Funnily enough my AGP slot is dodgy too, as it doesn't wanna work with an AGP 8x card. It just goes blank as soon as it's active (the screen that is).

The graphics card in the PC worst affected by this problem periodically "packs in" and the screen just goes blank. After that it needs restarting but never happens again until its had a chance to cool down.

I've always put it down to the actual card though, as it seems to be faulty in a number of other machines ive tested it in.

I have an XP1700+ and have exactly the same problem, of occasional BIOS resets to Factory default, even the clock. I'd always put it down to a squiffy connection to the battery.