Wasn't sure where to post this, but thought this was a good start. I have a Dell Dimension E510, Windows XP. Everything was working great until I shut the machine off while I was out of town for a few days. Upon returning, I booted up the machine and it it quickly completed about 95% of the boot process (as shown by the progress bar), then hangs up and just stops doing anything. Nothing will work on it other than turning it completely off at the power switch. Diagnostic lights flash during the boot up process until the very end when numbers 1 & 4 remain constant lit. Tried to hit F12 during the short boot up process to enter into a diagnostic state, but it doesn't respond to F12 or even F2 to view the process. Could not boot into Safe Mode either.

Any clues or help would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the forum. The codes for Dell are here
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...sm/tshoot1.htm

They dont give a 1+4 but from the codes it suggest a memory error. Can you open the machine and reseat the memory if there are two modules swap them around. Check for any dirt inside and carefully remove it.

Will it boot from any cd? Dell normally give a test cd if you have that try and see if it will boot. I am sure unless the keyboard is faulty you will get F2 or boot windows in safe mode Dell can be a bit quick off the mark bu tif you keep trying you can normally get there in the end

Hello sdtex,

How are things going for you? It would be wonderful if you might update us how you have progressed while following Samuria's advice.

May I Ask?Do you still see your computer booting or do you see any display to your screen?or do u hear any beeping from your pc?

like these question will limit the possibilities of suspected causes that make your computer from acting that way, only if you provide more specific details, that will help us diagnose your pc more accurately..

Hope that we can help..