How to replace Hard Drive in M2010 - Dell XPS M2010 Notebook

This machine was designed for Vista and I am not sure that XP has the required drivers to load the mother board correctly.
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh

The system, if configured to boot from the CD/DVD drive should take most of the OS before it seizes up.

Check out ebay for a cable. Someone may be breaking one for spares.

Hello. Remove the battery and clean the contacts of both the battery and the keyboard with the eraser end of a common pencil. Then reinstall the battery. J.

Ensure it is still connected inside.

The M2010 has a separate discrete video card from the motherboard.
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=M2010+video+card&_sacat=See-All-Categories
If the dots are not seen in Windows, then it might just be a BIOS glitch (Try flashing to most current)
I'd only bother with it if the problem exists in Windows and the Diagnostics

Which light flashes?

You can try to run the diagnostics, while the computer is off Press and hold the power button with the Fn key,
If you have bad hardware it will an annoying sound.

This can help minimize the problem.

If it gives you the sound you can post here the LEDs on the keyboard so i can tell you what it means or simply you can contact dell tech support for further help.

All you have to do is press on the door for the cd and it will open.

If they've changed everything else, why didn't they replace the power supply? That's the next part to target for replacement, other than the on/off switch (or button) itself. With no system board beep codes it's apparent that the mobo isn't gettting any juice at all.

Also try disconnecting everything from the mobo but the power supply - including pulling add-on cards. One or more attached devices may be contributing to the problem. If it comes to life start adding things back until it fails - you've just identified the culprit.

Good Luck!

Ok. Here is the thing. I hope everybody sold their problem, but I will just post for others who may experience the same thing.

1st believe it or not : there is nothing wrong with motherboard, as when you press the power button, computer will shut down. with defective motherboard it will just continue running untill you will unplug it.

2nd believe it or not : it can not be battery issue or hard drive issue, because it does not make any scenes in any way. I have to agree that hard drive on the right is semi-correct answer.

REASON:

IT is video card that messing up everything. And it is located right under right hard drive. That's why when somebody removed hard drive he/she accidentally corrected the cooling system of video card , which returned M2010 to live.

CONFIRMATION:

1. First remove the top cover from the computer. There are 2 sides the plastic things. If you look at the back of your laptop you will see 2 small holes , one on every edge of the back. You stick something there it will loose the front cover.
2. unscrew all the screws hat have ">" or "<" signs next to them. there are something about 15-16 screws in total: this will allow you to open the cover under wich you can find the motherboard and stuff. When you open the cover pry to start the computer, and you will see that fans will not start even after 1-2 minutes after you hit the power button.
3. Remove the right hard drive and under it you will find screws A, B, C, D (silver) and also 1,2,3,4 (black) unscrew the black ones first, them remove video card with the cooling mechanism. now try to turn on the machine. you can see that after like 20-30 seconds fans start working which means that motherboard is fine and it was the video card that was giving problems.

SOLUTION:

1. I am not sure what causes the issue but I have fixed it this way:
uscrew silver screws and disconnect cooling part from the actual video card.

2. clean both, video card and cooling system not touching sky blue foam ICs. That staff is needed to cool the chips on the video card.

3. let them dry for an hour or so after cleening, than apply some Thermal compound, thermal paste and re assemble the video card with the cooling staff. (mek sure no screw is loose or something)

4. put it back and turn on the computer. If it works , whell .. it works now :)

if not then either you levae some liquid on the video card or screws are loose. try to play a bit with screws. but my personal suggestion is just to wait for a minute or two until video card gets hot and fixes liquid problems itself :)

Try it. It worked for me perfectly ...