Dell Dimension 5100
System Lights
Your power button light and hard-drive activity light may indicate a computer problem.
Blinks green several times and then turns off

A configuration error exists.

Check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified.

A Dell Demension 5100 would start up to a Black screen after Bios Post..
A good indication that there could be a problem with the Windows XP Media Center.  Operating System or some other problems. Such as the Hard-disk Drive, Memory, CPU over-heating.and maybe about a 1000 other problems.
Dell Dimension 5100
Dell Dimension 5100
Diagnostic Lights
The Dell Diagnostic Lights are on the front of the Computer for the Dell Dimension 5100 model. Most owners don't know what these lights are for. They never read their Manual .
Most owners read the pictures of the quick start guide, that tells you where to plug monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, power plug . However they fail to read the manual or even glance at it.
YourComputerLife.Com
Bios fails to list the Hard-Disk Drive properly
After a while booting to the bios I noticed a change at least I thought the Bios HDD name had changed, I kind of ignored it after all 3:00 am is early or late, it depends when you get up.
This page was last updated: November 13, 2010
The WD drives featuring the 160GB+ (we estimate actual platter size to be 167GB) per-platter technology can be identified by the introduction of an AA sequence after the drive designation and before the internal family identification number. As an example, the previous generation SE16 500GB drive was designated as the WD5000KS with the new 160GB+ per-platter design being identified as WD5000AAKS. At this time we expect WD to launch the AA series in the SE16 family at capacity points of 250GB, 320GB, 400GB, and 500GB. The SE AA series family will eventually have the same capacity points with the addition of the 160GB model we are reviewing today. The entry level Caviar AA series is scheduled at the same capacity points but we do not have confirmation if they will be available in retail or offered as OEM only drives.


