When starting up the computer, I get 5 short beeps then continous

Potential Hard Drive failure, (Hard drive s.m.a.r.t. beep) or if MB beep it's chassis intrusion..

1. Remove battery + disconnect power
2. Hold down power button for 20 seconds
3. connect power only (no battery)
4. Turn computer on.


If the beeps stopped.. get a new battery, if the beeps continue..
ABANDON SHIP!

The following beep codes are common to many HP and Compaq desktop computers. Use these codes before referring to the other codes when they occur.
Beeps Description 1 short beep and 1 long beep Memory problem 2 short beeps and 1 long beep (repeats 5 times) Unable to initialize video or video card required but not installed 3 short beeps and 1 long beep CPU configuration error or CPU type is not compatible The following beep codes are common to many HP and Compaq desktop computers that can occurwhile restoring, flashing or updating the BIOS :
Beeps Description 1 short beep Legacy floppy drive or CD/DVD drive not detected 2 short beeps Floppy diskette or compact disc not detected 3 short beeps Unable to start flashing (such as when missing a utility or BIOS image) 4 short beeps Flashing failed (checksum error, corrupted image, etc.) 5 short beeps BIOS recovery successful
You can refer to the link mentioned below for further troubleshooting:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=bph07107#N589

GuruAid

1 short beep and 1 long beep Memory problem 2 short beeps and 1 long beep (repeats 5 times) Unable to initialize video or video card required but not installed 3 short beeps and 1 long beep CPU configuration error or CPU type is not compatible The following beep codes are common to many HP and Compaq desktop computers that can occur while restoring, flashing or updating the BIOS : Beeps Description 1 short beep Legacy floppy drive or CD/DVD drive not detected 2 short beeps Floppy diskette or compact disc not detected 3 short beeps Unable to start flashing (such as when missing a utility or BIOS image) 4 short beeps Flashing failed (checksum error, corrupted image, etc.) 5 short beeps BIOS recovery successful

Exactly how far does your computer get before it restarts? there is normally a short beep during the startup phase, do you hear the short beep, or is it a long beep or a combination of different beeps?
I am not saying that it cannot be the power supply but usually problems of this sort are a faulty graphic card or faulty RAM, worst case senario is a faulty motherboard. The first two you can test by adding an extra graphic card or replacing the RAM (or taking one out and then the other if you have more than one RAM) - BE AWARE that you can damage your computer or the RAM itself if you touch the wrong things and you are have a static charge.

Try making your hard drive as the first boot in the bios and just connect your hard drive only on the motherboard ( remove cd/dvd drive, etc..). Make sure your hard drive is detected in the bios. Then restart your computer again.

kindly let me know the beep code sequence (the alarm) which you are getting. Just switch on the computer and carefully listen the alarm one long continuous beep or short beep or one long followed by one short. This information is necessary for providing you the solution. Online chat would have been more helpful to restore your pc.

Some older computers, like mine, have a maximum memory they can handle. This one happens to be 1 gig, but yours may be less. Do you have an older computer? Yup, you do. As seen here, the maximum supported ram is 256. I'm sorry. Please rate.


http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-E-Machines-eMonster-500a-EMONSTER500A

Clean first its ram module edge connector with soft eraser. But disengaged first its battery, power source and completely shutdown.

Then put it back and try to boot. If this doesn't help let me know . Leave a comment.

Have you check the video card, is it loose, not sitting right, beeps are either memory, video or a bad mobo. here's a list of beep codes; the numbers represent the amount of beeps
1   The memory refresh circuitry has failed 2   Parity errors have been detected in the first 64 KB of memory 3   A failure has occurred within the first 64 KB or memory 4   System Timer failure: Timer 1 on the mainboard does not work properly 5   The CPU has generated an undetectable error 6 8042 Gate-A20 failure: BIOS cannot switch the CPU into protected mode 7   The CPU has generated an exception error 8   The video adapter is missing, or the memory on the adapter has generated a failure 9   The ROM checksum value does not match the value in BIOS 10     The shutdown register for CMOS interrupt channel 2 has failed POST; the system board cannot retrieve CMOS contents during POST 11 Level-2 cache memory has failed the tests, and has been disabled 2 short POST has failed, caused by a failure of one of the hardware tests 1 long, 2 short Failure in video system: a checksum error was encountered in video BIOS ROM, or a horizontal retrace failure has been encountered 1 long, 3 short Failure in video system: the video DAC, the monitor detection procedure or the video RAM has failed 1 long POST procedures have passed

Re-seat Video card, replace memory.