Boot hangs due to SATA

Hi all..My first post here so if its not in the correct forum my apologies

I'm trying to install a ST-3250823AS 250GB Hard Disk..I already have 2 HDs..120gb & 80gb..running XP sp1 on the 120gb HD..I installed the drive..computer recognized it..and I formatted it..full 232GB in NTFS format..no partition..I then disconnected my other hard drives and so I could install XP on the Sata HD ..but the boot hangs..If I reconnect my other drives with SATA connected then also the boot hangs..Once I disconnect the SATA HD then everything goes fine and xp is up and running..I read somewhere that maybe the motherboard doesnt support more than 137GB harddrives? IF this is the case how do I solve it ? I have a Intel 2.4 with D865GBF as the motherboard..1024MB DDR Ram and NVidia Quadro4 750 XGL and a Sony Dual layer DVD/CD writer/reader(DRU-720)
Must I get another MotherBoard?
I updated the BIOS and chipset...no use
Please help.......

Thanks a lot

 

are you setting CDROM to first boot device in the BIOS so that you can boot from the XP cd?

also, when you have just the SATA drive in, how is the CDROM connected? if you have no other drives in, it should be set as master and plugged into the master end of the cable on IDE channel 0.

 

Hello...The problem is that BOOT hangs if SATA is connected....nothing happens..I cannot access the BIOS...Thats the problem..

After the intial Intel Bluescreen..theres a screen which says:
Press F4 to continue
Press F12 to boot over the network

and if I enter F4..nothing happens..It just hangs in there...
So if I have SATA connected I cannot even access the BIOS..thats the problem..

Thanks for the help so far...