Upgrading the Hard Drive

• 1). Power down the computer. Disconnect the power plug and all external devices from the computer. Touch an unpainted metal surface to discharge static electricity from your body. Do this periodically while working inside your computer to prevent electrical damage.
  
  
• 2). Rotate the computer so the rear panel is facing you. Pull on the side panel release lever on the upper-right corner on the back of the computer. Remove the right side access panel. Lay the computer tower horizontally on its left side.
  
  
• 3). Locate the drive bay attached to the computer's front panel. Disconnect all data and power cables from the back of the drives inside the bay. Disengage the latch securing the drive bay to the front panel. Lift the entire drive bay out of the computer.
  
  
• 4). Locate the hard drive just below the CD/DVD drive in the drive bay. Remove the Phillips-head screws from each side of the hard drive. Pull the drive out of its slot on the drive bay. Set it aside. Place the new hard drive inside the empty slot. Align the screw holes on the new drive with the screw holes on the drive bay. Replace the retaining screws on each side of the hard drive slot.
  
  
• 5). Replace the drive bay on the computer's front panel. Reconnect all the data and power cables to their appropriate drives.
  
  

Upgrading RAM

• 1). Locate the RAM slots near the center of the motherboard. Spread apart the retaining latches on each end of the RAM module you want to replace. This will release the module from its memory slot. Lift the module out of its slot.
  
  
• 2). Place the replacement memory inside an empty memory slot while aligning the notches on the memory module with the notches inside the slot. Press down on the memory module until the retaining latches snap it into place.
  
  
• 3). Repeat this procedure for each RAM module you remove and replace.
  
  

Upgrading the Processor

• 1). Remove the Phillips-head screws securing the CPU cooling fan to the center of the motherboard. Disconnect the fan's power cable from the motherboard, and then remove the cooling fan assembly from the motherboard.
  
  
• 2). Lift straight up on the processor's locking lever until it is in the upright position. Grasp each side of the processor with your fingertips, and then remove the processor from its socket. Store the removed processor in a static-free plastic bag.
  
  
• 3). Align the pins on the new processor with the pin holes inside the processor socket. Place the processor inside the socket. Press down on the processor until it is fully seated inside the socket. Pull the locking lever down to lock the processor in place. Apply a thin coat of thermal paste evenly to the processor's surface before replacing the fan assembly.
  
  
• 4). Place the cooling fan assembly over the processor chip. Replace the retaining Phillips-head screws, and reconnect the fan's power cable to the motherboard.
  
  
• 5). Replace the side access panel. Place the computer vertically, and then reconnect all cables and devices.