Hi again,
thanks so much to everyone for your input.
You guys (and girls) are going to love this:
okay, in answer to Spear’s question, I found that while searching Microsoft’s website and I think it had to do with notebooks rather than PCs. If you ever have need of this in detail, let me know and I’ll stumble around the site again and I’m sure I can find it.
P: you’re the man. that link you gave me – it was the answer, though much of what was said after your post helped me to figure this out.
apparently the processor sits into some kind of cradle, and from what I was able to gather, my processor wasn’t perhaps sitting correctly. I fiddled with the fan in front of it and heard a distinct popping sound which I assume was the processor slipping back into place. anyhow it has worked right ever since I gave it a “bump”.
lol. But there was a hurricane before the storm…
While in the process of trying to clean up the PC, I accidently must have touched the wrong two wires together because I was using a screw driver to clean lint out of the box where the electric cord goes into the PC. Something popped and then it wouldn’t even turn on. (I know, I should have unplugged it first. stupid I know)
Screwed now huh?
Well I got out my duct tape, rubber bands and chewing gum (my tool kit) and went to work.
after I got the box out of the PC, then got it open, I found there was one fuse in there which was impossible to see whether it was burned out or not; but I assumed that was the case, so I tore open an old VCR I had laying around, and located a fuse the same length as the other one.
Long story shortened: and here I am. all fixed. lol. Don’t ya just love technology?
Mucho thanks to all for your help. I would be sitting in the dark pretending my monitor had a good game of Pong on it if not for your help.
Words fail to communicate. Thanks guys (and gals).