How to remove the hard drive from a Dell Latitude D610 laptop

On desktop computers, removing a hard drive can be a time-intensive procedure.  Typically you have to open the computer's case, disconnect the hard drive's data and power cables, and remove or unscrew the hard drive.  But on a laptop, where everything is smaller and more accessible, removing a hard drive is often much simpler.

To remove the hard drive from a Dell Latitude D610 laptop:

1. Locate the hard drive

With the computer powered off, disconnect all cables, including the AC power cable.  Remove the battery and place it somewhere safe.  (If you need help removing the battery, see this guide for step-by-step instructions: How to remove the battery from a Dell Latitude D610 laptop.)

Close the computer's lid and turn the laptop over so you're looking at the bottom.  You'll see several different panels and many small screws.  As you're looking at the bottom of the computer, with the fan vent in the upper right corner, the hard drive will be located in the lower right corner, next to the battery compartment.  There is a rough rectangular outline to the hard drive bay (about 3" by 5") that you can use to identify where it is.

2. Remove the screws

Two screws secure the hard drive; these are located along the right side of the hard drive bay.  In the lower right corner of the laptop, you'll see a screw that's sunken into the laptop case -- the first hard drive screw is located just above this case screw.  The second screw is located along the right side of the laptop, about three inches above where the first screw was.  Remove both screws using a small Phillips screwdriver, and place them somewhere safe.

3. Remove the hard drive

With the screws out, the hard drive can slide right out of the computer.  There's a ridged panel located along the lower right side of the laptop, between the two screws you just removed.  This panel is connected to the hard drive.  Grip this panel and slide it out of the laptop, to the right.  It may be hard to remove, but if you apply additional force, be sure to slide the panel out straight, rather than at any sort of angle, to avoid damaging the hard drive or laptop.

🛈 While you have the hard drive out, now is a good time to clean out any dust or debris that has built up in the hard drive cavity.  You can blow it out with a can of compressed air or wipe it clean with a lint-free rag.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2011)

How to replace the CD/DVD drive on a Toshiba Satellite C655D laptop

Toshiba Satellite C655D series laptops come with an optical drive installed.  However, this drive may eventually fail, or you may want to replace it with a different drive.  Removing and reinstalling an optical drive on this series laptop is very easy to do; just follow the steps below.

1. Turn the laptop off

Before removing the CD/DVD drive, remove any disc from the drive (if there is one) and then shut the computer down.

2. Remove the screw

Close the laptop's lid and turn it over so you are looking at the bottom of the computer (like in the picture above).  There's one screw securing the CD/DVD drive in place, labeled "F3".  Remove this screw using a small or precision Phillips screwdriver.

🛈 The screw is extremely small; be careful not to lose it when you take it out.

3. Remove the drive

With the screw out, grasp the edge of the drive and slide it out, away from the laptop.  It should slide easily.

4. Install the new drive

Slide the new drive into the hole left by the old drive, connector-side first.  Once it's in place, secure it using the screw you removed in step 2.

5. Test the new drive

Turn your computer on and test the new optical drive by opening it, inserting a disc, closing it, and seeing if the laptop recognizes the disc.  If you have a driver for the new drive, install it now.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2012)

How to remove the battery from a Dell Latitude D610 laptop

Sometimes a laptop battery goes bad and you need to replace it.  Or maybe you've upgraded to a better, longer-lasting battery and you need to install it.  Or maybe you just want to take the battery out to put it in the freezer for a while.  Whatever the reason, if you need to remove the battery from a Dell Latitude D610 laptop, here's how.

First, turn off the computer.  Shut it down completely -- don't just close the lid or put it into sleep mode.  Disconnect it from any external power source, such as an AC adapter or car charger.

Next, flip the computer over so you're looking at the underside.  (Make sure the laptop is closed before flipping it over.)  The battery is located in the lower left corner (diagonally opposite from the fan vent).  Push in the tab with the arrow on it (on the right side of the battery) and pull up (away from the laptop). The battery should pop right out.  If you don't push the tab in all the way, the battery won't pop out.

Be careful with the battery -- don't drop it, put it in the oven, or throw it at anyone (even if it's someone you don't like).  If you plan to use the laptop without the battery, either for troubleshooting purposes or to save battery life, be careful when moving the laptop, because jostling it even slightly could dislodge the power cord and cause the computer to shut down immediately.

When reinstalling the battery (or installing a new battery) slide it in toward the left side and then push it down.  Once it's all the way in where it should be, the tab will snap into place.  Make sure you hear it snap -- if it's not locked in it could fall out when you turn the laptop back over.

Over time, the battery's life and performance will start to degrade.  If you need to purchase a new D610 battery, Amazon sells a bunch of them, typically for $15-20. Be sure to read the description before purchasing a battery online; some are rated for longer life than others.  Also confirm whether you're buying a new or used battery.  A used battery will be cheaper, but the quality can vary greatly.


(Originally published on Helium.com, 2010)

How to replace RAM in a Dell Latitude D610 laptop

Whereas with some laptops you have to take the whole keyboard off in order to replace the RAM, the process is much simpler on a Dell Latitude D610.  Whether you're replacing a bad memory stick or upgrading to more RAM, this article will walk you through the steps required to replace the RAM on a D610 laptop.

