Dell Inspiron 7000 Service Manual

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							____________________
Information in this manual is subject to change without notice.
© 1998 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: 
Dell and the DELL logo are registered trademarks and Inspiron is a trademark of Dell Computer Corporation; MS-DOS 
is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks and MMX is a trademark of Intel Corporation; IBM is 
a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell 
Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
August 1998     P/N 6086C 
						

							v
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System Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-1
Physical Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-2
Status Display  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-3
Battery Charge Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-4
System Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-5
Power Management Mode  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-5
Smart CPU Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-6
Standby Time-Out  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-6
Suspend Time-Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-6
Suspend Mode  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-7
Interrupt Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-7
Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-8
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Initial User Contact  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2-1
Visual Inspection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2-2
Observing the Boot Routine  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2-4
Eliminating Resource Conflicts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2-5
Getting Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2-5
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POST Beep Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3-1
System Error Messages  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3-2
Running the Dell Diagnostics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3-4
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Recommended Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-1
Screw Identification and Tightening  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-2
Precautionary Measures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-2
ZIF Connectors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-8
Exploded View of Components and Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-10 
						

							vi
Factory Repair Parts and Assemblies  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-15
Hard-Disk Drive  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-28
Combo Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-29
General Disassembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-31
Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-32
Thermal Shield and Internal Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-34
Display Assembly and Components  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-36
Display Assembly  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-37
Front Bezel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-38
13.3-Inch LCD Panel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-39
13.3-Inch LCD Brackets and Carrier Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-41
14.1-Inch LCD Panel, Brackets, and Carrier Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-42
Palmrest Assembly and Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-44
MPEG-2 Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-45
Palmrest Assembly  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-46
IR Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-48
Hard-Disk Drive Heat Shield  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-49
Touch Pad Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-50
Speakers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-52
Base Assembly and Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-53
PC Card Heat Sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-54
Heat Exchanger/Fan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-55
DC-DC Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-56
LVDS Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-57
Processor Board and Memory Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-58
Hinge Saddles  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-60
RJ-11 Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-61
System Board  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-62
PC Card Cage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-63
Audio Card and Audio Thermal Shield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-64
Latch Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-65
)LJXUHVFigure 1-1. Front View   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-2
Figure 1-2. Back View   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-3
Figure 1-3. Indicator Panel above Keyboard  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-3
Figure 1-4. Indicator Panel on Front of Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-4
Figure 1-5. Battery Charge Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-5
Figure 4-1. Computer Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-1
Figure 4-2. Screw Identification  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-2
Figure 4-3. AC Adapter Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-3
Figure 4-4. Computer Removal From Inspiron Port Replicator II  . . . . . .  4-4
Figure 4-5. Main Battery Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-4 
						

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Figure 4-6. PC Card Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-5
Figure 4-7. Hard-Disk Drive Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-6
Figure 4-8. Memory Module and Video Card Cover Removal . . . . . . . . .  4-6
Figure 4-9. Memory Module Removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-7
Figure 4-10. Video Card Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-7
Figure 4-11. Combo Module or Secondary Battery Removal  . . . . . . . . . .  4-8
Figure 4-12. Releasing a ZIF Connector  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-9
Figure 4-13. Exploded View—Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-10
Figure 4-14. Exploded View—13.3-Inch Display Assembly . . . . . . . . . . .  4-11
Figure 4-15. Exploded View—14.1-Inch Display Assembly . . . . . . . . . . .  4-12
Figure 4-16. Exploded View—Palmrest Assembly  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-13
Figure 4-17. Exploded View—Base Assembly  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-14
Figure 4-18. Hard-Disk Drive Disassembly  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-28
Figure 4-19. CD-ROM/DVD-ROM Disassembly  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-29
Figure 4-20. Diskette Drive Disassembly  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-30
Figure 4-21. Keyboard Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-32
Figure 4-22. Thermal Shield Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-34
Figure 4-23. Modem Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-35
Figure 4-24. Display Assembly Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-37
Figure 4-25. Front Bezel Removal   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-38
Figure 4-26. 13.3-Inch LCD Panel Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-39
Figure 4-27. 13.3-Inch LCD Brackets and Carrier Tray Removal . . . . . . .  4-41
Figure 4-28. 14.1-Inch LCD Panel Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-42
Figure 4-29. MPEG-2 Card Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-45
Figure 4-30. Palmrest Assembly Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-46
Figure 4-31. IR Board Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-48
Figure 4-32. Hard-Disk Drive Heat Shield Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-49
Figure 4-33. Touch Pad Assembly Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-50
Figure 4-34. Speaker Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-52
Figure 4-35. PC Card Heat Sink Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-54
Figure 4-36. Heat Exchanger/Fan Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-55
Figure 4-37. DC-DC Board Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-56
Figure 4-38. LVDS Board Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-57
Figure 4-39. Processor Board and Memory Module Removal  . . . . . . . .  4-58
Figure 4-40. Hinge Saddle Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-60
Figure 4-41. RJ-11 Card Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-61
Figure 4-42. System Board Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-62
Figure 4-43. PC Card Cage Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-63
Figure 4-44. Audio Card and Audio Thermal Shield Removal  . . . . . . . . .  4-64
Figure 4-45. Latch Assembly Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-65 
						

