Dell Vostro 3550 User manual

Dell Vostro 3550
Owner's Manual
Regulatory Model P16F
Regulatory Type P16F001

Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your
computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if
instructions are not followed.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or
death.
Information in this publication is subject to change without notice.
©2011 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is
strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell™, the DELL logo, Dell Precision™, Precision ON™,ExpressCharge™,
Latitude™, Latitude ON™, OptiPlex™, Vostro™, and Wi-Fi Catcher™are trademarks of Dell Inc. Intel®,
Pentium®, Xeon®, Core™, Atom™, Centrino®, and Celeron®are registered trademarks or trademarks of Intel
Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. AMD®is a registered trademark and AMD Opteron™,
AMD Phenom™, AMD Sempron™, AMD Athlon™, ATI Radeon™, and ATI FirePro™are trademarks of
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Microsoft®, Windows®, MS-DOS®, Windows Vista®, the Windows Vista start
button, and Office Outlook®are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the
United States and/or other countries. Blu-ray Disc™is a trademark owned by the Blu-ray Disc Association
(BDA) and licensed for use on discs and players. The Bluetooth®word mark is a registered trademark and
owned by the Bluetooth®SIG, Inc. and any use of such mark by Dell Inc. is under license. Wi-Fi®is a
registered trademark of Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance, Inc.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this publication to refer to either the entities claiming the
marks and names or their products, Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade
names other than its own.
2011 – 06
Rev. A00

Contents
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings..................................................................2
1 Working on Your Computer......................................................................7
Before Working Inside Your Computer.............................................................................7
Recommended Tools.........................................................................................................9
Turning Off Your Computer................................................................................................9
After Working Inside Your Computer................................................................................9
2 Battery........................................................................................................11
Removing The Battery.....................................................................................................11
Installing The Battery......................................................................................................12
3 Memory Card............................................................................................13
Removing The Memory Card...........................................................................................13
Installing The Memory Card............................................................................................14
4 Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card...............................................15
Removing The Phone Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)................................................15
Installing The Phone Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).................................................16
5 Access Panel............................................................................................17
Removing The Access Panel...........................................................................................17
Installing The Access Panel............................................................................................18
6 Memory......................................................................................................19
Removing The Memory Module......................................................................................19
Installing The Memory Module.......................................................................................20
7 Optical Drive..............................................................................................21
Removing The Optical Drive............................................................................................21

Installing The Optical Drive.............................................................................................22
8 Hard Drive..................................................................................................23
Removing The Hard Drive................................................................................................23
Installing The Hard Drive.................................................................................................24
9 ExpressCard..............................................................................................25
Removing The ExpressCard............................................................................................25
Installing The ExpressCard..............................................................................................26
10 ExpressCard Board................................................................................27
Removing The ExpressCard Board..................................................................................27
Installing The ExpressCard Board...................................................................................29
11 Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) Card...................................31
Removing The Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) Card.........................................31
Installing The Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) Card..........................................32
12 Keyboard..................................................................................................33
Removing The Keyboard.................................................................................................33
Installing The Keyboard..................................................................................................35
13 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card.....................................37
Removing The Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card...........................................37
Installing The Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card............................................38
14 Palm Rest.................................................................................................39
Removing The Palm Rest.................................................................................................39
Installing The Palm Rest..................................................................................................44
15 Fingerprint Reader.................................................................................47
Removing The Fingerprint Reader...................................................................................47
Installing The Fingerprint Reader....................................................................................49

16 Hold Switch.............................................................................................51
Removing The Hold Switch.............................................................................................51
Installing The Hold Switch..............................................................................................51
17 Speaker....................................................................................................53
Removing The Speakers..................................................................................................53
Installing The Speakers...................................................................................................55
18 Power-Button Board..............................................................................57
Removing The Power-Button Board...............................................................................57
Installing The Power-Button Board................................................................................58
19 Quick Launch Button Board.................................................................59
Removing The Quick-Launch Button Board....................................................................59
Installing The Quick Launch Button Board.....................................................................60
20 Coin-Cell Battery....................................................................................61
Removing The Coin-Cell Battery.....................................................................................61
Installing The Coin-Cell Battery.......................................................................................61
21 Heat Sink..................................................................................................63
Removing The Heatsink...................................................................................................63
Installing The Heat Sink..................................................................................................65
22 Processor................................................................................................67
Removing The Processor................................................................................................67
Installing The Processor.................................................................................................69
23 Display Assembly...................................................................................71
Removing The Display Assembly....................................................................................71
Installing The Display Assembly.....................................................................................74
24 Display Bezel...........................................................................................75
Removing The Display Bezel...........................................................................................75

