Dimension 4400 gives 3 long beeps at startup

[Dharmavira]

I'm having an old Dell Dimension 4400 laptop on which Windows Xp is installed as my operating system. It worked perfectly until we had a very brief power outage that lasted about 2 seconds. But now the problem is that when i try to turn on my system, it gives a system error of 3 long beeps at start up. I think my BIOS may have been corrupted or something through an improper shutdown due to the outage. So, can any body tell me that why my Dell Dimension 4400 laptop gives 3 long beeps at start up? Any ideas on how to resolve the above issue. Any kind of help on the above issue would be appreciated.

[Calvin K]

Can you get into the BIOS ? Does the machine reach POST ? Open up the chassis, remove the DDR memory modules, clean out the dust bunnies thoroughly with compressed air, and reseat the memory modules one at a time.

[Lillebror]

Try removing and then re-seating every component. Always unplug the computer from the wall current when adding or removing hardware. The three beeps are a fatal POST error and the system will not boot now. Then there is no way to reflash a BIOS unless the system is bootable.

[jesse]

Although, it could be a failed CPU or motherboard. If his 'little brother' started touching things inside the case without properly discharging static from himself, he could have fried something. If the problem is not resolved after re-seating the memory modules the problem more or less seems like a motherboard failure.