hard drive issues

hello,
i need some expert advice please.

my system: vpr matrix 2.26ghz pent4
windows xp pro
1024 ddr pc21oo
ati aiw video
creative audigy2
cdrw & 16x DL dvdrw

this is my problem. i had 4 hard drives running fine in this system.
they were:
Drive C: WD80gb oem
Drive F: Max 160gb
Drive G: Max 160gb
Drive H: Max 160gb

I bought a WD 250gb hard drive. I wanted to get the oem WD80gb out of the system and into an external case.

Instead of using the WD250gb as the operating system drive, i wiped the
Drive H: Max 160gb clean before switching drives around. I switched it out
with the WD80gb oem, and did a clean format and install of windows xp pro.
I had the extra hard drives disconnected while doing this. Installation went
well, everything started up and ran fine.
I installed the new WD250gb next and formatted it. It ran fine, i could put
files on it and retrieve them.

I went ahead and connected the rest of the hard drives in this manner.
Drive C: Max 160gb operating system installed
Drive F: Max 160gb
Both of these installed on same cable as master/slave.
Drive G: Max 160gb
Drive H: WD 250gb
Both of these installed on 2nd ide cable as master/slave.

When i started system back up, it would not load operating system.
I couldn't get into bios or anything. It would come up to the VPR Matrix logo screen, and hang there for a while and then go blank, before reaching the Window's XP logo screen.

I tried switching the G&H drives, master/slave configurations, with no luck.
I tried doing cable select settings, and again, no luck.

If i took 1 of those drives out, then everything ran fine, and i could access
all the rest of the drives. it didn't matter which drive i unhooked, it still worked.

now i'm dumbfounded.
I hope i explained this ok without going on too long.

Thanks