I am soooo confused!!!!! There is so much good information in this thread, and so much of it is contradictory from one post to another,  LOL

I thought my computer completely died this evening.  I was reading the forums and had 3 tabs open in Mozilla and went to open a 4th one and my computer shut itself off. I felt the tower and it was hot. So like the other times I let it cool down for a bit and then pulled up my secretary chair and got comfy, because her is where CPR comes into play when trying to turn my computer back on from a complete shut down, either when it does it randomly, or when I shut it down myself.

1.  Turn OFF computer using switch at the back (needed step otherwise the front ON button won't turn on the computer)
2.  Wait for all computer noises to stop
3.  Turn ON the computer using the switch at the back
4.  Turn ON computer using ON button in the front

At this point the computer powers on but shuts down within a second

Repeat steps 1 through 4 over and over and over...

Eventually as time progresses, the computer starts to stay on a little bit longer.

Finally when it stays on long enough for me to actually hear some noises coming from it IE: hard drive turning over, I have to listen for a soft click sound (that is if it gives the click sound at all, or stays on long enough to give the click sound).  You know how when you start up your computer you hear the hard drive spin followed by a beep and then a soft click right after?  Well, I don't get the "Beep", all I get is the soft click sound. 

Anyway,  I keep doing steps 1 to 4 until I get that soft click sound.  And then when I hear the hard drive spin and hear that soft click sound I repeat steps 1 to 4 again and again as soon as I hear the click.  If I'm really lucky and pray to every God ever known, eventually I'll hear the hard drive spin, get a beep sound followed by the click and my computer will boot up!!!

What is  a  PITA is the fact that if I stop and go and take a break and come back and try again, I lose whatever head way that I made.

Tonight it only took 3 hours and 20 minutes for that to happen!!!!!.   Before it's taken up to 40 minutes, but never this long.  I fear that if it shuts down again that it won't start up anymore :(

Anyway, I looked up the address of Powerland Computers where I live. They did my computer upgrade back in 2001.

They have a desktop page.  Are there any packages there that look ok to purchase and build onto in order to customize it for my needs?

http://www.powerlandcomputers.com/desktops.html

The following is a list of what I plan on taking with me to discuss with them.

Quote -
What I want now

• Pentium IV (Maybe dual core - ? Price)
• 1 GIG RAM plus whatever RAM that can be salvaged from the old computer
• 160 GIG hard drive (7200.10) - partitioned 60/60/40 (with access to all partitions please)
      - Maybe a 250 GIG hard drive (7200.10) partitioned (60/80/80/20)
• 3D Graphic Card with OPEN GL  -(either nVidia or ATI Radeon - ? Price)
• Windows XP Home
• 600 Watt Power Supply
• 2 Internal Fans
• Extra USB ports with front access
• Floppy Drive
• CD Drive
• Extra spot for a DVD Burner (Future Purchase)
• CD Burner (Salvaged from old computer)

**Future wants - I want to be able to:

**1. Upgrade to 4 GIGS of RAM without having to replace the computer’s current components or my 1 GIG of new RAM

2. Upgrade to a larger hard drive without having to replace the computer’s current components

3. Be able to install  a DVD Burner without having to get rid of my current CD Burner (hence the request for the extra spot)

Salvage from old computer:

1. Whatever RAM that can be taken and used in the new computer over and above the 1 GIG
2. CD Burner put into new computer.
3. Transfer the contents from the 8 GIG hard drive to the old 40 GIG hard drive (Please do not reformat the 40 GIG hard drive!!!)  Move the 40 GIG hard drive so that it replaces the 8 GIG hard drive and becomes my extra hard drive) If there is room, can the 8 GIG hard drive be left in as a second extra hard drive?

NOTE: I do not need to have all of the newest and most current / buff parts.  Last years models are just as good and because they are likely to be cheaper they will fit better within my budget and I want to build the best possible computer that I can within the limits that I have to stick to.

"It is good to see ourselves as others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to say." - Ghandi