Contents 1 Working inside your computer....................... 5 Before working inside your computer..........................5 Safety instructions................................5 Electrostatic discharge—ESD protection.......................... 6 ESD field service kit ................................6 Transporting sensitive components............................ 7 After working inside your computer............................ 7 2 Removing and installing components..................... 8 Recommended tools................................8 Screw list....................................
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Real-Time Clock (RTC Reset)............................56 System diagnostic lights..............................56 Diagnostic error messages..............................57 System error messages..............................59 Recovering the operating system............................. 60 Flashing BIOS (USB key)..............................60 Flashing the BIOS................................60 WiFi power cycle.................................. 61 6 Getting help..........................62 Contacting Dell..................................62 Contents...
You should only perform troubleshooting and repairs as authorized or directed by the Dell technical assistance team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty. See the safety instructions that is shipped with the product or at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Due to the increased density of semiconductors used in recent Dell products, the sensitivity to static damage is now higher than in previous Dell products. For this reason, some previously approved methods of handling parts are no longer applicable.
Transporting sensitive components When transporting ESD sensitive components such as replacement parts or parts to be returned to Dell, it is critical to place these parts in anti-static bags for safe transport.
Removing and installing components Recommended tools The procedures in this document may require the following tools: • Philips screwdriver #1 • Flat-head screwdriver • Plastic scribe Screw list NOTE: When removing screws from a component, it is recommended to note the screw type, the quantity of screws, and then place them in a screw storage box.
Steps 1. Remove the two thumb screws (6-22) that secure the left-side cover to the chassis. 2. Using the tab on the left-side cover, slide the cover towards the back of the computer and remove the left-side cover off the chassis. Installing the left-side cover Prerequisites If you are replacing a component, remove the existing component before performing the installation process.
Front cover Removing the front cover Prerequisites 1. Follow the procedure in Before working inside your computer. 2. Remove the left-side cover. About this task The following image(s) indicate the location of the front cover and provides a visual representation of the removal procedure. Steps 1.
About this task The following image(s) indicate the location of the front cover and provides a visual representation of the installation procedure. Steps 1. Place the computer in an upright position. 2. Align and insert the front-cover tabs with the slots on the chassis. 3.
About this task CAUTION: To prevent damage to the memory module, hold the memory module by the edges. Do not touch the components on the memory module. The following image(s) indicate the location of the memory modules and provides a visual representation of the removal procedure. Steps 1.
Steps 1. Ensure that the securing clips are in an open position. 2. Align the notch on the memory module with the tab on the memory-module slot. 3. Insert the memory module into the memory-module connector until the memory module snaps into position and the securing clip locks in place.
• M.2 2280 Intel Optane The following image(s) indicate the location of the solid-state drive/Intel Optane and provides a visual representation of the removal procedure. Steps 1. Lay the computer with its right side facing down. 2. Remove the screw (M2x3) that secures the solid-state drive/Intel Optane to the system board. 3.
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• M.2 2230 solid-state drive • M.2 2280 solid-state drive • M.2 2280 Intel Optane The following image(s) indicate the location of the solid-state drive/Intel Optane and provides a visual representation of the installation procedure. Steps 1. Locate the notch on the solid-state drive/Intel Optane. 2.
Coin-cell battery Removing the coin-cell battery Prerequisites 1. Follow the procedure in Before working inside your computer. 2. Remove the left-side cover. About this task NOTE: Removing the coin-cell battery resets the BIOS setup program's settings to default. It is recommended that you note the BIOS setup program's settings before removing the battery.
About this task The following image(s) indicate the location of the coin-cell battery and provides a visual representation of the installation procedure. Steps 1. Insert the coin-cell battery into its slot on the system board with the positive side (+) label facing up. 2.
Steps 1. Lay the computer with its right side facing down. 2. Remove the screw (M2x3) that secures the wireless card to the system board. 3. Slide and lift the wireless-card bracket off the wireless card. 4. Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card. 5.
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Steps 1. Connect the antenna cables to the wireless card. The following table provides the antenna-cable color scheme for the wireless card supported by your computer. Table 2. Antenna-cable color scheme Connectors on the wireless card Antenna-cable color Main (white triangle) White Auxiliary (black triangle) Black...
Graphics card Removing the graphics card Prerequisites 1. Follow the procedure in Before working inside your computer. 2. Remove the left-side cover. About this task The following image(s) indicate the location of the graphics card and provides a visual representation of the removal procedure. Steps 1.
Installing the graphics card Prerequisites If you are replacing a component, remove the existing component before performing the installation process. About this task The following image(s) indicate the location of the graphics card and provides a visual representation of the installation procedure. Steps 1.
