Dell Inspiron 545 desktop options

TheRightOne

This is not an uncommon issue with the Inspiron 545. The problem is that there isn't a BIOS recovery method for that model. DELL would normally replace the Motherboard for that model. The other option is to remove the chip for reprogramming.

Though solutions have been as unlikely as heating the area around the power supply with a hairdryer; https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/dell-inspiron-545-power-issues.1681188/

Personally, I think it may be time to invest in another PC, refurbished if you are happy with that. You've had eleven years out of it. You can use the SSD as a boot drive for the replacement PC.

macgyver

Thank you. I have been looking for cheap refurbished del optiplex.
Here are few I saw.  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Optiplex-7010-3010-DT-SFF-PC-Intel-Core-i3-i5-3rd-Gen-SSD-HDD-Win-10/283733789990?hash=item420fda0d26:g:6OcAAOSwRS9eEw47&LH_BIN=1
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fast-Cheap-Dell-OptiPlex-i3-i5-i7-MT-Desktop-SFF-8GB-500-Windows-10-PC-Computer/173898222193?var=472696597460

TheRightOne

Mini Tower is probably best, to give you space to fit all of your hard drives. But the website is somewhat vague about which model you will receive.

macgyver

Thank you. Is i3 4th generation any good.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Optiplex-3020-Windows-10-Professional-Tower-PC-Intel-Core-i3-3-4GHz-8GB-R/143552086517?hash=item216c5f01f5:g:bI4AAOSwp6ReZ8fT&LH_BIN=1

Or this one which is SFF and 4 GB RAM but comes with DVD- RW drive n cheaper https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Optiplex-3020-SFF-PC-Intel-Core-i3-4150-3-5GHz-4GB-500GB-HDD-DVD-WIN-10/283923421030?_trkparms=ispr=1&hash=item421b279766:g:69sAAOSwFxpe31n9
OR

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Optiplex-3020-SFF-PC-Intel-Core-i3-4130-3-4GHz-4GB-500GB-HDD-DVD-WIN-10/274405294450?_trkparms=aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=20200609154140&meid=2b3ca3148a6745198e1831f07aec9e38&pid=100935&rk=1&rkt=12&mehot=pf&sd=283923421030&itm=274405294450&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2332490&algv=SimplAMLv5PairwiseWebWithBBEV1Filter&brand=Dell&_trksid=p2332490.c100935.m2460
Thanks for looking

thorganby

macgyver said:

I have an old (2009) Dell 545 desktop which is getting very slow and hard drive is dying. 
I use it for simple tasks like, emails, browsing, printing or downloading simple stuff. I do not play games on it. 

You won't be disappointed with the i3 4th gen that you have found for your intended use. If you look at the CPU benchmarks you will see that these later CPU's are much more capable than your old one:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/Intel-Pentium-E5300-vs-Intel-i3-4150/1098vs2252
As you say this one is cheaper and has a DVD-RW drive:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Optiplex-3020-SFF-PC-Intel-Core-i3-4150-3-5GHz-4GB-500GB-HDD-DVD-WIN-10/283923421030
You can fit your new SSD to make it fly and easily recover your files from your old HDD onto the new 500GB drive or fit it in a USB caddy.

TheRightOne

macgyver said:

Thank you. Is i3 4th generation any good.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Optiplex-3020-Windows-10-Professional-Tower-PC-Intel-Core-i3-3-4GHz-8GB-R/143552086517?hash=item216c5f01f5:g:bI4AAOSwp6ReZ8fT&LH_BIN=1

Or this one which is SFF and 4 GB RAM but comes with DVD- RW drive n cheaper https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Optiplex-3020-SFF-PC-Intel-Core-i3-4150-3-5GHz-4GB-500GB-HDD-DVD-WIN-10/283923421030?_trkparms=ispr=1&hash=item421b279766:g:69sAAOSwFxpe31n9
OR

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Optiplex-3020-SFF-PC-Intel-Core-i3-4130-3-4GHz-4GB-500GB-HDD-DVD-WIN-10/274405294450?_trkparms=aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=20200609154140&meid=2b3ca3148a6745198e1831f07aec9e38&pid=100935&rk=1&rkt=12&mehot=pf&sd=283923421030&itm=274405294450&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2332490&algv=SimplAMLv5PairwiseWebWithBBEV1Filter&brand=Dell&_trksid=p2332490.c100935.m2460
Thanks for looking

As above, definitely good enough for you. 
One word of warning, never flash a BIOS update from within Windows. Would be helpful if they have already updated the BIOS on the device.