Removing a 5.25-inch or 3.5-inch Drive from a Drive Bay

CAUTION: All removable media should be taken out of a drive before removing the drive from the computer.

1.Remove/disengage any security devices that prohibit opening the computer.

2.Remove all removable media, such as compact discs or USB flash drives, from the computer.

3.Turn off the computer properly through the operating system, then turn off any external devices.

4.Disconnect the power cord from the power outlet and disconnect any external devices.

CAUTION: Regardless of the power-on state, voltage is always present on the system board as long as the system is plugged into an active AC outlet. You must disconnect the power cord to avoid damage to the internal components of the computer.

5.Remove the access panel and front bezel.

6.Disconnect the drive cables, as indicated in the following illustrations.

CAUTION: When removing the cables, pull the tab or connector instead of the cable itself to avoid damaging the cable.

a.If you are removing an optical drive, disconnect the power cable (1) and data cable (2) from the back of the drive.

Figure 2-17Disconnecting the Optical Drive Cables

Installing and Removing Drives 27