How old is this PC--?
What you describe could also be the power-supply weakening.
They all get less efficient over time -- the capacitors lose efficiency...
so when you "strain" it (like at startup) it will not have enough reserve power.
You should use the PSU Calculator in my sig-- see what it comes up with for wattage. Be sure to include all your peripherals (USB uses power)

Thanks for the hints, the PC is just over 2 years old (August 05).
I've used the calculater and it recommends 205 w (not sure if thats good or bad ), I wasnt completly familier with a couple of the categories but Im pretty sure I got most of them right.

205 w is very minimal-- some gamers have 1000w-- it still could be the PSU but it's less likely at that figure

Well problems still persisting and it seems to be getting more extreme - at first and for a while it would normally take me around 6/7 attempts to get the pc started. Over the last few days it's been ranging from 1/15 attempts!

That does sound like it could be either a RAM or a PSU problem.

I recommend testing the ram with memtest86, just set it going and leave it a few hours and then tell us how many errors you have.

If it does turn out to be the power supply I have a few spare power supplies sitting round doing nothing, they're not great quality but I know they work and work well and I don't mind sending one to ya if you'd like.

any spare laptops in that box too Leb ?

j/k - nice offer there bud.