I installed Windows XP on my other computer and i just turned it off and left it there and never used it for a while. It was longer than 30 days too. Now when i turn on the computer it beeps two times and my screen is black. The caps lock button flashes on and off too. I cant do anything with the computer. I cant go in BIOS, anything. its just a black screen and i cant type anything either. please help.

If Windows XP reaches the end of its one-month grace period without being activated, it simply locks you out, period. After login--even as Administrator--instead of seeing the normal desktop, you're shown a message: "This copy of Windows must be activated with Microsoft before you can log on. Do you want to activate Windows now? (Yes/No)" If you answer yes, you're taken through the activation process, after which--if your system successfully completes its activation--you can resume computing normally. But if you answer No or if your machine is unable to complete the activation process, you can't continue. You're stopped cold, completely locked out of the operating system. You can't do anything with XP, even if you have Administrator rights, until and unless you successfully complete the activation process. (Resetting the system clock to an earlier date via your PC's BIOS setup program won't let you regain access to a locked system. Once WPA is triggered, your system stays locked until it's activated.)

Hmmmm, very strange. Have you tried booting to your Xp cd and seeing if you can do it that way?

Sounds to me like you selected "NO" by mistake (or someone did) and you are now totally locked out. A format and reinstall might solve it, I'm not sure, but it's definately worth a try, use your Xp cd.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/overviews/activation.asp Go here for more info.

Windows activation cannot possibly have an effect on your bios. Therefore, this is not an activation issue, but a bios issue. I'd try resetting the bios via the jumper on the mobo. If that fails you may need a new battery. Repost your question in the hardware forum for more replies.

What kind of bios do you have?...(compaq, american megatrends...etc) try your bois manufacturers site for beep codes info....I think you might have a bad ram stick. I have compaq bios and when my ram pooched i got 2 long beeps like about every 2 seconds...just black screen like you.