully. Do not apply too much pressure to the movable part of the connector when opening or closing it.

Some of the computer’s interface connectors are ZIF connectors. These connectors are not removable; they must be released to disconnect a cable from them.

To disconnect a cable from a ZIF connector, perform the following steps:

  1. Insert a small flat-blade screwdriver or dental pick under the movable part of the connector.
    For most ZIFs, carefully pry up one end of the movable part of the connector and then the other end. Some ZIFs may need to be lifted in the center.
  2. Pull up gently on the movable part of the connector until the cable is released.
  3. Grasp the cable and pull it out of the connector.

To reconnect an interface cable to a ZIF connector, perform the following steps:

  1. Use the flat-blade screwdriver or dental pick to open the movable part of the ZIF connector.
  2. Orient the end of the cable with the ZIF connector, and insert the end of the cable into the connector.
  3. While holding the cable in place, close the ZIF connector.
    To ensure a firm connection, make sure the ZIF connector is completely closed.
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