Bought Dell Used, Not sure what I need to do to fix problem

The first thing to do is to open the case and clean out the dust in the PC.  Clean the CPU heatsink fins and fan and all air intake and exhaust areas. 

Where is the PC located? Is it in an area that allows for cool and adequate air flow/ventillation?  (A PC desk compartment is usually a worst case area). 

Lights 3 and 4 do say memory.  Can you find out from the person you bought it from if that was the original Dell memory or if it is non-Dell memory.  Dell's can be finnicky about memory, some brands will work in a given PC and some brands will not.  Kingston "Value RAM" is one that is known to be troublesome.  There should also be a Dell diagnostic partition on the hard drive (usually accessed with F12) that you can access at initial boot up - run the diagnostics and see if it shows anything.

Most new Dell's, in that era (I have an E510 which is similar) have a Dell Recovery Partition on the hard drive that will allow restoring the PC to the original factory software setup (unless this partition was removed).  If this originally came with XP it's CTRL/F11, if it originally came with Vista it's F8. This doesn't require any disks.  However, there were also an Operating System disk and a Utilities CD with drivers that also comes with a new PC.  You can download any driver from the Dell downloads so that part is not an issue.  Dell will provide replacement disks (in most cases) but they will only do that for the original registered owner.  But, did the PC originally come with Vista? or did the original owner install that? If it came with Vista it have a DVD for Vista, not a CD.

HERE is the Dell downloads for both XP and Vista for this model. 

On a manual reinstall the sequence is (1) Install Windows (2) Install Chipset drivers (3) Install Device Drivers such as Sound, Video, etc.  On this model there are two NVDIA/SM Bus chipset drivers required.

Thanks for the quick reply!

I am barely able to get the pc to start. I am not even sure what OS was on it when they bought the PC, but I think it was VISTA. It does have a recovery partition, but without being able to boot the darned thing, I can't get to the recovery menu at this time - haha. Again, I am not sure if the RAM is Dell or not.

The PC is probably not in the best place, as far as air flow goes, but the desk is an open one, and the tower does have adequate air around it to facilitate the air flow. I do blow the dust out about once a month, so I don't think that is an issue.

I would hate to buy more RAM for this if the error is something else.

Thanks again for your help!

Wish me luck!!

If you can get it to boot, run the diagnostics as noted (usually F12 at boot up to access the diagnostic partition) and see if it shows anything.

(Maybe the problems is why the "friend" sold the PC).

ravynwytch:

I am barely able to get the pc to start. I am not even sure what OS was on it when they bought the PC, but I think it was VISTA. It does have a recovery partition, but without being able to boot the darned thing, I can't get to the recovery menu at this time - haha. Again, I am not sure if the RAM is Dell or not. The PC is probably not in the best place, as far as air flow goes, but the desk is an open one, and the tower does have adequate air around it to facilitate the air flow. I do blow the dust out about once a month, so I don't think that is an issue. I would hate to buy more RAM for this if the error is something else. Thanks again for your help! Wish me luck!!

Hello ravynytch, HERE  is a link to the Dell site for the E521 manual, if it can be of any assistance.

I could not locate anywhere in the manual about the Dell Recovery Restore Utility, but most Dell systems have this now.

As fireberd mentioned, Dell systems can be picky when it comes to memory.

Also, Dell systems are prone to overheat conditions.

I would first clean the dust from inside the system with some computer rated compressed air, not just any compressed air, as it may have moisture embedded in it.

Then boot the system and immediately press the ctrl and the F11 key at the same time and see if it will enter the Dell Recovery Restore Utility.

If so just follow the onscreen instructions and the system should be recovered back to the way it was shipped from Dell.

You will loose any data that has been added since it was shipped, but as you mention, you cannot access it now.

If you are uncertain about the memory, you might try to press the F12 key when the Dell logo appears and run a hardware diagonostic test.

Just some thoughts.

Thanks everybody!

I removed all the ram sticks, again, and it booted fine, and is running well. I think what I am going to do is upgrade the ram to the full 4g it can expand to.

I'm not sure why that didn't work the first time I did it, but oh well, at least its up and running now!

hopefully this will be the last time I have to post for this computer! haha

ravynwytch:

 

I think what I am going to do is upgrade the ram to the full 4g it can expand to.

Make sure you buy compatible RAM - to avoid having similar problems again

I'd suggest using the 'Memory Advisor Tool' on the Crucial website.

It'll subsequently recommend what RAM is suitable, and you're safe in the knowledge that the Crucial RAM recommended is guaranteed to be compatible with your Dell system