Update on the PC Tower that I am working on atm; after an hour or so of cleaning it today it now runs Windows7 (was not-running XP) and now I can start on the process of setting it up for the friend who wants to use it as an office machine for his business.
Never ever underestimate the awesomeness of a clean heat sink and fan ...nor the fact that properly seating RAM and properly connecting a hard drive can make all the difference.
