I tried the computer thing several times with neither beeping nor success.
On my last try, I realized my computer wasn't plugged in, and on a whim, I tried again with the computer charging.
Other notes: don't disconnect the phone from the cable before putting the batter back in. So you should follow this order:
1. take out battery
2. plug phone into laptop
3. put battery back in
4. Press on
5. Only then did I unplug the phone. You might be able to unplug it after putting the battery in but that's not what I did so I wouldn't try to wander from the path.
Hopefully these tips help
Good luck! and when your contract expires… get an iPhone