Total Hardware Failure

Problem started with an issue with DVD Rom but that is by and by.. If I boot with any hardware connected I get to mobo logo screen and then it freezes, activity light Red Solid. Disconnect any hardware and can access bios. Have..
Reset CMOS,Taken battery out for several hours,reseated memory/graphics card, renewed PSU/cables, battery. I have 5 HD's 2 ROMs and a floppy. If I just connect one of these it will not boot. Any ideas Geeks ??

ABIT AN8 SLI
AMD 4200 X2
1 GIG CRUCIAL

 

I'm thinking bad motherboard, or bad BIOS. But you can't flash the BIOS if the PC locks up when attaching a floppy drive.... if you can boot to a floppy disk, try flashing the BIOS with the newest available from the mobo maker's web site. Have you tried a different PSU? Have you tried using different data cables? Have you tried removing all the hardware from the case, and running the PC on the 'bench'? Just make sure the mobo is on a non-conductive surface (like cardboard) and then just build the PC as usual but without the case. It could be that something in the case is grounding weird or shorting out somehow....

Good luck! Keep us posted!

 

I was just thinking.... I've seen bad floppy drives cause the same symptoms you're describing. The PC would power up to the motherboard logo, then become totally unresponsive to everything except the reset button and the power switch. So, try disconnecting the floppy drive and see if that helps. If not, hook up one device at a time between each attempt at booting. This can help pinpoint the exact cause or your problems.

 

As dlb says, try all -
If you can get into bios with hardware disconnected, while in the bios, check if ram is showing correctly. Ram can be your first knockout- , if it does not show correctly, remove, and replace, and check again. Try with one stick.
If it shows o.k, then it could be one of the hard discs - if you know which one is being used as "0", (or, C:/ ), then connect that. That would be your drive with the operating system installed. - if you do not know which it is, try each one, one at a time.
Don't connect any cd drive/floppy drive, or add in cards, like dlb advised.

 

Thanx guys for your input. Well with a lot of fiddling I got it going loading one drive at a time untill all were connected then connected DVD Rom and OK,,, but,,, put a disc in there and all started again. Bios cannot hold settings date/time etc. so it appears what ever conflict is occuring it stems from the Rom. Once again cannot boot passed logo when Drive 0 is connected or any other drive singularly. Time for a new mobo it sounds. Tested memory and OK. Will keep you informed if I manage to boot succesfully ...:rolleyes

 

Yes Tim as I said in first post Reset CMOS,Taken battery out for several hours,reseated memory/graphics card, renewed PSU/cables, battery.

PSU is a new 550 watt which is ample for this rig. This morning I thought I would give it one more shot and decided to disconnect not only the power lead but also the ribbon to the DVD Roms and now have all three SATA drives connected and running OK. Bios settings are now holding time/date, etc. I have not tried the PATA drives as yet but I will NOT be connecting the ROMs thats for sure as me thinks this is when the faults occur. Will run as such for a couple of days and see how it pans out, will keep you all informed. Thanks for input :cool