The strangest thing has HAPPEN to me me please help. I have a Gigabyte GA8SMML motherboard (478pin)with a 3GHz processor. I want to install windows but can't seem to. The IDE connectors on the motherboards is not working on start up an nether are they present in the BOIS. Tried flashing the BIOS an still no luck. The only way it works is if i unplug the Cdrom or Hdd,.it wont startup together.PLEASE HELP AS I NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE THIS YETWelcome to the CH forum.
Let's assume that you're an experienced homebuilder and you're trying to bring up a new motherboard and your problem seems to be related to judge the IDE connection.
Since we don't know anything about your experience here are just a few limerick questions.
So both your CD-ROM and here hard disk drive are the older parallel IDE type. Is that right? And you're USING a better quality 80 wire cable with a 40 pin connectors. Tomorrow procedure is to set both devices on cable select and also to use two separate cables for hard drive of course goes into the first IDE port controller and the CD-ROM drive goes into the next one.
Now in your be IOS both the hard disk drive and the CD-ROM are identified correctly. Is that right? And you set the boot ORDER to first do the CD-ROM and then do the hard disk drive. Right
okay, now from what you describe it sounds like you have both the hard disk drive and the CD-ROM in the system at the same time it does not work or does not start up anything. That COULD only happen if both are on the same cable and you did not use cable select.
But you are it checked out the CD-ROM by itself right? The system boots up and the CD-ROM starts up the install and then it proceeds to tell you that there's no hard disk drive. Is that right? If we can't get to that point then we need to find out why we can't at least boot up the CD-ROM drive by itself. This is a diagnostic procedure. We can't install anything without the hard disk drive present. But being able to boot from the CD-ROM drive is an essential task. So we want to make sure we can do that before we proceed any further. Have you done that?
please excuse my spelling and grammar errors. I do this as fast as possible in order to get back to you right away.How many IDE connectors ? ?
Do the both do the same thing ? ?

Try BRAND NEW IDE cables to see....