OldPC, trying to install Linux.

Usually it briefly displayed on the bottom of the screen before it boot to Win

What model is it?

Have you tried opening it up and unplugging power and data cables from the drive you think is damaged?

Popping the memory sticks and reseating them could be a good thing too. How long is it since it was in use?

Stupid idea I know, but try removing the battery for say 20 minutes and try again. The guys above gave you decent clues, Del/F2/F12 is usually those you want to hit during the post-check. Any normally behaving machine should give you the opportunity to enter one of the boot modes, be it BIOS or Boot Menu. If that's not happening, again, I am repeating poster above, it's gonna be of not much use I suppose.

There are dozens of models of Acer Aspire, some are laptops and some are desktops.

There must be more detail than that on it somewhere.

When you said PC in the original post, I assumed you meant it was a desktop computer and not a laptop?

Interesting post.Don't stop now

Yes, it literally sounds like a problem with the video card.

One long beep, followed by two beeps which repeat indicates VGA Error or could not detect a VGA adapter.

If (IF) this is i5-3450 CPU, it has build-in GPU.

Remove discrete GPU and connect to I/O video port (HDMI, VGA), see if it kick in

Or take out the RAM and see if the beeps change.

Back to basics.

Acer BIOS (Award) three beeps is RAM failure

Three plus two is memory failure

1. Check the RAM, remove all sticks, blow out the slots, reseat each stick separately and test. If still failing remove again and rub a pencil eraser along the contacts of the RAM sticks, retest.

2. Is the CMOS battery good? Replace if in doubt and retest(CR2032 I think).

3. Borrow a compatible stick of RAM from somewhere and test that. If all fails, assume motherboard failure unless you have access to a POST code test tool.

Turn it on and off 10 times from the power switch and it might well start up a bit once or twice. I had this happen with a batch of Dell 2400s many years back. First time I'd seen failing capacitors in a power supply. You could rule it out if you can replace the power supply.

Any other "dead" computers in the house?

Ah well - get as many brownie points as you can while taking this one to the recycling center!

Try finding something smaller to set up linux on.

RAM can cause all manner of intermittent and strange behaviour if not correctly seated, or damaged in some way.

Try test or replace the CMOS battery cell - usually a CR2032 coin cell. Usually when that's low the CMOS settings aren't retained and loads defaults. The cell should be greater than 2.6v, if memory serves me.

Ok, didn't see that. 😊

Good to hear there's progress.

Have you entered the BIOS and made any changes?

Set the date and time to be correct and then save and restart.

This is just to see if it can actually remember any settings at all.

Was there any corrosion or leaking around the old battery when you took it out?

Sometimes there's a piece of adhesive plastic on the bottom of the batteries that needs to be peeled off before you insert it.

It's safer if somebody eats it, but it also allows you to fit a battery before storing it without depleting it too much. Just a small suggestion and it depends on the brand of battery you chose.