Can't access BIOS on Dell Dimension E521

[AnnMarie]

HI all. I have a Dell Dimension E521 that someone gave me. It's old and I have no disks for it. Everything was working fine until one day I started it up and it said Alert! Battery Voltage Low...
So I googled it and found suggestions to replace the battery. After I put the new battery in I get this:

diskette drive 0 seek failure
Keyboard Failure
Invalid information configuration- please run setup program
alert system voltage battery is low!

I googled again to find out I need to enter the BIOS to get to setup but I can't do that if it won't read USB on boot. My keyboard is USB and the computer doesn't even have any PS2 inputs. SO how can I access BIOS on this thing with no PS2 inputs/access? Someone please help!

 

[AnnMarie]

UPDATE: Now it will not recognize the monitor either so I can't even see what's happening.

 

[Cycloid Torus]

Dell has great resources and diagnostics... this may help: http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/dimension-e521/manuals

If old battery ran down, then it probably 'forgot' some of its settings. Once you have restored with a new battery of the right size and voltage, you may wish to do a "clear BIOS" in order to get rid of anything out of place. The procedure is described in the manual. You 'should' (a hope rather than an instruction) be able to access Dell BIOS then (unsure of proper key, F2? F12?, Esc?, DEL? - in manual). Manual may have tips.

 

[AnnMarie]

I have no access to the bios because I cannot use the USB keyboard....this computer doesnt recognize usb until after windows boots. So I cannot enter any f keys or esc or del or anything. But now I can't even get it to recognize the monitor so I can't do anything until I can get that part fixed.

 

[Cycloid Torus]

Umm, reset BIOS only requires access to the motherboard.

 

[AnnMarie]

I have no access to the bios because I cannot use the USB keyboard....this computer doesnt recognize usb until after windows boots. So I cannot enter any f keys or esc or del or anything. But now I can't even get it to recognize the monitor so I can't do anything until I can get that part fixed.

 

[Cycloid Torus]

The process of clearing and resetting BIOS on these older machines merely requires access to the motherboard - no keyboard is required - you need to change some jumpers - you need to look at the manual.

 

[Cycloid Torus]

Here is an overview of the process... http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000976.htm

 

[AnnMarie]

It doesn't tell me how to do it...I'm no computer whiz but either way, still no monitor....

 

[Cycloid Torus]

Please download manual and look up 'clearing CMOS'.

"you'll need to do a hard reset on the CMOS using a jumper or dip switch on the motherboard. Information on finding these can be found in your computer or motherboard documentation."

 

[Cycloid Torus]

Note: the system has Internal Graphics, if you are using an external card, you may have to follow a procedure to re-establish that as the video output - "its in the manual".

 

[bazz2004]

If you turn off the power and remove the motherboard button battery for say 20 minutes it should reset the BIOS to it's default settings.

I've given a link about how to access the BIOS in case you have the Fast Boot option set. If you've been working inside the computer without any precautions against static charges it's possible that the motherboard is damaged. I make sure there's no power connected and keep touching the metal frame of the case before touching components. It's worked for me so far.