Well, if you wanna get all technical about it.....

Actually, I've never even tried the motherboard trick on any windows higher than 98

Post your HiJack This! log.

Other items to look at is network connections & my network places , If you've got a few that don't respond windows will sit there awhile trying to connect at bootup.
Also look at your startup options for spyware and Anitvirus, most do a startup scan, I would disable these for these for testing purposes.

Sorry man - just seen a lot of people burned after they spen mega $$ on a top of the line MB, only to find out they have to now go buy something they already own, have a license for, and paid for when they bought the PC.

It'* sham, and I don't really understand how they get away with it.

JP Finch, have you ever tried using the Mobo replacement procedure on the MS website? I've never had an oem unit since I buld my own and it has worked well for me several times but I'd like to know if it works on these oem units.

Heres the KB article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824125

Good idea. Didn't even think about network connections (i.e. high speed internet)

It will work if you have a commercially purchased copy of XP. You may have to call in to the 1-800 line after the install (immediately after you enter the key) to get a 50 or so digit code to enter (over and above the normal key you enter).

But if your PC came preinstalled with windows, you are screwed. After you replace the MOBO/CPU, You'll get an error sayinng your copy is invalid and asking for the license key. Then you enter the license key, and get asked to call the 1-800 number. Then you call that, enter in a 50 digit code, and you'll then be told you are SOL and to contact the vendor.

Then you call the vendor, and they will ask you if you bought the mobo from them. If the answer is no - they'll tell ya to **** up a rope (in so many words).

Frik that! I'll stick to building my own boxes. TYVM. Some of the new Dells look nice but I've never come across one that wasn't slowed by all the bloat-ware they install.

For what it'* worth a "memory cannot be read" error message (i.e. access violation) is typically indicative of a software programming error (i.e. trying to dereference a null or invalid pointer). Could be brought on by hardware (i.e. problem reading a memory mapped device), but also could be a function of crappy software (heaven knows what is running on your box at this point).

But, ya never know

Ok, so to test my RAM I just need to pull each stick one by one and reboot each time? Aren't there issues on most motherboards with certain RAM slots needing to be full before others will work? And what should I experience while I'm doing all this? What would be signs of a bad stick or a normal system?

Also, here is a cut/paste of my Hijack This logfile. Some of it is Greek to me, but I don't think there'* anything unusual in it. Let me know what you guys think!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 9:24:20 PM, on 4/30/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16414)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_S4I2D 1.EXE
C:\Program Files\Comodo\Firewall\CPF.exe
C:\WINDOWS\CTHELPER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe
C:\Program Files\Motherboard Monitor 5\MBM5.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\Wcescomm.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\ISUSPM.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\rapimgr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exe
C:\Program Files\Comodo\Firewall\cmdagent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Ben\My Documents\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTStartup] "C:\Program Files\Creative\Splash Screen\CTEaxSpl.EXE" /run
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SBDrvDet] C:\Program Files\Creative\SB Drive Det\SBDrvDet.exe /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSScheduler] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe" -start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSPM Startup] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\INSTAL~1\UPDATE~1\ISUSPM.exe -startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EPSON Stylus C84 Series] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_S4I2D 1.EXE /P23 "EPSON Stylus C84 Series" /O6 "USB001" /M "Stylus C84"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Comodo Firewall] "C:\Program Files\Comodo\Firewall\CPF.exe" /background
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTHelper] CTHELPER.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTxfiHlp] CTXFIHLP.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MBM 5] "C:\Program Files\Motherboard Monitor 5\MBM5.EXE"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [H/PC Connection Agent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\Wcescomm.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ISUSPM] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\ISUSPM.exe" -scheduler
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu...?1170526013640
O16 - DPF: {D1ACD2D8-7312-4D06-BECD-90EB094D2277} - http://mediaplayer.walmart.com/installer/install.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, *.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, *.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, *.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: Comodo Application Agent (CmdAgent) - COMODO - C:\Program Files\Comodo\Firewall\cmdagent.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe

If it helps at all - ship me your PC and I'll do a full backup (which you'll get back) and get it back up to 100%, no charge, except shipping and any parts needed. Probably a week or so turnaround. I can understand any misgivings you may have about that (being as you don't know me), but as far as ethical concerns, you don't need to worry. Time after time I've been burnt by trusting people to help me..... (ripped off, substandard quality, etc). The way I get back at those people is to do something good for someone else.

You'll get your PC back ASAP even if I can't fix it (but I've been doing this for 23 years), I don't think I'll have any problems getting her going. I telecommute all day, and something like this is a nice break.

I know this is extreme, and don't really expect you to take me up on it. But I think Best Buy charges like $100 just to look at it, and has some ungodly hourly rate. Don't even think about geek squad coming out. AFAIC, they are both a huge ripoff and don't have a clue. PM me if you want, I'll get ya my phone # and we can discuss.

Another thing - if you have you original operating system install disks, remove your hard drive- I'll put in a new one and reload your OS. I have an 80GB laying around you can have, but if you go this route, I'd recc going up to best buy and buying a 120GB or so (300 GB drives go for < $200). Then when you get it back, you can put your old drive in, and copy what you want back over to the nrew drive. I'll walk you through that over the phone with that if you need help.

Just thought I'd throw this out there if you can't get anywhere with the fix. It'* (can be) very hard and time consuming to do something like this by back and forth messages.