Special Precautions

As you perform the procedures described in this chapter and in Chapters 3 and 4, observe the following precautions to avoid damaging your equipment or injuring yourself:

Do not attempt a procedure if you have any reservations about performing it; ask your dealer for assistance.

Always turn off the computer, disconnect all cables, and wait at least 30 seconds before you remove the cover. First disconnect the power cord from the electrical outlet and from the computer’s back panel. Then disconnect all peripheral devices from the computer.

Every time you remove the cover, ground yourself by touching the metal inside of the computer’s back panel before you touch any components inside. If you are not properly grounded, you could conduct static electricity and damage your equipment.

When disconnecting a cable from any internal device (such as a disk drive), avoid pulling on the cable; grasp the plastic connector to remove it from the socket.

When plugging a connector or a component into a socket, be sure to position it correctly. Carefully align any connector pins with the corresponding holes in the socket before you push in the connector. Otherwise, you can severely damage the equipment.

If you install an option, keep its original packaging in case you need to remove or transport it later.

Always replace the computer’s cover before you turn on the power, or the computer may overheat.

2-2 Accessing Internal Components