Hi we can't get our computer to turn on, When we do the amber light stays on and the fan runs..If we keep trying sometimes it will go green and turn on and everything seems fine, but if we restart or turn off it goes to amber light.
1st thing, disconnect everything but keyboard mouse and monitor, see if anything changes.
If the issue persists, ensure that all power and card connections for the motherboard are tight and secure. If you've added RAM or other parts, remove them. Reseat the RAM in the motherboard that came from Dell.
If none of those ideas have any effect on the issue, replace the motherboard.
Posted on Jul 01, 2008
How can i restore my Dell dimension desktop C521 back to it's original factory settings, or factory image settings?..someone suggested hit F-11 during start up but that didn't work. Can you please walk me through it, step by step. Thanks !
Here is the Dell tech support article for PC Restore to re-image the system to the factory settings.
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?journalid=5A9D1CCAB17AB24BE040AE0AB5E12BFE&docid=325300
Posted on Nov 04, 2008
i've recently changed my dell c521 motherboard with a new one because it had the solid amber light power button problem, or famous POST problem, anyway, it was not a PSU problem nor video, memory, hdd, o processor problem. I change the motherboard, now i can boot and get into windows, but the button is still in the solid amber light and the fans run all time... ¿What can i do? Please help.
jethro..
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dimC521/en/SM_EN/tshoot.htm#wp1064555
check on system lights... what are the diagnostic lights telling you??
if the 4 lights are off you may have a problem with the led itself or the powersupply is just messing with your head.
Posted on Dec 02, 2008
dell c521 seems to fail POST test. Yellow power light on steady, fans running. No diagnostic # lights on. BUT network symbol light on and yellow light on back at ethernet connection is also on. Could this be problem with network card?? Cannot disconnect as it is built in to MB??
Any ideas??
Thanks-
- disconnect the hdd and optical drive cables, remove the expansion card, reseat the atx and 12v cable and turn the computer on. if the power led is glowing green connect the devices on by to find what device is causing the no post issue. after the strip down if the power button is still yellow replace the motherboard
Posted on Dec 19, 2008
First off this is my cousins computer. I took it from her house last night and left her mouse and keyboard thinking that Mine would work. I got it home plugged it in and it booted up to the windows login screen. Then I had no mouse or keyboard. I checked the Settings and The usb ports are all enabled. I have mouse and keyboard up until the windows XP loading screen then it shuts off. I have tried to remove the battery from the board for over an hour and even jumped out the jumpers and it still wont load with my mouse and keyboard. Is it possible that i had to have the original mouse and keyboard plugged in to work? Thanks.
If it is a USB then it should work with any keyboard and mouse. When you say it shuts off after XP loading screen, does the machine power off? have you tried unplugging the mouse and keybaord and let Windows load?
Posted on Mar 10, 2009
when I boot my computer it says keyboard failure and diskette drive 0 seek failure I've tried a couple of different keyboards that I know work because they work on other computers my computer has USB only I think i know how to solve the diskette failure but I can't do anything without a keyboard
How old is the computer, could it still have warranty? USB ports are often protected with fuses. Some latest stuff has resetable fuses, but many are one-time that do not heal. Did you try the keyboard in the front USB's The thing of biggest concern though is that this happened in coincidence, meaning you may have a motherboard hardware failure. (the reason I mentioned warranty)
Posted on May 20, 2009
Every time I try to get on Zwinky, it loads up as two error messages and the screen gets stuck on "loading zwinky world", but I've been on it for about two years and it's just now stopped working but I don't know why. I clear the cookies, I downloaded Flash Player 10, and I re-downloaded Zwinky. I even restored my computer three times to see what would happen and the same exact thing happens. Whether anybody fixed it or not, is there any suggestions to my problem....?
My zwinky Wont let me go to zwinktopia or do anything except play games...it wont let me go to my room or anything i dont know whats wrong??
Posted on Jan 19, 2010
I need to restore my dell dimension c521 back to factory settings. Can some one give me instructions. Jess
as soon as you turn the computer on hold down the CTRL key and press F11 try this
Posted on Sep 03, 2009
how to reset cmos in c521 dell
Hello Friend,
Follow the procedures in Before You Begin[Click here].
Hope this HELPED you...Thanks for Contacting FixYa...
Posted on May 31, 2010
Alert! system battery voltage is low
Hello there and welcome to fixya
This is a very common issue with these desktop units the cmos battery will only last from 2 t0 5 years depending on how it is used.
This battery sits on the motherboard so you will want to first unplug the computer then remove the outer cover to expose the internal parts then look for a coin sized silver battery that looks like a watch battery then replace the battery with a new one
radio shack has these then power up the computer and you will have to reset the time and date ok you will get a error about this. here is what the battery looks like 
Posted on Aug 16, 2011
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