Service Manual

Removing an Expansion Card

CAUTION: Before you perform this procedure, see "Safety First—

For You and Your Computer."

NOTICE: Before disconnecting a device from the computer, wait 10 to 20

seconds after disconnecting the computer from its electrical outlet. Before

removing a component from the system board, verify that the standby power

light on the system board has turned off. To locate this light, see "System Board

Components."

Turn off the computer and devices, disconnect them from their

electrical outlets, and wait 10 to 20 seconds, lay the computer on its

right side, and open the computer cover.

2 Press the lever on the expansion card retention arm and raise the

retention arm (see "Raising the Expansion Card Retention Arm").

3 If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card.

4 Grasp the card by its top corners, and ease it out of its connector.

5 If you are removing the card permanently, install a filler bracket in the

empty card-slot opening.

If you need a filler bracket, contact Dell and order part number 81808.

NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is

necessary to maintain FCC certification of the computer. The brackets

also keep dust and dirt out of your computer.

6 Lower the expansion card retention arm and press it into place,

securing the expansion card(s) in the chassis.

7 Close the computer cover.

8 Stand the computer upright.

9 Reconnect the computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and

turn them on.

NOTE: If enabled, the Chassis Intrusion option will cause the following

message to be displayed at the next computer start-up:

ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

Enter system setup and reset the Chassis Intrusion option as

described in your User’s Guide.

10 If you removed a sound card, perform the following steps: