First, make sure it's not something trivial, like a floppy diskette in the floppy drive.

my hp did that after changing the hard drives config in bios settings. did anyone change those? just a suggestion if you know how to reset bios to default there is a way to. let me know if you need that info. I need to look for it again, or cust support at dell could tell.

dugedoodle!

Did you do a system recovery console? Put in your XP disc and select the recovery console. Type in CHKDSK /R. This will take upto an hour or 1 1/2. This should fix the missing boot sector.

Check out the following link for more info:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm

I think I am having a similar problem with my 5000e. I turn it on. It beeps three times. It's on, but nothing ever appears on the screen. To turn it off I have to hold down the power button. My first instinct is that the monitor has blown, though I never noticed problems with it before (i.e. no flickering or fading).

Any thoughts?

Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Jenn :smileysad:

 

 

That's dire news, but I appreciate it. Now I at least have an idea how serious this is.

Thanks, Leo.

 

Three beeps at turn on usually is a bad video card.