Vostro 3350 - Replaceable Hard Drive and Battery?

Question

Hello,

I'm considering the Vostro 3350, but there seems to be a lack of information about this model. Can someone please answer the following questions:

1. Is it reasonably simple to replace the hard drive? Does it follow the same procedure as indicated in the 3300 service manual, or do you need to disassemble most of the system to get to the drive?

2. Is the battery easily replaceable? The Engadget spec sheet for the 3350 shows the 4 and 8 cell batteries as 'integrated'. Furthermore, I can't seem to find any 3350 replacement batteries on the Dell site.

3. How many hours can one expect with the i3-2310m and 4 cell battery and reasonable usage?

Thanks!

PS: Dell, please post the service manual.

DELL-Terry B · Accepted Answer

Mgheath

I don't have as service manual for you yet. I did check on the hard drive and battery though. The battery socket lies on the bottom of the system near the end. There are two buttons on the battery that you slide together to unlatch the battery then you simply slide the battery out.

Removing the hard drive is fairly simple. Remove the battery and access panel to reveal the hard drive. The access panel is on the bottom of the system, unscrew the two screws and the panel comes off. This exposes the hard drive, memory slots and minicard slot. The hard drive is held in by two screws, and has an interposer with cable to connect to the SATA controller socket. Gently pry off the interposer connector to the system board, unscrew the two screws and slide the hard drive out of its socket. The hard drive will have a metal grid that you can remove by unscrewing two more screws. You can also slide off the interposer from the hard drive in case you need to replace the drive.

I hope that this answers your questions.

TB

megaoctane · Answer

Hi,

I just ordered a Dell Vostro 3350, and was planning to install a SSD. Just today I found out that the the 3450 is extremely difficult/nearly impossible for the common man to replace the HDD.

I saw your answer to @Mgheath, and was wondering if it is 100% confirmed that it is as easy as you say it is, to replace the HDD in the 3350?

Has mgheath gotten his Vostro?

When will the service hadbook be online?

Brgds

Megaoctane

slarti242 · Answer

Hello Terry B,

what if the access Panel does not come off after I unscrewed the two screws on the bottom.

This is my first "Consumer" -Dell as I am a Network-Administrator and normally It's Dell Rack Servers I have to deal with.

But for the servers until now there was always a documentation about changing/replacing any changeable part of the system.

Why such downfal with the Vostro 3350 Laptops??

Greetings,

slarti242

megaoctane · Answer

I have replaced the original HDD with a new Intel 320 series SSD. It was as easy as Terry said.

DELL-Terry B · Answer

Slarti242 and Askandresponse

On the photo you will notice a small plastic tab near the right screwhole. Use a flathead screw driver to gently pry the access panel up, then slide the screwdriver across the edge of the access panel until it lifts up.

TB

slarti242 · Answer

Thanks to ASKANDRESPONSE! What he describes is exactly my problem, too.

askandresponse · Answer

Hello Terry!

I want to add additional RAM but I can't open the bottom panel.

On the photo you see the removed screws but if I try to pull the panel up, it hangs ob the red marked spot. I can't see why?? What I'm doing wrong?

direct link to photo: http://www.fotos-hochladen.net/view/img008337bntrf1woy.jpg

Thanks in advance!!!

askandresponse · Answer

Hi Terry

thanks for the fast answer!

What I've done is to pull on the right corner (big black arrow). But it opens only some millimeter and get less in the direction to the smaller arrows until it opens zero millimeter at the point of the red circle.

I've fear to burst the small plastic so sorry for the qestion ones more: Is this the right way (pull up the black arrows)?

http://img4.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/img00834nb8ateclf5.jpg

Thank you very much!!

megaoctane · Answer

you won't burst it. just keep easy pushing on it, and it will open. the first time is the hardest. i have changed harddrive and added 2GB more RAM.

askandresponse · Answer

Hi Terry and megaoctane! Thanks for your help - I've done it now! Used a flathead screw driver, little presure and forgott the fear ;-)

DELL-Terry B · Answer

That is good news.  Congrats on the added memory for the system. TB

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Vostro 3350 - Replaceable Hard Drive and Battery?

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