How many beeps? It is actually a not so secret code:
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm
How many beeps? It is actually a not so secret code:
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm
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Yup, those are diagnostic beeps. Best place to start.
Unless the battery is missing (and creating an open circuit) the computer should still Post. The battery’s purpose is to maintain power to the CMOS memory which stores information necessary for starting the computer before the Operating System loads. The most obvious thing you would notice with a depleted CMOS battery is the computers time and date will reset to a default date and time.
The number and lengths of the beeps will tell you what is wrong. There are specific beep codes for a missing graphics adapter or missing memory. It sounds like you have experienced a hardware failure of some sorts.
Your best bet is to hook up your hard drive to another computer and recover your data that way rather than try to repair a 15+ year old computer.
(I do this professionally)