Dell Laptop 1527

About a year and a half ago I purchased a Dell Studio 1537 laptop.  It has been a good computer until a couple of months ago.  For some reason after some important Window Updates were peformed, the computer moves through Post process much slower than normal, also it has failed to Post a couple times.  When it failed to post, the blue bar will go about 3 quarters of the way and stall.  When I shut down the computer, it is all fine after that, the computer runs great. Most of the time the computer will post slower than normal and will run great.  Also I have noticed another thing during the Post process, I do not hear the computer beep like it use to.   I have been researching this problem until recently.  I am reading it could be something wrong with hardware to Bios set up. I am thinking Windows Updates somehow messed up Bios set up. Anyway,  does anyone have any idea what may be going on?.  I will appreciate your help and input on this.  Thanks !