primary/master 80GB WD primary/slave Seagate 40GB jumpers ARE correct.
Boot sequence IS correct each attempt.
BIOS detects all devices properly. With 80GB attached at all, get a DISK READ ERROR CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart when trying to boot to it.
Boot from CD with XP CD, gets to "Examining system configuration" then black screens... CD spins down, locks up machine. Have run manufacturers disk utilities to test drive, all pass. Put disk in another working machine as a slave, can read all data. Remove the disk drive from new system, and setup wants to proceed to the Seagate drive as one would expect.
Have tried slaving the 80GB even put on secondary IDE, no different results.
Also have tried a PCI Promise card to rule out IDE channels.
The mobo is a Biostar M6vlr. I see others that have had problems but the problems aren't as predominant as one would expect for a cheap board.
Most are video/lan/driver issues, and for the laptop variety of this board.
Have Gooogled now for a few hours and crosseyed pondering ideas. Any suggestions from a fresh perspective are GREATLY appreciated.
I apologize in advance if this topic has been posted elsewhere, and if the explanation is vague: I am feeling pretty browbeaten by now.
Thanks in advance.