WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information
that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information,
see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Replacing a Hard Drive
WARNING: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from
the electrical outlet before removing the cover.
CAUTION: If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data that you want to keep, back up your files before you begin this procedure.
Disconnect the power cable and the data cable from the hard drive.
NOTE: If you are not replacing the hard drive at this time, disconnect the other end of the data cable from the system board and set it aside. You can use the data cable to install a hard drive at a later time.
1
SATA power cable
2
SATA data cable
3
SATA data connector (on the system board)
Press the black tabs on each side of the hard-drive bracket towards each
other and slide the drive up and out of the hard-drive bay.
1
black tabs (2)
2
hard drive
3
hard-drive bay
To replace or install a new hard drive, prepare the new hard drive for
installation and check the documentation for the hard drive to verify that
the hard drive is configured for your computer.
NOTE: If the hard drive you are installing does not have a hard-drive bracket attached, use your original hard-drive bracket; snap the bracket onto the new drive.
1
hard drive
2
hard-drive bracket
Verify that the hard-drive bay is empty and unobstructed.
Slide the hard drive into the hard-drive bay until it clicks securely into
place.
CAUTION: Ensure that all the connectors are properly cabled and firmly seated.
Connect the power and data cables to the hard drive.
NOTE: If you disconnected the data cable while removing the hard drive or if you are installing a new hard drive, connect the data cable to the system board.
Disconnect the media card reader cable from the back of the media card
reader.
1
media card reader cable
Slide the drive-release latch towards the base of the computer to release
the shoulder screw, and then slide the media card reader out of the
drive bay.
1
drive-release latch
2
media card reader
If no screws are attached to the media card reader, check the inside of the
drive panel for shoulder screws. If screws are present, attach the screws to
the new card reader.
1
media card reader
2
shoulder screws (4)
Slide the media card reader into the drive bay until it clicks into place.
Attach the media card reader cable to the back of the media card reader.
Check all cable connections and fold cables out of the way to avoid
blocking airflow between the fan and cooling vents.
Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the drive.
NOTE: If you are uninstalling the only optical drive in your computer and will not replace it at this time, disconnect the data cable from the system board and set it aside.
1
data cable
2
power cable
Slide the drive-release latch towards the base of the computer to release
the shoulder screw, and then slide the optical drive out of the drive bay.
1
drive-release latch
2
shoulder screws (3)
3
optical drive
To replace the optical drive, prepare the optical drive for installation and
check the documentation that accompanied the drive to verify that the
drive is configured for your computer.
If no screws are attached to the drive, check the inside of the drive panel
for screws and, if screws are present, attach the screws to the new drive.
1
optical drive
2
shoulder screws (3)
Gently slide the drive into the drive bay until it clicks into place.
Attach the power and data cables to the optical drive.
NOTE: If you disconnected the data cable while removing the optical drive or if you are installing a new optical drive, connect the data cable to the system board.
