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July 21st, 2019 06:00
Dimension C521 Boot Problem
Not a Optiplex but I didn't see a Dimension board
I recently picked up a Dimension C521, & am having a problem. After I turn the machine on, the "2" & "3" indicators stay lit, & the screen goes dark after the initial boot screen. I don't hear any beep codes. Pressing F2 or F12 on startup don't seem to do anything either. I am unaware of anything that might've been done hardware-wise to the machine before I was given it, but it looks pretty standard inside other than it having 3 sticks of RAM.
Thanks in advance for the help!
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savvy2
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July 21st, 2019 07:00
Hafalla19
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July 21st, 2019 08:00
I had replaced the coin cell before I started so that should be fine. There isn't anything in any of the PCI slots. The CPU & power supply fans spin fine, I cleaned those out the best I could. I've included a picture of the jumper locations:
The jumper locations
speedstep
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July 21st, 2019 20:00
Dimension C521 Service Manual PDF
Dimension C521 Setup Diagram PDF
You have ancient machine with bad drive. This is very basic.
There are no soft fixes for physically bad hard drives.
savvy2
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July 22nd, 2019 07:00
ok OP , F2 dead, Im reading your manual now again.
and as most manuals fail here, I will try to decode the rules. (they assume all jumpers are correct first)
a failing on the writer.
Locate the 2-pin password jumper (PSWD)
so make sure the jumper is only one 1 of the 2 pins. Both pins means reset) ok?
page 40 states
When you receive your computer, the jumper plug is attached to pin 1. (that means not on 2pins)
next is RTCreset , all im doing is reading the book to you, vast mobo's exists and no TWO the same.... I read.
now page 41
Locate the 2-pin CMOS jumper (RTCRST) on the system board. See Jumper Locations.
b. Remove the jumper plug from pin 1.
c. Place the jumper plug on pins 1 and 2 and wait approximately five seconds.
d. Replace the jumper plug on pin 1. (again means not 2 pins just one pin and the other jumper floats is space)
call it jumpered 2 pins or floating on 1 pin, make them float.
this floating trick keeps from losing the jumper, ok/?
ah geezzzz
I didn't know I can zoom your small photo,,, sorry
yes both jumpers are set wrong (I wonder what else, dead BIOS flashed by kids?) next?
so you bought it like this or kids were playing..
the goal is F2 working, no HDD present now. do not have any CD in tray no uSB things. but keyboard.
on PCI cards
no SSD no HDD , present, or the like.
get F2 working first , like a laser beam that.
savvy2
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July 22nd, 2019 07:00
did you buy a dead PC or just happened out of the blue? history matters, OK> for sure if BIOS hacked.
i caN See the coin cell is not upside down, good.
The HDD bad does not cause this.
F2 or F12 on startup don't seem to do anything either
BIOS dead is a FIRST ORDER PROBLEM , in fact you can unplug the HDD and BIOS works perfectly.
try that on any PC learn that first.
for sure F2 key,
here:
hDD power aND DATA CABLE PULLED (YES ANY PART IN A pc CAN IN FACT SHORT)
then AC cord pulled. reset it this why
long hard reset.
now with PC fully off, for sure, off.
power on and hammer the F2 key (geeks say spam the key, silly no?) and tap F2 like playing chop sticks on a piano.
F2 must work now, does it ?
if not PSU may be bad. or worse, try testing with 1 stick of ram at a time to GAIN F2.