The big lock-up after Service Pack 2 install...

[Big Booger]

Fabulous news peter. I think Curio was spot on with the SP2 boot issue and Reverend posted the info in regards to that as did I.

PSUs are one of the most often overlooked pieces of hardware that are critical for system . I have a 475 watt PSU in one and I believe a 465 in another. Some users here have over 500 watts. Serious power for a serious machine.

[Island_Boy_77]

Well, all is right with the world again! I went to the link provided by Curio and Reverend and downloaded the file at the link. Then I Ghosted the HDD to the 2ndary 80Gb. Then I applied the patch, rebooted, and ran the SP2 update from the MS SP2 CD. Upon restart, everything was fine!

In truth, I'm now not sure whether it was a combination of the BIOS update + the link download, or just the link download, or just the BIOS update! At least for the future, I know what to look for.

This whole "drama" has been somewhat providential, as it has really highlighted to me the critical importance of the PSU factor. So much so, that I am forking out for a whole new case / PSU for the client in question out of my profit so that there is NO niggling worry at the back of my mind about the stability of the 350W PSU in the machine now. (new PSU is 400W) From now on I will be specing 350W for all "basic" machines, and at least 400, poss 450W for "performance" (although not "gamer") systems.

In closing this epistle, I would like to once again thank all those (Big Booger, Reverend, Curio and Conan) that have contributed: both for your time, your concise information, and the "professional" manner in which you have treated me. I have seen too many of these type of posts turn into slagging or bragging matches!