Hi,

I just worked on a Compaq Presario this weekand for a no boot problem and
it turned out to be a dead board.  It was a socket 7, AMD 500 processor
system.

Based on your description and from my experiences, i would use the
following order of probability to check the components: CPU, ram,
mainboard, video, power supply, hard drive.   For the answer to your
inquirery, is it software or hardware, you can unplug the hard drive and
boot the system up with a floppy that you prepared with some small programs
and try and run them 2 to 3 hrs after the unit has been on.

Do you have a Diagnostic Utility like ForeFront's troubleshooter, or a
burnin in program, that is software independent and you can run the system
in a burnin mode to try and find the problem?

If you have any of the above componets available to swap out, or remove the
componet and place in a system that is working fine and see if the problem
develops in there.  Is the CPU getting enough air flow for cooling?

Does the problem happen if the cover is off the unit?  Can you place a
pinpointed heat source (like a hair dryer) on the above componets
indiviuallyand cause the problem to happen quicker? (carefull not to burn
anything).

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

JOE LORE
MICRO COMPUTER CENTER, INC.
150 NEW BOSTON RD. UNIT F
WOBURN, MA  01801
781-933-5530 x110
781-933-6939 fax
TECH SUPPORT: 1-866-YOUR-MCC / [log in to unmask]
RMA: [log in to unmask]
FTP site: www.members.aol.com/parts4pc

                         PCBUILD's List Owners:
                      Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
                       Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>