While Windows 7 may have most of the drivers you need for the 1520, I doubt it. First, and foremost, you should back up your data. If your system is not stable enough to do this, do not worry. There are ways around that problem.
You can restore your 1520 to its as-shipped condition using the Dell PC Restore by Symantec which is located in a hidden partition on your drive. The restore process takes around 15-20 minutes. Much, much quicker than doing a clean install from the Windows XP Reinstallation CD and then loading drivers and pre-installed software from the drivers and applications CD(s).
Restoring your system to its as-shipped state is explained here: <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>
Step 3 of these instructions explains how to access the Dell PC Restore by Symantec. The timing of simultaneously holding and releasing the CTRL and F11 keys can be a bit tricky, but it will work.
Once you back up your data and restore your system to its as-shipped condition, you can go to Microsoft and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. That will give you a good idea of what software and hardware issues you will face if you upgrade to Windows 7. The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor is is here: www.microsoft.com/.../details.aspx
The only drivers listed for the Inspiron 1520 are for Windows XP and Vista 32-bit as shown here: www.dell.com/.../19
Hope this information helps. Let us know how you fare.
I have installed Windows 7 64 bit on my Inspiron 1520 and it is a much better machine than it ever was running XP. Use the information in this link to get the drivers you will need.
Unfortunately, this was not included with my machine, which was shipped in June 2008 (they started this is April 2009). F8 does not get to any advanced boot options and I don;t see any reference to F11 at all.
The data is all backed up and this machine has very few programs installed. My wife is going away on business and needs it up and running quickly. Although I have never had very good luick with it, I may try the XP installation disc repair options.
The Dell PC Restore by Symantec shipped on all Dimensions and Inspirons running Windows XP that were manufactured on or after July 15, 2004. You are correct that Dell implemented the entirely different DataSafe backups in April 2009. In early 2006, Dell shipped systems with a time-limited trial version of Symantec Ghost 10. These systems still had the Dell PC Restore by Symantec option.
To access the Dell PC Restore by Symantec do the following: Shutdown your computer, turn it back on and press the CTRL and F11 keys at the same time while the Dell logo is on the screen. Release the two keys simultaneously just as the Dell logo clears. If you see a blue bar across the top of the screen with www.dell.com immediately after the Dell logo clears then Dell's proprietary boot record should be accessible. If not, then the system's proprietary boot record may have been changed by a Windows XP repair or XP has been completely reinstalled from the Reinstallation CD. If the PC Restore partition is still intact, you can use Dan Goodell''s DSRFIX program to reactivate the Proprietary Boot Record (PBR). See this: www.goodells.net/.../fixes.shtml This link is given for the benefit of others reading this post who may want to simply restore access to the PC Restore partition and use it to reinstall Windows XP.
Thanks to Peter-D-W for the heads up link to the Windows 7 drivers for the 1520. I've added his link to my 1520 reference file for Windows 7.
tgsmith
2.9K Posts
0
December 1st, 2011 21:00
DG27,
While Windows 7 may have most of the drivers you need for the 1520, I doubt it. First, and foremost, you should back up your data. If your system is not stable enough to do this, do not worry. There are ways around that problem.
You can restore your 1520 to its as-shipped condition using the Dell PC Restore by Symantec which is located in a hidden partition on your drive. The restore process takes around 15-20 minutes. Much, much quicker than doing a clean install from the Windows XP Reinstallation CD and then loading drivers and pre-installed software from the drivers and applications CD(s).
Restoring your system to its as-shipped state is explained here: <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>
Step 3 of these instructions explains how to access the Dell PC Restore by Symantec. The timing of simultaneously holding and releasing the CTRL and F11 keys can be a bit tricky, but it will work.
Once you back up your data and restore your system to its as-shipped condition, you can go to Microsoft and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. That will give you a good idea of what software and hardware issues you will face if you upgrade to Windows 7. The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor is is here: www.microsoft.com/.../details.aspx
The only drivers listed for the Inspiron 1520 are for Windows XP and Vista 32-bit as shown here: www.dell.com/.../19
Hope this information helps. Let us know how you fare.
Tony
peter-d-w
14 Posts
0
December 1st, 2011 23:00
I have installed Windows 7 64 bit on my Inspiron 1520 and it is a much better machine than it ever was running XP. Use the information in this link to get the drivers you will need.
mileski.wordpress.com/.../dell-inspiron-1520-windows-7-64-bit-drivers
I have upgraded the memory in my machine to 4Gb which was very worthwhile too.
dg27
675 Posts
0
December 2nd, 2011 05:00
Unfortunately, this was not included with my machine, which was shipped in June 2008 (they started this is April 2009). F8 does not get to any advanced boot options and I don;t see any reference to F11 at all.
The data is all backed up and this machine has very few programs installed. My wife is going away on business and needs it up and running quickly. Although I have never had very good luick with it, I may try the XP installation disc repair options.
Thanks.
DG
tgsmith
2.9K Posts
0
December 2nd, 2011 07:00
DG27,
The Dell PC Restore by Symantec shipped on all Dimensions and Inspirons running Windows XP that were manufactured on or after July 15, 2004. You are correct that Dell implemented the entirely different DataSafe backups in April 2009. In early 2006, Dell shipped systems with a time-limited trial version of Symantec Ghost 10. These systems still had the Dell PC Restore by Symantec option.
To access the Dell PC Restore by Symantec do the following: Shutdown your computer, turn it back on and press the CTRL and F11 keys at the same time while the Dell logo is on the screen. Release the two keys simultaneously just as the Dell logo clears. If you see a blue bar across the top of the screen with www.dell.com immediately after the Dell logo clears then Dell's proprietary boot record should be accessible. If not, then the system's proprietary boot record may have been changed by a Windows XP repair or XP has been completely reinstalled from the Reinstallation CD. If the PC Restore partition is still intact, you can use Dan Goodell''s DSRFIX program to reactivate the Proprietary Boot Record (PBR). See this: www.goodells.net/.../fixes.shtml This link is given for the benefit of others reading this post who may want to simply restore access to the PC Restore partition and use it to reinstall Windows XP.
Thanks to Peter-D-W for the heads up link to the Windows 7 drivers for the 1520. I've added his link to my 1520 reference file for Windows 7.
Tony