I got my computer working. However, last night, while installing HL2, my primary (boot) disk crashed, and lost all data.

Then my system wouldn't power up before. A fault had been suspected, so I dissasembled the entire system, and then reassembled.

On a side note, my new case was bought because it was aluminum, but came with some features it did not need. Like super-bright LEDs on the front of the case.

This turned out to come in handy. As I was reconnecting the power to the CD- RW, the case LEDs lost power (and the CD-RW wouldn't get it). This specific power plug had one of those funny 2-inch extensions/splitters that also powers the fan on my video card. The pin that the video card's cooling fan drew from had gotten so loose, it was pushed out the back of the plastic housing.

I realized that this had previously been the cord providing power to the boot drive originally.

Damnit.

Anyway. After a few hours of installing various crap, it's up and running again.

I hope. Tonight will tell us for certain.