lol thanks guys
got hold of Sony's autherised agents. they won't bother repairing it but are prepared to give me a replacement model for...wait for it...the equivalent of $285. gotta love the third world.
Doorstop and/or ebay it is.
luckily, there's nothing in there thats too vital that i keep, all movies etc. are on external hdd anyway so i only lose saves and have to redownload any game content again.
sucks a bit, but that's life i guess!
might also give the reflow fix a try but i think it's the I2C (linked to the temp sensors) on the mobo that's packed it in.

Proud Sony Rear Admiral







