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Latitude 3550: Teardown Removal Guide For Customer Replaceable Units (CRUs)

Summary: This article is a guide to removing parts of the Latitude 3550 that Dell considers it safe for anyone to remove.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Symptoms

Table of Contents:

  1. CRU Removal Guide
  2. Removal Instructions

Cause

Not applicable

Resolution

1. Removal Guide

 

These guides take you step by step through the safe removal of the customer replaceable unit (CRU) parts of a Latitude 3550. CRUs are the parts of the computer that should not need an engineer to remove or replace.

The guides also include figures to reference what is involved.

If these guides do not cover what you are looking to do, then reference your system manual.

The article below provides information about safe practices to consider before working with electrical equipment.

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2. Removal Instructions

 

Note: Click the title of the section that you want to open below in order to see the contents.

 

Recommended Tools

 

Recommended tools

1 Small Phillips head screwdriver 2 Plastic Scribe
3 Small Flat head screwdriver    

 

  1. Pre-removal instructions before removing the bottom access panel:

    1. During installation or removal of any hardware, always ensure that all data is backed up properly.

    2. Disconnect any telephone, network, or USB cables from the computer.

    3. Disconnect the computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.

  2. Establishing image.

Bottom access panel removal establishing image

  1. Remove the two captive screws on both sides of the air vent on the back of the computer.

Removing the screws

  1. Using a blunt flat-tipped object, push the tab upwards to lift up the bottom access panel and remove it from the system. The tab is located at the side of the panel next to the air vent. Watch for the clips at the bottom of the panel.

Pushing the tab and lifting the bottom access panel

  1. Complete.

Bottom access panel removal complete

 

  1. Pre-removal instructions before removing the battery:

    1. During installation or removal of any hardware, always ensure that all data is backed up properly.

    2. Disconnect any telephone, network, or USB cables from the computer.

    3. Disconnect the computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.

    4. Remove the Bottom Door.

  2. Establishing image.

Battery removal establishing image

  1. Remove the four screws securing the battery in place.

Removing the four battery screws

  1. Use the mylar tab to lift the battery up and out of the computer.

Using the tab to lift the battery

  1. Complete.

Battery removal complete

 

  1. Pre-removal instructions before removing the keyboard:

    1. During installation or removal of any hardware, always ensure that all data is backed up properly.

    2. Disconnect any telephone, network, or USB cables from the computer.

    3. Disconnect the computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.

    4. Remove the Bottom Door and Battery.

  2. Establishing image.

Keyboard removal establishing image

  1. Using a blunt flat-tipped object, release each of the five latches securing the keyboard. (They are located above the Esc, F5, F10, Delete and the End keys.)

Releasing keyboard latches

  1. Push the keyboard towards the LCD screen and flip the keyboard over towards the touchpad.

Pushing the keyboard towards the LCD

  1. Disconnect both the Keyboard backlight cable (1) and the keyboard cable (2).

Disconnecting cables

Note: The backlight cable is only present if your computer was sold with a backlit capable keyboard.

  1. Complete.

Keyboard removal complete

 

  1. Pre-removal instructions before removing the battery:

    1. During installation or removal of any hardware, always ensure that all data is backed up properly.

    2. Disconnect any telephone, network, or USB cables from the computer.

    3. Disconnect the computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.

    4. Remove the Bottom Door and Battery.

  2. Establishing image.

Hard disk drive removal establishing image

  1. Lift upwards on the mylar tab to disconnect the hard disk drive cable from the motherboard.

Lifting the tab to disconnect the cable

  1. Remove the four screws securing the hard disk drive in place.

Removing the screws

  1. Pull the mylar tab upwards to remove the drive assembly from the computer.

Removing the hard drive

  1. Disconnect and remove the hard disk drive cable from the drive assembly.

Disconnecting and removing the cable

  1. Remove the four screws securing the hard disk drive to the drive assembly.

Removing the four screws securing the hard drive to the drive assembly

  1. Remove the drive assembly.

Removing the drive assembly

  1. Complete.

Hard disk drive removal complete

 

  1. Pre-removal instructions before removing the SD memory card:

    1. During installation or removal of any hardware, always ensure that all data is backed up properly.

    2. Disconnect any telephone, network, or USB cables from the computer.

    3. Disconnect the computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.

  2. Establishing image.

SD memory card removal establishing image

  1. Push in gently on the card and grip it and pull it from the computer when it protrudes from the slot.

Pushing the card in and pulling it

  1. Complete.

SD memory card removal complete

 

  1. Pre-removal instructions before removing the memory:

    1. During installation or removal of any hardware, always ensure that all data is backed up properly.

    2. Disconnect any telephone, network, or USB cables from the computer.

    3. Disconnect the computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.

    4. Remove the Bottom Door and Battery.

  2. Establishing image.

Memory removal establishing image

  1. Pull the metal securing clips away from the memory DIMM.

Pulling the metal securing clips

  1. The memory pops up at an angle. Lift it out of the system.

Removing the memory

Note: Repeat steps 3 and 4 for any additional memory DIMMs in the system.

  1. Complete.

Memory removal complete

 

  1. Pre-removal instructions before removing the wireless card (WLAN):

    1. During installation or removal of any hardware, always ensure that all data is backed up properly.

    2. Disconnect any telephone, network, or USB cables from the computer.

    3. Disconnect the computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.

    4. Remove the Bottom Door and Battery.

  2. Establishing image.

Wireless card establishing image

  1. Remove the single screw securing the WLAN bracket in place and lift away the bracket.

Removing the WLAN bracket

  1. Disconnect any antennae connected to the WLAN card.

Disconnecting annennae

  1. Lift up and remove the WLAN card from the computer.

Removing the WLAN card

  1. Complete.

Wireless card removal complete


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If you require further assistance, contact Technical Support.
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Affected Products

Latitude 3550 (End of Life)
Article Properties
Article Number: 000145068
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 05 Jul 2023
Version:  6
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