"Flwrite" <lostwithout@home.com> wrote:

F> However, it takes forever to boot up -- probably checking
F> all that memory. I have the pretty CMOS-setup ram-counter
F> turned off, but I guess the POST (Power On Self Test) has to
F> make a quick check of all that memory, anyway.

Why don't you leave it running 24/7?  I only have to boot my Win2K
box once per year, after cleaning out the dust (annual maintenance).
I'm running a similar spec machine (PII 400 with 384 MB RAM).
Haven't had any issues with it for the past 6 years, and I reckon it is
good for another 5-6 years.