HP Pavilion a4316f-b, when turned on freezes at the HP splash screen.  Pressing any of the function keys doesn't do anything.  I tried swapping RAM (3 x 2 GB) and no changes.  If all RAM is pulled out the MB beeps like it is SUPPOSED to if no RAM is present.  I UNPLUGGED the hard drive and then it will go PAST the HP splash screen and tell me no bootable media is found.  I have tried 3 additional hard drives, all with the same results, if they are plugged in, the computer freezes at the HP splash screen.  I even tried a different SATA cable from the motherboard to hard drive and tried different SATA ports on the motherboard.  Since it is the same results for a total of 4 hard drives, I'm guessing it is an issue with the motherboard or is there something else I should be checking?  Any help is appreciated.
Are you positive it's the correct new RAM ? ?

In regards to the HDD's you are swapping...you cant take a Win HDD from 1 PC to another without issues like what you are seeing...

Where is the original HDD ? ?...and what's installed on it ? ?The are 3 ram chips. I have pulled them out and tried ONE at a time and in different slots, no change. The original hard drive has Windows 7 64 bit on it. The 3 other hard drives are brand new. When any of the 4 hard drives are hooked up it freezes at the hp flash screenWhat has changed since it worked properly ? ?
Are you saying the original HDD when connected produces the same results ? ?Nothing CHAD changed in it. Yes same results with the original hard drive. I originally thought it was the hard drive, that is why I started changing them outAre you able to enter the CMOS setup utility?

If I remember correctly, it is entered by pressing F1 during boot.

Many systems have a setting referred to as "Quiet Boot" or "Logo Boot" which basically shows a logo during startup. If you can find and disable that, it may help identify the problem as it will boot up with a text display that shows more clearly what it is doing while booting that could help determine where things are going wrong.I can enter CMOS if no hard drive is plugged in.  If a hard drive is plugged in, it is froze at the HP splash screen.Try replacing the HDD cable itself...Patio, I already tried that. I also unplugged the SATA cable that went to the dvd drive and tried the hard drive in all 4 SATA ports on the motherboard, no changes.Sounds like the board has gone South...

What does it do with a bootable CD/DVD ? ?if no hard drive is plugged in, a bootable cd works part of the time, the other part it just says no bootable media foundThen i suspect the HDD controller...any Yellow !!'s in Device Manager ? ?