first attempt... almost. :-)

[Andrew Kohlsmith]

> All of my results like this were that RAM was not really there.  It is
> copying the C code to ram, which isn't there, and then jumping to garbage,
> which on many mobos results in a reboot eventually.

Crap.  :-(

> Could be the ram is in the wrong slot.  Did you try all RAM sockets?  Some
> bridge implementations in LinuxBios expect a particular socket (#1 if it is
> numbered).

There is only the one slot.  This particular system would only accept EDO 
before, but it's a 430TX chipset which should work with either.  I tried both 
EDO and SDRAM SODIMMs without success.  

Time to unsolder the part.  I think I'm going to install a DIP socket and 
officially declare this particular motherboard my sacrificial system.  :-)

Regards,
Andrew