System issues a single beep and stops at c :\> prompt. What does it mean?

[ssssss]

If the system issues a single beep and the c :\> prompt appears on the screen, what condition is indicated

 

[Rik]

It depends on what windows version you are using!!!!!!

 

[RealBlackStuff]

Guess you have a PC with a FAT or FAT32 partition, that has DOS on it as well as some Windows version.
Check your BOOT.INI file and change the default, looks like currently it automatically boots into DOS.