Windows 7: Virus or Hard Drive issues?

I am using a Gateway laptop which came with Windows 7. Over the past few months I have been having a problem with +, 9, and / signs appearing where ever a textbox is available. I cannot make the signs stop, when I delete them they are immediately replaced. Alternatively, when I start up my laptop it is accompanied by a loud beeping noise which will not stop unless I'm in certain screens, I assume screens where the keyboard is disabled.

Though I had issue with the laptop, I managed to install Ubuntu, a dual boot, essentially and though I will get random signs appearing on this OS, I can stop them. Once I stop them, they do not return.

Recently I wiped my laptop, losing Ubuntu and reinstalled Windows 7, but the problem remained, making my laptop completely inaccessible until I reinstalled Ubuntu.

When I wiped it, there was always at least one partition which I could not format and one was always automatically created.

Does this sound like a Virus or a Hard Drive issue to you? what steps can be taken to solve the issue?

Please note:

I uninstalled the keyboard, am using a usb one as the one that came with my laptop ceased to function, and I went for a month or so without a firewall.

Lets try several things
Run your anti virus
Download and run malwarebytes.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Negative so far
Then go to the website of the HardDrive manufacturer and take the hard drive test. This should answer the question, without guessing.

Unfortunately I cannot access Windows to run it. I did have Kapersky on it, after the problem started and it turned up nothing.

Can you use safe mode?

It doesn't help. When the Windows login screen comes up the password box immediately fills with + signs.

are you using a external mouse or keyboard

An external keyboard and the touchpad.

I doesn't sound like the HDD, but it is a hardware problem. Those beeps you hear is the BIOS POST (Power On Self Test) failing. Is the computer under any kind of warranty?

No, is there another option to fixing it?

I had an issue last year with the ++++ - try unplugging it. If it is a microsoft keyboard.

My issue was that i had a microsoft wireless key board and mouse. Windows would update the driver and it sent the machine into fits until they where unplugged.

good luck