Dell problems (go figure)

[Tullphan]

I'm looking at a friend's pc...it's a Dimension E521 (out of warranty).
The problem initially started with graphics issues...first garbled colors, then checkerboarding...both text & colors.
Now, the machine won't boot. It'll power on, the fan spins, the DVD light comes on, but that's it.
I've tried a different PSU along with a different video card, but that didn't help.
I have no way of testing the CPU. I figure it's either that or the motherboard.
Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[AFurryReptile]

Sounds like the memory. Pull every stick but one from the machine, and try to boot. If it does, then one of the other sticks is bad. If it doesn't. Try a different stick. If you still can't fix it, the motherboard is probably shot.

It doesn't hurt to try removing usb devices, floppy disks, and unneeded PCI devices from the machine to see if one of those is causing the issue.

 

[Fardringle]

I bought four E521's for my office when they were on sale for a very good price. All four of them died within a week of each other (after about 2 years of use). The capacitors on the motherboards blew and took out the CPU and RAM with them. After it happened, the lights and fans would turn on, but nothing else worked.

I have had very good success with all other Dell models we have used, but to have four separate E521's die in the same way makes me suspect that yours might have done the same thing.

 

[Tullphan]

Odd. I pulled out 1 of the 2 sticks & it started. I let it run for a while w/no artifacts, etc.
I shut it down & put the other stick of ram in its' place. It started up again.
I shut it down & put both sticks in & it started again.
I'm confused now. hehehe

 

[sivart]

maybe the memory had dust and wasn't making good contact...maybe it is going bad. I'd run a memtest on it ASAP. Some of the new Dell BIOS have a built in memory tester that help me identify a bad stick recently.

 

[ch33zw1z]

maybe the memory had dust and wasn't making good contact...maybe it is going bad. I'd run a memtest on it ASAP. Some of the new Dell BIOS have a built in memory tester that help me identify a bad stick recently.

Not memtest, Memtest86+ is the one you want.

 

[Lanyap]

Something to check in the future if you are working on Dell desktops is to check the diagnostics lights that most of them have. You can go to support.dell.com and pull up the manual to see what the diag lights mean. I have had to reset RAM on several Dell desktops in the past because they stopped booting.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dime521/en/SM_EN/adtshoot.htm#wp1054146

 

[RebateMonger]

I'm not sure what the problem is, but if there really are issues with the E521 capacitors, the result can be all kinds of odd and intermittent symptoms. Bad motherboard caps can cause intermittent booting, random reboots, and various weird stuff.

I was convinced that a friend's (non-Dell) computer had memory problems. I'd swap memory and it'd boot. Then I'd hand it back to the friend and it'd misbehave. Finally, I checked the capacitors and found them bulged. Garbage bin time.

 

[sivart]

I'm not sure what the problem is, but if there really are issues with the E521 capacitors, the result can be all kinds of odd and intermittent symptoms. Bad motherboard caps can cause intermittent booting, random reboots, and various weird stuff.

I was convinced that a friend's (non-Dell) computer had memory problems. I'd swap memory and it'd boot. Then I'd hand it back to the friend and it'd misbehave. Finally, I checked the capacitors and found them bulged. Garbage bin time.

I remember the capacitor issues back about 6 years ago...my parents machine died of the bulge. Which can also be easily identified by opening the case. I haven't seen any lately. At that time, it was almost every motherboard, not limited to one brand.

 

[Billb2]

Odd. I pulled out 1 of the 2 sticks & it started. I let it run for a while w/no artifacts, etc.
I shut it down & put the other stick of ram in its' place. It started up again.
I shut it down & put both sticks in & it started again.
I'm confused now. hehehe

Over time heat/cool cycles cause "socket creep", stuff just works loose.

 

[Tullphan]

I ran Memtest86+ while I ran errands today.
When I left, it had made 2 passes w/no issues.
When I came back approx 3 hrs later, I had a solid blue screen & a locked up PC.
Ideas?
Thanks.

 

[tcsenter]

Capacitors or PSU. Process of elimination.