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Working on Your Computer
Before Working Inside Your Computer
Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage 
and to help to ensure your personal safety. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure 
included in this document assumes that the following conditions exist:
• 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 reverse order.
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: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You 
should only perform troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your 
product documentation, or as directed by the online or telephone service and 
support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered 
by your warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the 
product.
CAUTION: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist 
grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface, such as a 
connector on the back of the computer.
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.
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