First, you need to power down your computer.  In Windows, click the Start button, go to shut down options, and choose Shut Down.  Once the laptop has completely powered off, close the screen and turn the laptop over.  If it is plugged into an external power source, unplug it now.

The battery should also be removed so that absolutely no power is flowing through the computer.  If you're looking at your keyboard, the battery would be located under the bottom right corner.  To remove it, take out the one Phillips head screw -- don't lose it -- and then push in the tab on the side.  The battery should come out once the tab is pushed in.  Set the battery to the side.

The RAM compartment on a Dell D610 is located more or less in the center of the laptop, and it has a cover that is held down by one screw.  (The RAM cover may have a message printed on it about patents.)  Remove the screw with your small Phillips head screwdriver and put it somewhere safe.  The cover will come right off and now you should be looking at your RAM stick.

Before touching the RAM, ground yourself either by using an ESD wrist strap or by touching something metal that is grounded.  A small static discharge can easily damage the RAM and other components, and you may not even feel it.

The D610 only has one RAM slot.  There is a tab on either side of the chip; to remove it, push both tabs outward (away from the RAM) and the chip should pop up at an angle.  Grasp it by the corners and gently but firmly slide it out of the slot.  Even if you are replacing the RAM, it is a good idea to store the old RAM somewhere safe, preferably in an anti-static bag, in case it is needed later.

To install the new RAM, slide it in at a 45 degree angle until it is firmly in place.  Slowly push it down until it is horizontal, and the tabs should snap into place and lock it in.  Reattach the cover and the battery and then boot up the computer.  Go into system properties (right click My Computer or Computer and select Properties) and make sure that the system recognizes the new RAM.

If the amount of RAM shown isn't right -- or if the computer doesn't boot up at all -- the RAM stick is probably not seated correctly.  Follow the same procedure to remove the RAM and try installing it again, making sure that it locks firmly in place.


(Originally published on Helium.com, May 2010)

How to replace common components in a Dell Latitude CPi laptop

If you still have a Dell Latitude CPi, chances are some of the components will start to go bad soon, if they haven't already.  If you plan on replacing components rather than replacing the laptop, this article will walk you through removing and installing some of the more commonly replaced components of the Latitude CPi.  (Power the laptop off before removing any of these components.)

- Battery

To take the battery out, first turn the laptop over so you're looking at the bottom.  You'll see two slide locks, one to either side of the service tag sticker.  Each slide lock is marked with a lock icon.  The lock further to the right (with the service tag and Dell logo facing right side up) is for the battery.

To remove the battery, slide the lock to the right with one hand and slide the battery out with the other hand.  There is a contoured grip below the slide lock -- grasp that grip and slide the battery out, away from the computer.  When you slide the new battery in, it will automatically lock in place.

- Optical drive

The CD drive, DVD drive, or CD/DVD drive (depending on which one your laptop has installed) is located just to the left of the battery and comes out the same way.  Slide the other lock to the left and pull the optical drive out using the recessed grip.  (If you're going to dispose of the drive, make sure you didn't leave a disk in it.)  To install a new drive, slide it all the way in until it locks.

- Hard drive

As you're looking at the bottom of the laptop with the Dell logo facing right side up, the hard drive will be located to the right.  You'll see a thin rectangle on the right edge with two screws -- remove these screws with a small Phillips screwdriver and slide the hard drive out using the contoured grip.  When installing a new drive, slide it into place and then secure it with the screws.

- RAM

If you need to remove one or both memory sticks from the CPi, first remove the RAM cover.  This cover is located just above the Dell logo, and it has a triangular arrow pointing to the right.  Slide the left side of this cover to the right, while at the same time lifting up on the right side of the cover to release it.  With the cover off you'll see the two RAM cards.

To remove the RAM, release each of the side clips holding it in place by pushing them to the side, away from the memory card.  Push the clip on the left farther to the left, and the clip on the right farther to the right.  (A small flathead screwdriver with a thin blade is ideal for doing this.)  Once each clip has been released, the RAM stick will pop up and you can pull it out.  Follow the same procedure to remove the other RAM stick.  It doesn't matter which order you remove or install the RAM.

When you install new RAM, gently slide the memory card into its slot at about a 45-degree angle, until it's sitting straight and you can't see its gold contacts.  Each card is keyed so you can only put it in one way.  Then gently push the card down until it is horizontal and the two clips snap into place.  To reattach the cover, slide it on from the right side and push it left until it slides all the way on.

(Originally published on Helium.com, April 2012)

How to replace or install RAM in an HP G60-445DX laptop

On most computers, replacing RAM is a pretty straightforward process. It's also one of the most effective ways to increase a system's performance. However, the replacement procedure varies from computer to computer. This article describes how to replace the RAM in an HP G60-445DX laptop computer.

