congo, thanx for all you help mate. i tried clearing the cmos with the jumper as per the manual's instructions and still nothing......

i phoned the retailer and had a chat with them and they say it prob a dead board and are sending a new one (i hope).

hope to get it soon and try again...... i wont it up and running cos i know it gonna be a killer!

so what parts are prone to breaking when static is about?? is it just the mobo? i use a writs band so it doesnt matter but just curious bloody frustrating all od this.

T.

Static damage is rare but possible. Careful handling is important, physical damage is more of a risk in my opinion.

Dead boards are fairly common, it's just bad luck if you get one..... and very frustrating as you know now.

Well, let's hope that fixes it. Good Luck and keep us informed as to what happens next.