Checking NVRAM then hanging ....

Hello all … I hope someone here can help me …

I know my way around the operation of a PC well, and Im familar with all of the components, but Im having a problem that I currently dont understand

I picked up a PC off of Fleabay … its a 3gig P4 prescott, with a more generic Mobo w/ integrated graphics and such. I can look up the MB model number if that becomes important …

The past two nights, I have come home to find my PC off, and it hard to turn back on.

I have to turn it off and on several times to get it to boot fully, When it doesnt boot, I get the usual beep, and it hangs on the booting screen Saying “Checking NVRAM” … I restart it, untill it finally boots up, then works perfectly fine … no slow speeds or anything

Tonight though, Oddly my PC would not even try to come on the first few times I pushed the power button … I unplugged the power cord, and plugged it back up, and when I did so I got power, but still had to cycle the power off and on a few times to get past the “checking NVRAM”

Im inclined to say that its either the MB or the Power Supply … but I have no way to narrow it down fully.

I have a PS from an old Gateway laying around, I could try to put that in (And plug only the hard drive up so as to minimize current draw)

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated

***EDIT … I would like to add that Ive had this PC running for 3 months with no problems, untill recently …

can you try a differnt processor in your problem system?

First try the other PSU in your system to narrow it down.