off hand I would check the CPU and its Heatsink/Fan combo.
is it plugged into the right header on the mobo??
is the CPU seated properly?? Thermalpaste ok??
Is the Fan spinning when you turn on the power??
Has the system sat idle for so long that the CMOS battery went dead and
now all settings in the BIOS reverted to default??

Newer Mobo just shut down if any of the above is not right
older mobo make a sound like you described as a warning to shut
down before you burn up the CPU

peter

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"jellygator" wrote in message ...
Hi everyone. This is a question about a computer that doesn't have Vista, but
I hope someone will have the kindness and knowledge to help me anyway. I'm an
intermediate/advanced computer user. I just hooked up one of my old computers
for the first time in a few years. I had bought another computer because I was
having trouble ridding this one of a virus that was quite persistent. I got
the virus off and used both computers for a while, until the monitor went out
on the old one. I just bought a Sylvania television with computer input and
hooked it up. Turned it on and discovered a rather loud alarm-like noise. It
sounds for about 4 seconds every ten seconds or so. I turned it off and then
back on without anything (monitor, keyboard, etc.) hooked up and it continues
to make this noise. I removed the fan casing and confirmed it's not in the
fan. I do not feel anything unusual on the hard drive. It appears to be coming
from either the motherboard or the video or sound card. Does this sound
familiar to anyone?


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