Power-supply unit Removing the power supply Prerequisites 1. Follow the procedure in Before working inside your computer. 2. Remove the left-side cover. About this task The following image(s) indicate the location of the power supply and provides a visual representation of the removal procedure. Removing and installing components...
Steps 1. Lay the computer with its right side facing down. 2. Remove the three screws (6-32) that secure the power supply to the chassis. 3. Disconnect the power-supply cables from the system board. NOTE: The power-supply cable is connected to the system board at two locations and supply power to the following components at the two location: •...
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About this task The following image(s) indicate the location of the power supply and provides a visual representation of the installation procedure. Removing and installing components...
Steps 1. Place and slide the power supply into its slot on the chassis. 2. Route the power-supply cables into the routing guides on the chassis. 3. Connect the power-supply cables to the two connectors on the system board. NOTE: The power-supply cable is connected to the system board at two locations and supply power to the following components at the two location: •...
Steps 1. Lay the computer with its right side facing down. CAUTION: Hold the hard drive In place when removing the screws that secure the hard drive to the chassis to prevent the hard drive from falling from place and damaging your computer. 2.
Steps 1. Hold the hard drive into place on the chassis and align the screw holes on the hard drive with the screw holes on the chassis. 2. Connect the hard-drive power cable and hard-drive data cable to the hard drive. 3.
3. Remove the left-side cover. About this task NOTE: These steps are only applicable for computers shipped with the optional optical drive. The following image(s) indicate the location of the optical drive and provides a visual representation of the removal procedure. Steps 1.
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About this task NOTE: When installing the optional optical drive, ensure that the front cover of your computer has the slot for it. The following image(s) indicate the location of the optical drive and provides a visual representation of the installation procedure. Steps 1.
Media-card reader Removing the media-card reader Prerequisites 1. Follow the procedure in Before working inside your computer. 2. Remove the left-side cover. 3. Remove the front cover. About this task The following image(s) indicate the location of the media-card reader and provides a visual representation of the removal procedure. Steps 1.
Installing the media-card reader Prerequisites If you are replacing a component, remove the existing component before performing the installation process. About this task The following image(s) indicate the location of the media-card reader and provides a visual representation of the installation procedure. Steps 1.
Fan shroud Removing the fan shroud Prerequisites 1. Follow the procedure in Before working inside your computer. 2. Remove the left-side cover. About this task The following image(s) indicate the location of the fan shroud and provides a visual representation of the removal procedure. Steps 1.
Installing the fan shroud Prerequisites If you are replacing a component, remove the existing component before performing the installation process. About this task The following image(s) indicate the location of the fan shroud and provides a visual representation of the installation procedure. Steps Place the fan shroud into place on the fan and heat-sink assembly and snap it into place.
Removing the fan and heat-sink assembly Prerequisites 1. Follow the procedure in Before working inside your computer. 2. Remove the left-side cover. 3. Remove the shroud. About this task CAUTION: The heat sink may become hot during normal operation. Allow sufficient time for the heat sink to cool before you touch it.
Installing the fan and heat-sink assembly Prerequisites If you are replacing a component, remove the existing component before performing the installation process. About this task NOTE: If either the processor or the fan and heat-sink assembly is replaced, use the thermal grease provided in the kit to ensure that thermal conductivity is achieved.
Processor Removing the processor Prerequisites 1. Follow the procedure in Before working inside your computer. 2. Remove the left-side cover. 3. Remove the shroud. 4. Remove the fan and heat-sink assembly. About this task CAUTION: The processor may become hot during normal operation. Allow sufficient time for the heat sink to cool before you touch it.
Steps 1. Lay the computer with its right side facing down. 2. Press the release lever down and then push it away from the processor to release it from the securing tab. CAUTION: When removing the processor, do not touch any of the pins inside the socket or allow any objects to fall on the pins in the socket.
Steps 1. Ensure that the release lever on the processor socket is fully extended in the open position. NOTE: The pin-1 corner of the processor has a triangle that aligns with the triangle on the pin-1 corner on the processor socket. When the processor is properly seated, all four corners are aligned at the same height. If one or more corners of the processor are higher than the others, the processor is not seated properly.
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Steps 1. Lay the computer with its right side facing down. 2. Loosen the two captive screws that secure the VGA-connector cover to the VGA connector. (if applicable) 3. Remove the VGA-connector cover from the VGA connector. (if applicable) 4. Remove the screw (6-32) that secures the I/O-cover door to the chassis. 5.
Installing the system board Prerequisites If you are replacing a component, remove the existing component before performing the installation process. About this task NOTE: For computers shipped with 10th Generation Intel Core i5-10400F and 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10700F processors a VGA-connector cover is installed over the VGA connector and must be installed after the VGA-connector board has been installed.
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Steps 1. Slide the back I/O-ports on the system board into the front I/O-slots on the chassis and align the screw holes on the system board with the screw holes on the chassis. 2. Replace the M.2 card-mounting screw (6-32) that secures the system board to the chassis. NOTE: Depending on the M.2 card you install in your computer, the location where you replace the M.2 card- mounting screw will differ.
Drivers and downloads When troubleshooting, downloading or installing drivers it is recommended that you read the Dell Knowledge Based article, Drivers and Downloads FAQ SLN128938. Drivers and downloads...
Boot Sequence allows you to bypass the System Setup–defined boot device order and boot directly to a specific device (for example: optical drive or hard drive). During the Power-on Self Test (POST), when the Dell logo appears, you can: •...
• Removable Drive (if available) • STXXXX Drive (if available) NOTE: XXX denotes the SATA drive number. • Optical Drive (if available) • SATA Hard Drive (if available) • Diagnostics NOTE: Choosing Diagnostics, will display the diagnostics screen. The boot sequence screen also displays the option to access the System Setup screen. System setup options NOTE: Depending on this computer and its installed devices, the items listed in this section may or may not appear.
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Table 3. System setup options—System information menu(continued) General-System Information HT Capable Displays whether the processor is HyperThreading (HT) capable. 64-Bit Technology Displays whether 64-bit technology is used. Device Information SATA-0 Displays the SATA device information of the computer. SATA-1 Displays the SATA device information of the computer. M.2 PCIe SSD-2 Displays the M.2 PCIe SSD information of the computer.
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Table 4. System setup options—System Configuration menu(continued) System Configuration Miscellaneous Devices Enable or disable various onboard devices. Table 5. System setup options—Video menu Video Multi-Display Enable or disable multiple displays. Primary Display Set or change the primary display. Table 6. System setup options—Security menu Security Admin Password Set, change, or delete the administrator password.
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Table 8. System setup options—Intel Software Guard Extensions menu Intel Software Guard Extensions Intel SGX Enable Enable or disable Intel Software Guard Extensions. Enclave Memory Size Set the Intel Software Guard Extensions Enclave Reserve Memory Size. Performance Multi Core Support Enable multiple cores.
SupportAssist System Resolution Auto OS Recovery Threshold Control the automatic boot flow for SupportAssist System Resolution Console and for Dell OS Recovery tool. Flashing the BIOS About this task You may need to flash (update) the BIOS when an update is available or when you replace the system board.
Table 14. System and setup password(continued) Password type Description Setup password Password that you must enter to access and make changes to the BIOS settings of your computer. You can create a system password and a setup password to secure your computer. CAUTION: The password features provide a basic level of security for the data on your computer.
1. Key in your computer's service tag number into the locked BIOS/system setup screen. 2. Convey the code generated to the Dell Tech Support agent. 3. The Dell Tech Support agent will provide a 32 character Master System Password that can be used to access the locked BIO/system setup.
Real-Time Clock (RTC Reset) The Real Time Clock (RTC) reset function allows you or the service technician to recover Dell Inspiron, systems from No POST/No Power/No Boot situations. The legacy jumper enabled RTC reset has been retired on these models.
One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules or, if necessary, replace them. DISK C: FAILED INITIALIZATION The hard drive failed initialization. Run the hard drive tests in Dell Diagnostics. DRIVE NOT READY The operation requires a hard drive in the bay before it can continue.
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Table 16. Diagnostic error messages(continued) Error messages Description persists, try another drive. Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in Dell Diagnostics. HARD-DISK DRIVE READ FAILURE The hard drive may be defective. Shut down the computer, remove the hard drive, and boot the computer from an optical.
The operating system cannot find a specific track on the hard drive. SHUTDOWN FAILURE A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning. Run the System Set tests in Dell Diagnostics. If the message reappears, Contact Dell. TIME-OF-DAY CLOCK LOST POWER System configuration settings are corrupted. Connect your computer to an electrical outlet to charge the battery.
You can also download it from the Dell Support website to troubleshoot and fix your computer when it fails to boot into their primary operating system due to software or hardware failures.
Steps 1. Turn on your computer. 2. Go to www.dell.com/support. 3. Click Product support, enter the Service Tag of your computer, and then click Submit. NOTE: If you do not have the Service Tag, use the auto-detect feature or manually browse for your computer model.
About this task Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options. Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be available in your area. To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service issues: Steps 1.