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In this guide I explain how to access the memory module installed into the internal slot on a Dell Latitude D520 laptop. You can use this guide for removing/replacing the keyboard or replacing/upgrading laptop memory.
Dell Latitude D520 laptop has two memory slots. One of them can be easily accessed through the door on the bottom of the laptop. The second memory slot is hidden under the keyboard.
Before you start, don’t forget to turn off the laptop and remove the battery.
On the following picture you can see the memory module installed into the external slot located on the bottom of the laptop.
We’ll start removing the keyboard with removing the bezel.
Insert a flat head screwdriver under the right side of the bezel and carefully lift it up.
Continue removing the keyboard bezel with your fingers.
Now you can remove two screws securing the keyboard.
Carefully lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest.
Under the keyboard you get access to the cooling fan.
If the cooling fan looks dirty, you can remove dust with compressed air.
By the way, if the laptop shuts down on its own while running multiple applications, most likely it happens because of CPU overheating. In this case cleaning the cooling fan and heat sink will fix the problem.
In order to access the memory module installed in the internal slot, you’ll have to turn the keyboard as it shown on the picture below.
It’s not necessary to disconnect the keyboard from the motherboard. Leave it connected.
To remove the memory module simply spread latches on both sides until the module pops up at a 30 degree angle.
Now you can pull the memory module from the internal slot and replace it with a new one if needed.
Dell Latitude D520 can take up to 4GB memory total. You can install up to 2GB memory sticks into each slot.
Dell recommends using PC2-5300 DDR2-667 200pin SDRAM SODIMM modules.
It’s possible to use faster memory modules, for example PC2-6400 DDR2-800 should work fine, but they will clock down and run at PC2-5300 speed.
It’s not necessary to change any settings after upgrading laptop memory. The laptop will detect and configure new memory on the first start up.
December 15th, 2012 at 3:59 am
how can I find out which chipset my D520 has?
October 2nd, 2012 at 6:24 am
For Jason..”Your step-by-step directions are dead on perfect. I upgraded the one under the keyboard to 2GB and it’s just fine. But when I upgrade the one under the computer to 2GB with the identical type that worked in the first slot, the computer won’t turn on. An error flash code appears in my num, caps, and scroll lock lights, and the computer won’t turn on. Any ideas?”
Aaron’s comment “Also there are 2 different types of Dell Latitude D520 the chipset is the difference. If your Laptop has the i940 chipset you are limited to only 2 gigs but if you have the i945 chipset you can upgrade to 4 gigs ram.” is the clue. If you have the i940 chipset, the bottom memory slot will only accept a 1 Gb memory or less. You can put 2 Gb under the keyboard and a 1 gb in the second slot and although the system will see 3 gb of memory at boot up, windows will still only see 2 gb of memory.
March 6th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Also there are 2 different types of Dell Latitude D520 the chipset is the difference. If your Laptop has the i940 chipset you are limited to only 2 gigs but if you have the i945 chipset you can upgrade to 4 gigs ram.
February 23rd, 2011 at 9:58 pm
Jason,
1. The bottom slot could be bad.
Remove memory module from the slot located under the keyboard and test in the bottom slot.
2. The second memory module could be bad.
Try installing the secondary memory module into the slot under the keyboard and see if it works.
February 23rd, 2011 at 2:45 pm
Your step-by-step directions are dead on perfect. I upgraded the one under the keyboard to 2GB and it’s just fine. But when I upgrade the one under the computer to 2GB with the identical type that worked in the first slot, the computer won’t turn on. An error flash code appears in my num, caps, and scroll lock lights, and the computer won’t turn on. Any ideas?
February 6th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Thanks, very Helpful.
But i would like to know how to replace the hdd.
Regreats.
Saludos
January 10th, 2011 at 5:55 am
very helpful, easy to understand and perfect pictures to show what and how to do .
thanks a lot
November 29th, 2010 at 8:57 am
the internal card lan not detected (xp or seven)
November 28th, 2010 at 11:03 am
meyes,
Your description is not very clear.
It’s not detecting just the PCMCIA card or internal LAN (Ethernet) port too?
If the laptop cannot see both, the internal LAN port and external PCMCIA LAN card in two different Windows OS, this sounds like motherboard failure.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:31 am
My xp or seven in d520 not dectect any card lan same for pcmcia lan whts the problem
thanks for help