OK...I reseated the cpu, hooked it up outside the case (w/a different PSU) & it got to the post screen. I then reinstalled it back in the case (glad I invested in a case w/a removable mb tray!), turned it on & it did the same thing. I thought maybe the mounting screws were too tight, so I loosened them up a tad, restarted, same thing. Then I unhooked the PSU in the case (Corsair 520HX) & hooked up the 24 & 8 pin power w/a different PSU (BFG 800W), held down the reset, then the power button on the mb for 4 seconds, hit the power & it posted. I then hooked up the Corsair again, held down the reset & power for 4 seconds, hit the power button & it posted.
I'm formatting the hdd now & getting ready to install XP.
Dunno what was wrong, but it's working & that's all that matters, yes?
BTW, in regards to the memory, did I read the manual right in that if i'm installing 2 sticks I put them in DIMM 1 & 2 (green & yellow)? My other motherboards, when using dual channel, had 1 stick in DIMM 1 & the other in DIMM 3.
Thanks again for the help.