							viii
7DEOHVTable 1-1. Interrupt Assignments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-7
Table 1-2. Technical Specifications  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1-8
Table 3-1. POST Beep Codes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3-2
Table 3-2. System Error Messages  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3-2
Table 4-1. Factory Repair Parts and Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-15
Table 4-2. Screw Location Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4-31 
						

							ix 
						

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A prerequisite for using this manual to service Dell computer systems is a basic 
knowledge of IBM®-compatible PCs and prior training in IBM-compatible PC 
troubleshooting techniques.  In addition to information provided in this manual 
and the 
User’s Guide that came with the system, Dell provides the Diagnostics 
and Troubleshooting Guide
 for troubleshooting procedures and instructions on 
using the Dell diagnostics to test the computer system.
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Throughout this manual, there may be blocks of text printed in bold type or in 
italic type.  These blocks are warnings, cautions, and notes, and they are used 
as follows:
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NOTE:  A NOTE provides helpful information about using the computer system. 
						

							System Overview 1-1
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The Dell® Inspiron™ 7000 is an expandable, multimedia portable computer 
that uses the Intel® Pentium® II microprocessors with MMX™ technology. 
This chapter provides an overview of the components and subsystems of this 
computer. 
Model names for the Inspiron 7000 indicate the operating frequency of the 
microprocessor (266 for 266 MHz or 300 for 300 MHz), the size (X for 13.3-inch 
LCD or G for 14.1-inch LCD) of the display, and the type (T for TFT) of display.
‡The Inspiron 7000 D266XT contains a Pentium II microprocessor with 
MMX technology 266 MHz and a 13.3-inch XGA active-matrix TFT LCD.
‡The Inspiron 7000 D266GT contains a Pentium II microprocessor with 
MMX technology 266 MHz and a 14.1-in. XGA active-matrix TFT LCD.
‡The Inspiron 7000 D300GT contains a Pentium II microprocessor with 
MMX technology 300 MHz and a 14.1-in. XGA active-matrix TFT LCD.
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In addition to the standard features found in IBM-compatible portable comput-
ers, the Dell Inspiron 7000 computers include the following new and/or 
advanced features:
‡A minimum of 32 MB of SDRAM on the system board. The memory capac-
ity can be increased up to 192 MB by increasing the SDRAM on the 
system board to 64 MB and/or by installing 32- or 64-MB 3.3-V memory 
modules in the two user-accessible memory module sockets.
‡A 13.3-inch active-matrix XGA display on the Inspiron 7000 D266XT;
a 14.1-inch active-matrix XGA display on the Inspiron 7000 D266GT and 
D300GT.
‡65-WH smart lithium ion battery (12 cells).
‡512-KB SRAM level-2 external cache and 32-KB internal cache. 
‡ATI Rage LT Pro 64-bit video controller incorporating an accelerated graph-
ics port (AGP2X) that bypasses the PCI bus and transmits graphics data 
about four times more quickly. Standard memory is 4 MB, with an optional 
upgrade to 8 MB.
‡Intel Mobile 440BX AGP system chip set. 
‡Built-in microphone; built-in speakers; jacks for headphones, line-in, and 
line-out. 
						

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‡A media bay that accepts a combination CD-ROM/diskette drive, combina-
tion DVD-ROM and diskette drive, or secondary lithium ion battery. 
‡Built-in serial IrDA 1.1-compliant infrared communications port, effective to 
1 m (3.3 ft).
‡Universal Serial Bus (USB), which provides a single connection point for 
multiple USB-compliant devices such as mice, printers, keyboards, joy-
sticks, and computer speakers. USB devices are hot-pluggable, meaning 
that they can be connected and disconnected while the system is running.
‡PCI docking connector for full port replication.
‡Kensington Lock, which secures the notebook.
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Figures 1-1 and 1-2 illustrate front and back views of the Inspiron 7000.
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display
speaker touch pad 
buttons (2)indicator panel
display latches
keyboard
touch padpower button
options bay
main batterydisplay close/
suspend button
microphone
display release
air intake
modem port
indicator panel