Installing The Display Bezel............................................................................................76
25 Camera.....................................................................................................77
Removing The Camera....................................................................................................77
Installing The Camera.....................................................................................................78
26 Display Brackets and Hinges...............................................................81
Removing The Display Brackets, Hinges And Panel.......................................................81
Installing The Display Brackets, Hinges and Panel........................................................84
27 System Board..........................................................................................87
Removing The System Board..........................................................................................87
Installing The System Board...........................................................................................89
28 Left Input/Output Board.........................................................................91
Removing The Left And The Right Input/Output (I/O) Board...........................................91
Installing The Left And The Right Input/Output (I/O) Board............................................93
29 System Setup..........................................................................................95
System Setup Overview..................................................................................................95
System Setup Enter.........................................................................................................95
System Setup Screens....................................................................................................96
System Setup Options.....................................................................................................97
30 Diagnostics............................................................................................101
Device Status Lights......................................................................................................101
Battery Status Lights.....................................................................................................101
Diagnostic Beep Codes.................................................................................................101
31 Specifications.......................................................................................103
32 Contacting Dell.....................................................................................113
Contacting Dell..............................................................................................................113

1
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 performed the steps in Working on 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 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.
7

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.
NOTE: The color of your computer and certain components may appear differently
than shown in this document.
To avoid damaging your computer, perform the following steps before you begin
working inside the computer.
1. Ensure that your work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer
cover from being scratched.
2. Turn off your computer (see Turning Off Your Computer ).
3. If the computer is connected to a docking device (docked) such as the
optional Media Base or Battery Slice, undock it.
CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your
computer and then unplug the cable from the network device.
4. Disconnect all network cables from the computer.
5. Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical
outlets.
6. Close the display and turn the computer upside-down on a flat work
surface.
NOTE: To avoid damaging the system board, you must remove the main battery
before you service the computer.
7. Remove the main battery.
8. 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.
8

11. Remove any installed ExpressCards or Smart Cards from the appropriate
slots.
Recommended Tools
The procedures in this document may require the following tools:
• Small flat-blade screwdriver
• #0 Phillips screwdriver
• #1 Phillips screwdriver
• Small plastic scribe
• Flash BIOS update program CD
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. Shut down the operating system:
• In Windows Vista :
Click Start , then click the arrow in the lower-right corner of the
Start menu as shown below, and then click Shut Down.
• In Windows XP:
Click Start → Turn Off Computer → Turn Off . The computer turns off
after the operating system shutdown process is complete.
2. Ensure that the computer and all attached devices are turned off. If your
computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you
shut down your operating system, press and hold the power button for
about 4 seconds to turn them off.
After Working Inside Your Computer
After you complete any replacement procedure, ensure you connect any
external devices, cards, and cables before turning on your computer.
9

CAUTION: To avoid damage to the computer, use only the battery designed for this
particular Dell computer. Do not use batteries designed for other Dell computers.
1. Connect any external devices, such as a port replicator, battery slice, or
media base, and replace any cards, such as an ExpressCard.
2. Connect any telephone or network cables to your computer.
CAUTION: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network device
and then plug it into the computer.
3. Replace the battery.
4. Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical outlets.
5. Turn on your computer.
10

2
Battery
Removing The Battery
1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer .
2. Slide the release latches to unlock the battery.
3. Slide the battery and remove it from the computer.
11

Installing The Battery
1. Slide the battery into its slot until it clicks into place.
2. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer .
12

3
Memory Card
Removing The Memory Card
1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer .
2. Press in on the memory card to release it from the computer.
3. Slide the memory card out of the computer.
13

Installing The Memory Card
1. Push the memory card into its slot until it clicks into place.
2. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer .
14

4
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
Card
Removing The Phone Subscriber Identity Module
(SIM)
1. Follow the procedures in
Before Working On Your Computer .
2. Remove the battery .
3. Press in on the SIM card to release it from the computer.
4. Grasp the SIM card and pull out to release it from the computer.
15

Installing The Phone Subscriber Identity Module
(SIM)
1. Push the SIM card into the slot until it clicks into place.
2. Install the battery .
3. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer .
16

5
Access Panel
Removing The Access Panel
1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer .
2. Remove the battery .
3. Remove the screws that secure the access panel to the base of the
computer.
4. Lift the access panel up at an angle and remove it from the computer.
17

Installing The Access Panel
1. Install the access panel on the back of the computer.
2. Tighten the screws to secure the access panel to the base of the system.
3. Install the battery .
4. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer .
18

6
Memory
Removing The Memory Module
1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer
2. Remove the battery .
3. Remove the access panel .
4. Pry the retention clips away from the memory module until it pops up.
5. Remove the memory module from its connector on the system board.
19

Installing The Memory Module
1. Insert the memory module into the memory socket.
2. Press the clips to secure the memory module to the system board.
3. Install the access panel .
4. Install the battery .
5. Follow the procedures in
After Working Inside Your Computer .
20