On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:18:02 -0500, "Ken Maltby"
<kmaltby@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>
>"Noozer" <dont.spam@me.here> wrote in message
>news:JkiBi.104337$rX4.39427@pd7urf2no...
>>> This may be a long shot, but try cleaning up any startup
>>> related software/OS drivers. Especially keyboard related,
>>> and in your case anything that might be connected to,
>>> wake on LAN, or such.
>>
>> How could ANY software/OS cause the PC to freeze during POST?
>>
>
> The OP was that it was "Inconsistent" and happening
>"within 4 min. of cold power up" and "on ONE occasion
>it locked up in the middle of entering the BIOS password".
>
> But to answer -your- question; in the same way a boot
>block virus works. There is more interaction possible
>than you appear to be aware of.

There is less interaction possible than /you/ appear to be
aware of. A boot block virus isn't running until the system
attempts to boot from that drive. This system is showing
instability prior to that point, even locking up entering
the bios menus so Noozer is correct.

There's not any point thinking about software problems until
the hardware stability is regained.

Cold power up problems tend to be either power supply, flaky
motherboard capacitors, a bad mechanical connection or a PCB
problem such as bad solder joints or board cracks, though
the former two are a lot more common than the latter two.