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December 10th, 2011 14:00

Trick to removing XPS 14z base cover?

Trying to open a new XPS 14z to swap out the hard disk for an Intel Series 320 SSD. After reading the service manual am still stumped in how to loosen and remove the base cover. The manual says (after removing the screws) to use your fingertips to release the tabs on the base cover from the slots on the palm-rest assembly, but from the illustration it's not at all clear precisely where these tabs might be.

Any technique tips would be appreciated; a short video clip would be even better.

 

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47K Posts

April 20th, 2012 12:00

Dell™ XPS™ 14z Owner's Manual

Before You Begin

Base Cover

Battery

Memory Module(s)

Wireless Mini-Card

Hard Drive

Coin-Cell Battery

Optical Drive

Hall-Sensor Board

Display-Converter Board

Heat Sink and Fan

System Board

Power-Button Board

Keyboard

Speakers

Display

Palm-Rest Assembly

Flashing the BIOS

Before You Begin

Dell™ XPS™ 14z Owner's Manual

   Recommended Tools

   Turning Off Your Computer

   Before Working Inside Your Computer

This manual provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist:


Recommended Tools

The procedures in this document may require the following tools:

  • Small flat-blade screwdriver

  • Phillips screwdriver

  • BIOS executable update program available at support.dell.com


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. Save and close all open files and exit all open programs.

  2. To shut down the operating system, click Start  and then click Shut Down.

  3. Ensure that the computer is turned off. If your computer did not automatically turn off when you shut down the operating system, press and hold the power button until the computer turns off.


Before Working Inside Your Computer

Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help to ensure your own personal safety.

 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: 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 your 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: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty.

 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.

 CAUTION: To avoid damaging the computer, perform the following steps before you begin working inside the computer.

  1. Ensure that the work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer cover from being scratched.

  2. Turn off your computer (see Turning Off Your Computer) and all attached devices.

 CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug the cable from the network device.

  1. Disconnect all telephone or network cables from the computer.

  2. Press and eject any installed cards from the Media Card Reader.

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

  4. Disconnect all attached devices from your computer.

  5. Remove the battery (see Removing the Battery).

  6. Turn the computer top-side up, open the display, and press the power button to ground the system board.

 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.

Base Cover

Dell™ XPS™ 14z Owner's Manual

   Removing the Base Cover

   Replacing the Base Cover

 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: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty.

 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 your computer).

Removing the Base Cover

  1. Follow the instructions in Before You Begin.

  2. Remove the eight screws that secure the base cover to the palm-rest assembly.

  3. Starting from the rear end, use your fingertips to release the tabs on the base cover from the slots on the palm-rest assembly.

1

base cover

2

screws (8)

  1. Lift the base cover off the palm-rest assembly.

24 Posts

November 2nd, 2012 09:00

Thanks for the picture guide, helped me alot.

I upgraded the harddrive to a Samsung SSD and swapped the visible 4GB RAM module for a 8GB Corsair, got a total of 12GB. Runs smooth.

10 Posts

November 2nd, 2012 11:00

Make sure to remove the SD blank before taking the cover off!

10 Posts

November 2nd, 2012 11:00

The other DIMM is on the other side of the motherboard so you need to competely remove the MB from the chassis to change it.

1 Message

July 4th, 2013 11:00

Actually, the rest of the RAM is on the underside of the board. It is not soldered in, it is socketed.

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