From what I can figure here, there's a concrete place in the boot where the machine dies. The XP loading screen is the time frame where devices are initiated... my guess lies with the hard drive,...

Try attaching the Enermax PSU to the the older model you have, that'll be a good test to determine if the PSU died, which, I've found, is typically the first to go. :\

Note the potential...

Unfortunately, European and Asian wall outlets utilize 220 volt output, opposed to the American 110.

If you're--if you plan on using this computer again--buying a power supply, I can't tell you...

This happened to be before, back when my heatsink was loose--where the computer would reboot whenever the heatsink came off the processor by the smallest amount.

If your heatsink is well-mounted...

My friend and I both did a nice job toasting our first builds due to a rather unsafe power situation a year or two back.

Two of the power couplings from his PSU were burnt beyond what I thought...

Best option, methinks, is a little bit of searching on NewEgg.com (if you're a US citizen, as NewEgg only ships there accordingly), for practically any Socket A model heatsink, since Socket A is a...

I don't believe in AA. :D

There is a possibility the ugly end of electronics is here, whereby I mean, your motherboard isn't broken, but shorted.

"Broken" is when one lovely afternoon an unbalanced delivery of power makes...

Sounds malicious, granted what happened: You transferred documents, and now the machine doesn't know it has a keyboard.

I suspected a virus, or other trafficable malware, since the said transfer...

For all good testing purposes, I strongly advise an out-case transplant. To the not so knowings, this is when you take everything required for a booting computer [motherboard, processor, PSU, RAM...

I'm leaning on a motherboard issue, simply because everything is connected to it...

I'd guess I'd have to take out a processor of a machine and see if its components boot, post back when I get the...

Yea, you've gone through what I would have done. Looks like you're going to need a PCI USB hub, or I suggest you check the USB connectors on the motherboard, and the condition of the wires, and such....

No problem, I've found a ton of problems comes from power and shorting, electricity being such a fundamental liability and assest to machines.

My box (and still my first) has gone through tons of...

Considering the problem occurs systemmatically, at this menu, I'm assuming there's something up with the motherboard.

This could additionally be a problem with the video card, even memory, but my...

Your question: Yes, heatsink must be connected--the board will look for one before boot to make sure the processor is protected.

One thing I ask ye do is to perform an out-case transplant. To...

Heeeeeeaaaaatsiinnnnnnnnnk.

Check that thing, make sure it's not a shorter, reattach, etc.

I would also blame the memory:
Try each stick individually, it will prevent issues.

It seems like...

'Kay, guessing everything else, hardware-wise, is doing good, so we can fully blame the hard drive's version of Windows.

Considering the poor drive seems to be undergoing a mid-life crisis, I...

Standby... it's done problems for me before, but I usually waited it out. I remember turning off my power supply, and quickly press the power button to bleed any leftover power.

From there, I...

If this just happened out of nowhere, chances are you're facing:

1.) Loose heatsink/Dead processor
2.) Power surge/Dead motherboard
Heatsink

For whatever reason, the heatsink has become...

Yay, power issues.

The little light ye see is pretty important, this is a definite house electrical/power supply/dud motherboard issue. You're either not getting appropriate power to the power...

Two possibilities:
1.) Heatsink - this piece of metal has loosened, and now for whatever reason the board is being shorted... try a new heatsink (and whichever processor you choose), or attempt to...

Hmm, if you can't hear the hard drive, then there is a problem with the hard drive. :)
This may be due to power, since the thing's not even making noise, or noise not loud enough to be identified. ...

"reduced to calling the Geek Squad"...

^_^

Freezing...
Well, it's a hardware failure. Symptoms of freezing right before it died, and the fact delivering power around the box seems to be a problem.

Can you hear some components powering up,...

I'm assuming the machine you're working with has a "chance" of boot. I'm also assuming that once the machine gets onto the operating system, there's also a chance of randomly shutting down. If I am...

Aye, the motherboard must be configured to have a boot device order where the CD/DVD drive is first, then the hard drive proceeding.

Some motherboards have a boot menu on a key, like my ASUS,...

Alrighty, that board uses 168-pin SDRAM, meaning any memory you put in there should have two breaks in the metal interface of the memory stick. Above that is DDR SDRAM, which has a 184-pin interface...

I'd change it because it's performance degrading, that's why.

Such things aren't really fixable, implying they aren't at all. Unless you're up to sauter new transistors onto circuitry, which would...

I'll agree to that...

Antec is usually really good about making solid power supplies, you could even go so far as to say the memory or motherboard aren't functioning either. Again, one could then...

Yea I better add something like that onto the list. :D

Many things, young grasshopper: :) (http://kapitaenmurfetto.blogspot.com/)
Click the smilie of happiness to achieve enlightenment.

Yeah, if that's wattage, then I recommend something... else. Look for Antec, they've never let me down.

I am very glad I made this. (http://kapitaenmurfetto.blogspot.com/)

It's the tower, not your monitor.

Aye, Power-->Board-->Processor

:(

Alright... usually, RAM issues cause a blue screen, giving you some information about what device malfunctioned and what sector/section of the RAM was having an issue. This is the result of a RAM...

What kind of memory you got there?... and video card?

Motherboards and processors are rarely associated with overworking your box, unless it comes to heating issues, where your BIOS may initiate...

Try a fork to complete the green power 2-pin circuit.

:cheesy:

BIOS? Uh ohs.

Probably not... good, but possibly fixable. If you were running smooth and happy before, drivers wouldn't cause startup issues. Therefore, we must assume the worst and attempt some...

djrivera's completely right about the Antec power supply investment... only real company I've been able to trust in hopes my computer doesn't die from a surge or current issue (then again, I'm...

Found an excellent little cooler here: Heatsink... (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835110007)

People seem to love it, and I think it fits well theme-wise in most cases. :D...