S...
     On a perfboard prototype I'm working on, I'm having startup problems.
     S...


     I usually put a regular socket on the perfboards.  I have made several Zif
     socket adapters that plug into the proto boards. I stack one or two machine
     pin sockets under the zif socket to gain clearance over the components that
     might be on the perf board.

     I had crystal startup problems using this kludge.  I fixed it by clipping
     the pins on the adapter going down to the crystal circuit on the perf
     board, and building a crystal circuit on the zif socket.

     Engineers are always picky about pwb layout around crystals (I do the
     layout, and I'm the one they pick on).  The crystal and its' caps have the
     highest priority during component placement.  Runs are short and wide.  The
     two capacitors' ground connections are close together, and close to the
     processors ground pin.  If its' a two layer board, the capacitors have
     their own run to the processors ground, and that run is isolated from all
     other ground connections.

     Joe