This is really strange behavior I have seen in the last week. Here are the symptoms.

I go into the bios ( Phonix - Award Bios ) In the section that deals with FSB frequency and memory frequency, immediatly when I enter that page, the cursor is frozen over "Memory Frequency", its flashing there but its also making this very regular ticking noise. The actual MOBO is making a ticking noise. This stops after a minute or so and the cursor unfreezes and stops blinking.

I get the feeling its trying to tell me something? But I have no clue how to interpret it.

My feeling is something is not right with the memory slots. I have swapped out the memory sticks and get the same behavior. I have even moved them around.

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Side note, and maybe related. I believe my PC also has a virus. I am running windows XP and for one of the users. all it wants to do is type the letter "Q" and keep typing this. None of the other user accounst are affected and this is the only symptom. Apart from this and something getting corrupted in the COM system that wont allow me to start Internet Explorer...the system is stable.

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So, is it possible this MOBO is going bad? What about a boot sector virus?

Any ideas or help of course would greatly be appreciated. You all are the best and why I love coming here for ideas!

Thanks

HJ