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Turn the computer top-side up.
9
Open the display.
10 Press the power button to ground the system board.
CAUTION:
To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the
display.
CAUTION:
Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface,
such as the metal at the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to
dissipate static electricity, which could harm internal components.
11 Remove any installed ExpressCards or Smart Cards from the appropriate slots.
Electrostatic discharge—ESD protection
ESD is a major concern when you handle electronic components, especially sensitive components such as expansion cards, processors,
memory DIMMs, and system boards. Very slight charges can damage circuits in ways that may not be obvious, such as intermittent
problems or a shortened product life span. As the industry pushes for lower power requirements and increased density, ESD protection is an
increasing concern.
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 For this reason, some previously approved methods of handling parts are no longer applicable.
Two recognized types of ESD damage are catastrophic and intermittent failures.
•
Catastrophic
– Catastrophic failures represent approximately 20 percent of ESD-related failures. The damage causes an immediate and
complete loss of device functionality. An example of catastrophic failure is a memory DIMM that has received a static shock and
immediately generates a "No POST/No Video" symptom with a beep code emitted for missing or nonfunctional memory.
•
Intermittent
– Intermittent failures represent approximately 80 percent of ESD-related failures. The high rate of intermittent failures
means that most of the time when damage occurs, it is not immediately recognizable. The DIMM receives a static shock, but the
tracing is merely weakened and does not immediately produce outward symptoms related to the damage. The weakened trace may
take weeks or months to melt, and in the meantime may cause degradation of memory integrity, intermittent memory errors, etc.
The more difficult type of damage to recognize and troubleshoot is the intermittent (also called latent or "walking wounded") failure.
Perform the following steps to prevent ESD damage:
•
Use a wired ESD wrist strap that is properly grounded. The use of wireless anti-static straps is no longer allowed; they do not provide
adequate protection. Touching the chassis before handling parts does not ensure adequate ESD protection on parts with increased
sensitivity to ESD damage.
•
Handle all static-sensitive components in a static-safe area. If possible, use anti-static floor pads and workbench pads.
•
When unpacking a static-sensitive component from its shipping carton, do not remove the component from the anti-static packing
material until you are ready to install the component. Before unwrapping the anti-static packaging, ensure that you discharge static
electricity from your body.
•
Before transporting a static-sensitive component, place it in an anti-static container or packaging.
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.
Lifting equipment
Adhere to the following guidelines when lifting heavy weight equipment:
CAUTION:
Do not lift greater than 50 pounds. Always obtain additional resources or use a mechanical lifting device.
1
Get a firm balanced footing. Keep your feet apart for a stable base, and point your toes out.
2
Tighten stomach muscles. Abdominal muscles support your spine when you lift, offsetting the force of the load.
3
Lift with your legs, not your back.
Working on your computer
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