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Before You Begin

Dell™ Inspiron™ N7010 Service Manual

  Recommended Tools

  Turning Off Your Computer

  Before Working Inside Your Computer

This manual provides instructions for removing and installing components in your computer. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist:

• You have performed the steps in Turning Off Your Computer and Before Working Inside Your Computer.
  
  
• You have read the safety information that shipped with your computer.
  
  
• A component can be replaced or—if purchased separately—installed by performing the removal procedure in the reverse order.
  
  

Recommended Tools

The procedures in this document may require the following tools:

• Small flat-blade screwdriver
  
  
• Phillips screwdriver
  
  
• Plastic scribe
  
  
• BIOS executable update program available at support.dell.com
  
  

Turning Off Your Computer

CAUTION: To avoid losing data, save and close all open files and exit all open programs before you turn off your computer.

1. Save and close all open files and exit all open programs.
   
   
2. Shut down the operating system:
   
   

Windows Vista^®:

Click Start , click the arrow , and then click Shut Down.

Windows^® 7:

Click Start and then click Shut Down.

3. Ensure that the computer is turned off. If your computer did not automatically turn off when you shut down the operating system, press and hold the power button until the computer turns off.
   
   

Before Working Inside Your Computer

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

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.

CAUTION: 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.

CAUTION: 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.

CAUTION: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its pull-tab, not on the cable itself. Some cables have connectors with locking tabs; if you are disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before you disconnect the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, ensure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.

CAUTION: To avoid damaging the computer, perform the following steps before you begin working inside the computer.

1. Ensure that the work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer cover from being scratched.
   
   
2. Turn off your computer (see Turning Off Your Computer) and all attached devices.
   
   

CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug the cable from the network device.

3. Disconnect all telephone or network cables from the computer.
   
   
4. Press and eject any installed cards from the 7-in-1 Media card reader.
   
   
5. Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.
   
   
6. Disconnect all attached devices from your computer.
   
   

CAUTION: To help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see Removing the Battery) before working inside the computer.

7. Remove the battery (see Removing the Battery).
   
   
8. Turn the computer top-side up, open the display, and press the power button to ground the system board.
   
   

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