The first thing to do is to figure out what kind of RAM you're replacing the existing RAM with. Typically, the G60-445DX comes with 3 GB of RAM -- a 2 GB memory stick and a 1 GB stick. If you're running a 32-bit version of Windows Vista, that's pretty close to the maximum amount of RAM the system can make use of, but if you're running a 64-bit operating system (and you have a chipset that can support it) you may be able to take advantage of a memory increase. To find out more about the kind and amount of RAM your system needs, visit Crucial.com and run the free memory scanner.

Once you have the new memory sticks and you're ready to install them, power down the computer (using the Shut Down option from the Start menu), unplug it from any power source, and remove the battery. To remove the battery, flip the computer over (after you've closed the computer, of course) and push the tab located just below and to the side of the battery (the long skinny rectangle) all the way to the side away from the battery. When the tab is pushed over, the battery should pop up a little bit. Remove it and store it somewhere safe.

Next, remove the memory compartment cover. This cover is squarish in appearance and is located pretty much in the center of the bottom of the laptop. With a small Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws securing the cover.  Once the cover is off, you'll see the memory sticks.

Before touching the memory, you should discharge any potential static electricity you might have built up. If you're using an ESD wrist strap or anti-static mat, you should be okay, but most people don't have either of those. Touch something metal, such as a grounding pipe in your basement or a doorknob, before touching your computer's electrical components.

The G60-445DX comes standard with two sticks of memory. To remove each one, release the retaining clips (one on each side) holding the memory in by pushing them away from the RAM to either side. Once they are both released, the memory stick should pop up a little bit. Pull it up to a 45-degree angle and gently remove it from its slot. Repeat the procedure for the second stick.

Be careful when handling both the old and new memory. Avoid touching any part of the stick if possible other than the upper edges -- do not touch the contacts (the gold stripes on the bottom) or the memory itself (the raised black rectangles), and store the old memory in anti-static bags. (The new memory should have come in them -- they are plastic and generally clear blue.)

To install the new memory, insert the sticks just like you removed the old ones -- at a 45-degree angle. Slowly push each one in until you see it slide into place.  (For the interior slot, you may still see the top of the electrical contacts showing when the stick is fully inserted.) Then push it down so it is flat and make sure the retaining clips snap closed. When both sticks are installed, reattach and screw down the cover, then put the battery back in and boot up the computer.

If the computer doesn't turn on, or doesn't start up normally, one or both of the sticks is probably not seated correctly. Turn the computer off, remove the battery, and try it again. (Having to seat the RAM more than once is not uncommon.)

Once you've gotten Windows to load, open the system properties screen. (In Vista, right click on Computer and select Properties.) Verify that the amount of RAM showing is the correct amount. (In 32-bit operating systems, if you have 4 GB installed, all 4 GB will probably not show up.) If the amount of RAM listed is correct, your job is done.

If you've increased the amount of RAM, you'll hopefully notice a boost in system performance. Sometimes you might get a bad RAM stick, so keep the old memory just in case. If you begin to experience system instability problems or memory address errors, there's a good chance one of the new memory sticks is bad.

(Originally published on Helium.com, May 2010)

How to run hardware diagnostic tests on a Dell Latitude D610 laptop

Like many Dell computers, the Latitude D610 comes with some built-in hardware troubleshooting tools that you can use to try to narrow down what's causing a specific problem -- and hopefully even fix it.  The hardware diagnostics tests for the D610 can be run on startup, and they are a very good troubleshooting resource.

Follow these steps to run the built-in troubleshooter for your Dell D610 laptop:

First, shut down the computer using the standard method for the operating system you are running.  (For example, in Windows XP go to the Start menu and select Shut Down.)  Wait for the computer to fully power down.

With the computer off, hold down the <F12> key and then press the power button to turn the computer on.  The Dell logo will appear, and then a text menu will be displayed with various hardware options.  Scroll down to the last option, Diagnostics, using the arrow key and then press <ENTER>.

Various hardware tests will begin running.  The results will be displayed (either Pass or Fail) and if any component fails, a box will pop up saying "Error detected, continue testing?"  To continue, press <Y>; to stop the test at this point, press <N>.  To retry that specific component test, press <R>.  The computer will emit a series of beeps if an error is detected.

If you get to the point where the monitor colors are tested, various colored bars will be displayed on the screen and you'll see a message that says "Were color bars displayed?"  Press <Y> if you see them or <N> if you don't.

If you make it through the test, a message will be displayed saying "Booting Dell Diagnostic Utility Partition."  This is the program that allows you to run individual and more specific tests.  Press any key to begin.

At this point the system will switch to a graphical interface where you can use the touch pad and buttons to control it.  There will be options for Express Test (a quick check of components), Extended Test (a longer, more intensive check), Custom Test (where you can pick which specific component or components to check), and Symptom Tree (where you can choose which tests to run based on the problems the computer is exhibiting).

Pick the test you want to run, then follow the prompts and wait for the test to complete.  If any error codes are displayed, write them down for reference (and to give to Dell's tech support if necessary).  These tests are very self-explanatory, and once you finish one you can go back and run some others if you wish.

To exit out of the troubleshooter when you are finished, just close each open window by clicking on the X in the upper right corner.  Once you close the Main Menu, the laptop will begin the normal boot process and the operating system will load.


(Originally published on Helium.com, October 2011)