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Working on Your Computer

Dell™ Latitude™ E6400 and E6400 ATG and
Mobile Workstation Precision™ M2400 Service Manual

  Recommended Tools

  Before Working on Your Computer

  After Working on Your Computer

This document provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that:

• You have performed the steps in Before Working on Your Computer.
  
  
• You have read the safety information that shipped with your computer.
  
  

NOTE: The color of your system and certain system components may appear differently than shown in this document.

Recommended Tools

The procedures in this document may require the following tools:

• Small flat-blade screwdriver
  
  
• Phillips screwdriver
  
  
• Small plastic scribe
  
  
• Flash BIOS update (see the Dell Support website at support.dell.com)
  
  

Before Working on Your Computer

Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help ensure your own personal safety.

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions that shipped with your computer.

NOTICE: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty.

NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface, such as a connector on the back of the computer.

NOTICE: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a processor by its edges, not by its pins.

NOTICE: When disconnecting a cable, pull on the cable's connector or on its strain-relief loop, not on the cable itself. For cable connectors with locking tabs, press inward on the locking tabs to release the connector. When connecting a cable, ensure that the connectors are correctly oriented and aligned to avoid damage to the connector and/or the connector's pins.

1. Ensure that the work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer cover from being scratched.
   
   
2. Shut down your computer.
   
   
   • In Windows XP, click Start® Shutdown® Shutdown.
     
     
   • In Windows Vista, click Start , click the arrow icon, and then click Shut Down to turn off your computer.
     
     

NOTE: Ensure that the computer is off and not in a power management mode. If you cannot shut down the computer using the operating system, press and hold the power button for 4 seconds.

3. Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.
   
   

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer, and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

4. Disconnect any telephone or network cables from the computer.
   
   

NOTICE: To help prevent damage to the system board, you must remove the battery from the battery bay before you service the computer.

5. Turn the computer upside down.
   
   
6. Slide the battery release latches toward each other to lock them in an open position.
   
   
7. Slide the battery out of the battery bay.
   
   

8. Disconnect any external devices and remove any installed cards before working on your computer:
   
   
   • To remove any installed cards, such as an ExpressCard, see the Dell™ Technology Guide on your computer or at support.dell.com.
     
     
   • To undock from a docking station, see the E-Port User's Guide or the E-Port Plus User's Guide on support.dell.com.
     
     
   • To remove a battery slice, see the documentation that shipped with your battery slice or on support.dell.com.
     
     
   • To remove a cool slice, see the documentation that shipped with your cool slice or on support.dell.com.
     
     
   • To remove a port cover from the E6400 ATG, lift up and ease the port cover away from the connectors along the back of the computer.
     
     

9. Turn the computer topside up, open the display, and press the power button to ground the system board.
   
   

After Working on Your Computer

After you have completed the replacement procedures, ensure you connect the external devices, cards, cables, etc. before turning on your computer.

NOTE: To avoid damage to the computer, use only the battery designed for this particular Dell computer. Do not use batteries designed for other Dell computers.

1. Connect any external devices, such as a port replicator, battery slice, or cool slice, and replace any cards, such as an ExpressCard.
   
   
2. To replace a port cover from the E6400 ATG, fit the port cover into the connectors on the back of the computer.
   
   
3. Connect any telephone or network cables to your computer.
   
   
4. Replace the battery. Slide the battery into the battery bay until it clicks into place.
   
   
5. Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical outlets.
   
   
6. Turn on your computer.
   
   

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