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Will SchmidtFlag for United States of America

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how to read codes on dell inspiron 1520

I have a Dell inspiron 1520 that will not boot up at all. When I press the power button the only thing that happens is that a light blinks above the keyboard.  beside the power button there are 3 symbols - "9" , "A" &  an arrow that points down.  The "A" Symbol is the one that is blinking.  
   What do those symbols represent and how do I read them?
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Lior Karasenti

I don't think that this symbols mean something related to your problem

Its just the Caps Lock keyboard (the A) the other 2 are for Num Lock and Scroll lock

Try Running the Dell Diagnostics F12 at startup and see what result you get
Here is the manual which may help with the symbols, etc.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1520/en/om_en/pdf/UX8623D.pdf
On page 108 it explain how to do a diagnotics.

Did it just stop working, or has it been siting for a while.  Explain how this issue started.
The diag led using the caps, num, scroll lock key definitely do give some indication of what may be wrong with your system. Go to this website to help differentiate what is wrong with your laptop. http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&docid=DSN_508579C5F3A14CB6E040AE0AB7E10F15&isLegacy=true
The blinking A refers to memory issues according to the diags document/
Try reseating the memory modules, note if there is only one memory module slot on the bottom of the computer the other memory module may be under the keyboard. I am not sure about this particular model. If you have memory that you can swap with another computer try to see if that will help. If you don't and reseating the memory does not help try pulling out one module at a time to see if you get the same error when you boot up. MAKE SURE you remove the power adapater and the battery before removing or inserting the memory modules. You should always ground your self by using a grounding strap to prevent static discharge. Memory is especially supceptible to being destroyed by static discharge, it is definitely worse during the winter months when the air is dry.
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ASKER

Thanks for your help and response.  I took out both the memory from the bottom and also from under the keyboard, found another laptop with DDR2 (and I know it is good because that laptop runs perfect) and installed it under the keyboard but I still get the same blinking light on "A".  

    A customer brought this laptop to me.  She says that the laptop just would not start up the other day.  She said it was working fine when she shut it off.  It's looking to me like a faulty motherboard, but I need to do some more diagnostic work on it before I come to any conclusion.  

     I removed the hard drive, DVD Drive, the keyboard, and unplugged the screen & plugged in an external screen and now nothing happens - no blinking light, nothing. ( I still have the good memory in)
Yeah it sounds like a bad mobo, although those are the diags indicators for Dell laptops they obviously do not always detect the correct problem. (I used to work for Dell, and I know troubleshooting with a customer, the the diags troubleshooting leds do not always accurately show where the problem lies). Since you removed all the CRUs and nothing happens, then you are right the problem is probably the mobo. I would try two other things to be sure, try booting the system with both memory modules removed. I would then replace all the CRU's you removed and try powering system on with only the power adapter (the battery removed). Or try powering system on with just the battery (the power apdapter removed). Let us know what happens.
Okay, the laptop is up and running!!

  Here is the update
 
  I put everything back together and then the "A" light was blinking like it was at first.  So then I started to take the components off one at a time and try the laptop each time.  First it was the hard drive, then I went to the memory at the bottom of the laptop.  Then I went to the memory under the keyboard. When I took it out I had both memories out. This time the "9" was on solid and the other two was blinking.  With a good laptop beside this one, I took one of the memories from the dell 1520 & tried it in the good laptop. it would not come on. I tried the other one and it came on. So I plugged that one in the bottom of the 1520 and Hey! it comes on good.  I took it out and plugged it into the the slot under the keyboard and "A" is blinking again.  So I replace it to the bottom and everything is good.

             what could have gone bad with that one connection?
SOLUTION
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PriceD

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It looks like the slot for the memory module is bad on this mobo, as well as the memory module that was in this slot was also bad (that is the memory module that would not work in the other computer. It is possible that the bad memory slot affected the memory as well. It is not clear what would have caused both to short out. If something was spilled on the laptop that could have shorted it out but then the keyboard would probably be shorted out as well. But this does not appear to be the case since your customer just said they just shut the comptuer down normally and was not able to turn it on again. It is just one of those things that some how the memory slot shorted out taking the memory module with it.
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My customer picked up her laptop & said she would bring it back later to have the mother board replaced.  She was a happy camper.  Thanks a bunch.