AnandTech  and  Western Digital have been around for a while and I trust them, and if they knew what we now know. the Hawk wouldn't  of gotten out of the cage..
I told my friend, he needed a new hard drive and I located one at TigerDirect.com that he wanted and he told me I would have it Friday.
If your Computer dosen't bootup to Windows but the Bios posts Video good, I would boot a couple more times playing around with the drive S-ATA setting if you have the WD-1600 HDD and look for the HAWK
description on bios drive page..Provided you can get to your Bios Screen.
Note: The WD2000JS HDD had failed to register too.
That HDD a S-ATA also, I did a Temporary fix for that Computer, Their kids need it for school.
I ran a few HDD tests  after doing the basics to verify if the HDD was still operational, I checked Western Digital to see if they had a FAQ page, about this drive, I couldn't find anything, I did a Web Seach and found out others had  problems with this HDD model. I recommended to the owner that he replace the drive. Replacing a HDD is cheaper than Running a bunch of tests just to find out the same thing.
Diagnostic Only..................................................................................... $59 Diagnostic and Labor Flat Rate ............................................... $149
Password Removal / System Tune Up.................................................. $59 Insurance Claims .................................................................................. $89 Data Recovery...................................................................................... $79 - $119 Single Component Install / Software Installation..................................... $35
Diagnostic Only..................................................................................... $59  Insurance Claims .................................................................................. $89
Data Recovery...................................................................................... $79 - $119 DC Jack / Power Jack Repair ( New Jack Included )............................. $179
Laptop Screen Repair ( Labor Cost Only ) ......................................... $79
Virgil Computers
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Contact Us Repair Rates Driving Directions Parts Mac Repair Store Hours E-mail us Your Questions            | About Virgil   Play   " We Accept All Major Credit Cards " American Express  Service Rates  Home |    Call Now 315 Great Neck Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
(757) 486 - 4862 Sign Up For Our News Letter Laptop Repair Rates (757) 486 - 4862 Virus Removal / System Restore ( No Diagnostic ) .............................. $109  System Hardware Review & Inventory .............................. $39 Apple- MAC Rates   Diagnostic and Labor Flat Rate ............................................... $149 Virus Removal / System Restore ( No Diagnostic ) .............................. $109 Password Removal / System Tune Up.................................................. $59
Local Computer repair shop repair rates, the closest one to me  is shown below. I purchased parts from them before. Their labor rates are reasonable, when you think about what they have to do. I'm surprised they don't have a  flat rate for cleaning the inside of a Computer. Below is just a example, their rates could go up or down. There is still repair rates when they find the problem plus parts if needed. So far  most of the Computers I repaired, it was either it needed cleaning or Software problems, Virus, ad-ware, maleware. are the user problems.
The prices for a Computer repair shop, like the sample above is reasonable when you figure Rent, Utilities, Employees, Tools, Etc. All of us are just trying to make a living. and for some the American dream. If Mr. " L " was required to pay me for the work I had done on his Computer to get it operational again, he could of purchased a new Computer, or a Barebone System using his existing, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, DVD, and purchase a new HDD 300 GB.
Most people choose to purchase a brand name Computer, Mr " L " has chosen Dell as his brand name. He has purchased two or three that I know of. As a person that repairs Computers, There is a problem with that, the repair person has to purchase most of the repair parts from Dell, to make it work again. The problem with that is you have only one venders price. to choose from. Dell. as well as other problems.
Lets say you need a new Motherboard for your Computer your existing has a manual from Dell but not from the manufacture of the Motherboard showing technical information that a repair person might need., you only get a user manual. from most brand name Computers, The Motherboard manufacture is secret only known by a few engineers and the manufacture of the MB. or the repair manual is not available to the owner, even if its from a MB manufacture like ASUS Tech, which is one of the best MB you can buy.
Most of the main parts are non-standard, that means you won't know what you have, you just know if it works or not.
The other problem is Prioritized design of the Case and On and Off button connectors on the Dell 4500 and I'm sure many more Dell Computers are again non-standard, the Dell 4500 with the clam shell case has a ribbon connector running from the On and Off button to the motherboard, this is non-standard for most of ASUS motherboards. The Dell I believe has a conflict with bios and hard disk drive, if you don't have a bios file on the hidden portion of the HDD you will have problems replacing the HDD and or MB.will have problems. I haven't done much research on that issue yet. I noticed on some of my
searches.
$199.99
Below you will see a sample Barebone system you can purchase, click the link and see what you get.
most of the time for less you get more memory, larger harddisk drive newer system board better CPU, more watts on the power supply, The case is easier to work and is standard. You get all that instead of paying the labor price to repare your old system.
$19.99
The only other part you should need for your new system is a Fan with Cooler
Your all set for a few years as long as you follow my rules:
1. Before downloading files from friends and web sites etc. make sure your Virus software is setup to scan it prior to downloading.
2. Keep your Computer clean inside
3. Turn your Computer off and uplug, during a thunderstorm,
4. Before touching the electronic parts of your Computer make sure you touch the bare metal of your Computer to discharge the static electricty from your body are you may damage your electronic's.
The Cost of fixing Mr " L "
Computer would be
based on the prices above
$278.00
Mr * L *  New Harddisk Drive
requires format and new Windows
to be installed, provided by Mr " L ".
One tube of Pase. $4-8
a little dabe will do it
Dell Dimension 5100
What you need from your old Computer
CPU Cooler [REQUIRED]  Old will not work with AMD CPU
Video Card  Integrated (Onboard Video)
Internal Optical Drive/Burner [REQUIRED]
Windows Operating System [REQUIRED]
Mouse [REQUIRED]
Keyboard [REQUIRED]
Monitor [REQUIRED]
Desktop Speakers
Floppy Disk Drive
Media Card Reader   (Optional)
USB Hub  (Optional)
Power Protection Device ( Optional)
Office Software Suite (needs to be (reinstalled)
Anti-Virus/Security (needs to be reinstalled)
Other Software ( Needs to be reinstalled)