i have a dell pc which has just started making a beeping sound and monitor tells me no vidio input, it beeps six times then goes quiet,is this terminal?

liz, March 2013

Look here for another list with possible solutions and workarounds:
http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml

If it's the keyboard controler, then just changing the keyboard could do. It's the first step in correcting that isue. You can have a decent plain vanila keyboard for arounf $10 for a PS2 model.

You probably have at least 2 USB ports. All computers made since 1998 have USB ports. Using any USB keyboard will bypass the motherboard's keyboard controller.

Electro, March 2013

This link...
http://www.techspot.com/community/topics/the-complete-bios-beep-guide.95391/

Suggests that a Keyboard controller has failed but that may only be for some machines - yours may be different. - Preliminary and rudimentary tests from the BIOS chip before attempting to load the Operating System.

Use Google and search for Dell ??? 6 beeps where ??? is your specific machine.

If it does come down to a new machine a Low Specification Laptop can be yours for about £300 - there is no need to pay more - there is no need for super fast performance or big disk and massive memory.

Good luck...

Peccavi, March 2013