WHEN I TURN THE COMPUTER ON ALL i GET IS A BLACK SCREEN. tHE SYSTEM MAKES A SERIES OF BEEPS. 1 LONG THEN 3 SHORT THEN THREE MORE SHORT AND THEN 1 LONG FOR A TOTAL OF EIGHT

Right, it's a laptop...

The beeps are the results of a Power On Self Test (POST)
It could be main memory problem from the Beep code.
Disconnect it from the mains, take the battery out.
you'll find a small 'trapdoor' held in with a small screw.


Carefully remove this, you'll see a small pcb that's more chips than pcb.

Now you can see the main memory, it will have a connector on 1 edge and clips on opposite edges.

Important:- Ground yourself from static, i.e. don't stand on a carpet in your fave Nikes. If you don't have a static strap, or know what one is. Then a bare foot on a tiled or concrete surface is good.

1. flip the 2 clips with your thumbnails, and the module should pop out. lift carefully avoiding touching the bare connector.

2. check to see if there is any crud on the connector or removed card.

3. If clean, place card back into connector at a 30 degree angle rock down and up a couple of times, and then press home, the clips should click.

The card will stay put without the cover on. But I suggest you replace the cover.

Put battery back in and try it again.

With any luck it was just a bad connection on the ram card.

Regards

Philip