Dell email address

570thrasher,

What system model? What are the errors?

Did you run the Dell Diagnostics to check the hardware?

E521 

0x0000008E

Diagnostics will not run for me, possibly due to the errors. I tried several times. Also get error 0x0000007E

The Dell Diags is before Windows ever loads? Is this the one you are trying to run?

* Turn on (or restart) your computer
* When the DELL logo appears, press F12
* At the Boot Device Menu, use the up and down arrow keys or press the appropriate number on the keyboard to highlight Boot to Utility Partition, and then press Enter
At the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu, left click with the mouse, or press Tab and then Enter, to select the Express Test

I did not try that. I downloaded a dell diagnostics program, but it kept failing to run. I will try what you suggested.

I clicked "Boot to utility partition" I get the message "Disc error" 

Sounds like the hard disk drive is having issues. Is the Dell warranty still valid? Send me the service tag number in a private message. Click my username and then click Start Conversation.

No warranty

I do have the service tag number if needed. I tried getting help on the Dell technical support site. When I entered the tag Number, I was told the warranty had already expired. Since the warranty was expired I could not get connected to any online assistance or even an email address to ask questions.

Have you booted into the Bios and checked to see if the sata HDD (hard disk drive) is seen? Have you physically opened the case cover and disconnected/reconnected the sata cable from the HDD and the motherboard and the power cord into the HDD? Moving this thread to the Desktop General Hardware board to get further advice.

SATA-0 and bootable add in cards appear when I check HDD

1) A BIOS Update is not going to fix a blue screen in most cases

2) Use BlueScreenView (nirsoft) to find out what is in memory when it blue screens

3) To get to PSA diagnostics, turn the system on the repeatedly tap the F12 key, then arrow down to "Diagnostics"

4) Report error code.  If you have a bad hard drive or memory, no point in updating BIOS.

5) Since your system is not under warranty, you will probably have to buy parts.  Don't call Dell Sales, report your system type and spec and get support here and purchase parts online.

Man, Microsoft should not give hardware advice.

I don't know what to buy, or how to save or transfer what I have.