Setup and Quick Reference Guide 11
When Working Inside Your Computer
Before you open the computer cover, perform the following steps in the sequence indicated.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to service the computer yourself, except as explained in
your online Dell™ documentation or in instructions otherwise provided to you by
Dell. Always follow installation and service instructions closely.
NOTICE: To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds after turning off the
computer before removing a component from the system board or disconnecting a device from the
computer.
1Perform an orderly computer shutdown using the operating system menu.
2Turn off your computer and any devices connected to the computer.
3Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the chassis, such as the metal
around the card-slot openings at the back of the computer, before touching anything
inside your computer.
While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis
to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.
4Disconnect your computer and devices, including the monitor, from their electrical
outlets. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
Doing so reduces the potential for personal injury or shock.
In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:
• When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strain-relief loop, not on the
cable itself. Some cables have a connector with locking tabs; if you are disconnecting this
type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before disconnecting 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.
When Using Your Computer (continued)
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