*phew*
new processor arrived this morning - so i stripped the pc, installed the new cpu, put the mobo back into the case and linked it all up. it all worked - i installed the new bios which went fine. Then stripped it all back out again, put the Phenom II back in, got it back into the case again, and its booted successfully this time! :D
With any luck, installing the OS, drives and graphics card should be a piece of cake compared to getting the CPU going.
I do believe this calls for a sausage sarnie
thanks for the support along the way guys, I honestly dont think i would have got this far without you!