Recently I moved, and along the journey, I'm thinking my PC may have taken a bump or 2. Since I've set it up again, the PC fails to even POST, and the monitor stays in standby mode, as if it hasn't got a signal at all. The fans all kick up and the hard drive activity light stays fixed on. I have tried opening her up, checking all the components etc, and although I rewired all my IDE cables and re sat my RAM and PCI cards, the PC still has troubles. Although after making sure all the connections were intact she managed to boot as far as Windows, the PC fails after not very long - resets and returns to the state of not being able to POST at all, not even to the first loud 'beep'. I'm assuming the problem lies in the processor or the motherboard? If the latter, can I replace the motherboard without having to entirely format & re-install windows? Thanks.

"I'm assuming the problem lies in the processor or the motherboard? If the latter, can I replace the motherboard without having to entirely format & re-install windows?" Yes, but I would make that my last resort. Remove everything from the computer except your RAM, CPU, and video card. If it powers up reinstall one at a time to find where problem lies. If it still has problems, then remove the video card and verify your video post beep error. If you get the post beep, then most likely it's your video card. If not, the problem lies within the CPU, mobo, and ram. You can get the ram tested in a computer store.

Well... I tried removing all the PCI cards. The PC failed to boot (again, not even reaching the POST screen). I re-inserted the PCI cards I had removed, and applied pressure to the graphics card and to where the power supply goes in to the keyboard to make sure they were properly plugged in, which the both seemed to be. The PC then booted up fine. After 15 minutes, it reset itself, booted as far as the XP loading screen, then reset itself again, back to the state of not even showing the POST screen. I waited 30 minutes thinking that perhaps something could be overheating and causing the problem. However, 30 minutes later another boot attempt ended with it not even reaching the POST screen, again. I again applied pressure to all the PCI cards, the IDE cable ports on the motherboard, the graphics card and where the power supply goes in to the motherboard. THe PC booted again, into windows, before failing about 10 minutes later. Any ideas people? A loose connection somewhere, new PSU or motherboard perhaps?

correction: "...and applied pressure to the graphics card and to where the power supply goes in to the *motherboard* to make sure they were properly plugged in, which *they* both seemed to be."

I would try a different PSU, and video card... or try your video card on another machine if you can...if they both work then it is the motherboard. And one thing. Unless you replace the motherboard with the same one (which in the age of technology is probably foolish), I would plan to start with a clean install of XP if you want it to run right. Why not take slave your hard drive to another pc and copy the relevant files and then plan to do it the right way if you wind up replacing the mb. Rich M www.kickenhardware.net

Completely remove the PSU to motherboard connector and then reseat it.