Inspiron 1520 – Windows 7 and 10

System Upgrades

Service Manual

Ensure you reference your service manual before carrying out upgrades:

The most recommended upgrade for this system is a Solid State Drive, here is my affiliate link to Crucial here. If purchasing a SSD or Memory Upgrade please use these links as I will get a tiny bit of commission which will help fund my guides.

SSD Drive Upgrade

Memory Upgrade:

This system supports 2 GB of RAM (2×2 GB Modules). This can also be purchased using the affiliate link above.

Media Direct

Media Direct should be installed before the Operating System in order for the Media Direct Button to function correctly.

Operating System

It is recommended to install Windows 10 on this system see Windows OEM FAQs and Downloads. The Windows Vista OEM or Windows XP Product Key won't be compatible with Windows 10 Installation Media however you can run Windows 10 Unlicensed. Windows 10 will have most of the system drivers required inbuilt however you can install the Windows 7 Drivers if you have any unknown Devices in the Device Manager.

Drivers and Downloads for Windows 7

Legacy BIOS

System Utilities (Windows 7 Only)

Chipset (Windows 7)

Card Reader

Communications (Windows 7 Only)

Not all systems have a modem. If the Driver fails to install, there is no need to try and install the rest in this category.

Video (Windows 7 Only)

Input

Dell Wireless Cards

Audio (Windows 7 Only)

Install the Registry Edit and then the Audio Driver.

Registry Edit

HTML

Open up Notepad or Notepad++, copy and paste the above and save the file (as all types) ending with the extension .reg. Once done right click the reg file and run.

Add the entries to your registry before installing the Audio Driver.

Application

MediaDirect Updates

Requires installation of the Media Direct Program

4 thoughts on “Inspiron 1520 – Windows 7 and 10

  1. Hi, first of all, thanks for this site. Further to updating my 1520 from Vista to W7 Ultimate, everything works perfectly, except for the fact that Windows and Fn keys have swapped functionality…not a big issue, but additionally, Fn (now Windows) key doesn't work except for the brightness adjustment. The rest of functions are disabled. Any support on this??

    1. I've no idea how the Windows and FN key have swapped functionality, I've never seen that before. Are you sure you don't have a jammed key or something? I would try to reseat the keyboard.

  2. Hi, I have a keyboard problem too when I upgrade my dads Inspiron 1520 to Windows 7. Some of the numerical keys stop working. It is definitely a software issue. I presume it is driver related. Googling shows me that I'm not the first person to have keyboard problems doing this. Any suggestions? Would an older driver fix it?

  3. Thanks Philip, your guides just rock.
    I'm gonna upgrade to a SSD drive (256 or 512 GB). However, since it provides a poor SATA II gate, I'm wondering whether our 1520 accepts SATA III compatible SSD drives (although with somehow reduced data transfer rate) or they are completely incompatible with our device?
    Thank you in advance.

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