I am have trouble getting my pc to boot. I just built a pc and when I plug in the ide cables into the hard drive, cd-rom or floppy it turns them off. If I unplug them them they boot-up and run good. What might be wrong? I am running a AMD 1700+ with a Biostar M7VKQ Motherboard. Also the power button is not working I can turn the computer but can't turn it off I need to unplug it to turn it off.

The power off could be simply due to a bios setting - sometimes the switch is used to power down, set to sleep or other configuration. As far as the HDD, FDD and CD drive goes, you should first of all make sure they are connected to the correct sockets.
The FDD should be no problem, as the MBoard should have a separately coloured connector (blue I think) for the FDD.
Just plug this one in,(disconnect HDD and CD) and see if your PC will boot to recognise the FDD.
If your machine gets to the POST test, enter the bios, and check that the boot sequence is set to FDD - HDD - CD.
One thing with the HDD is to ensure that it is connected to the cable correctly - I assume you have the HDD and CD on the same cable - make sure that the HDD is connected to the END of the cable. Another thing is to ensure the JUMPERS on the rear of the HDD are set to 'Cable select' - (assuming that option is available) this will let the computer decide how to configure things.
If this works, then plug the CD drive in - preferably on your second EIDE connector on MBoard.
You can go into the bios setup and use the HDD autodetect if needed, but it should already work if connected correctly.
With a bit of luck, the above will work. If not, then there's loads of people here who will be able to make further suggestions.

Welcome to PCGuide!!

What is your power supply? If the power is not sufficient to run the drives in the machine, it could simply not boot.

Budfred

ok I unhooked all my drives and then hooked up my fdd and it did nothing, yet when I unhooked it the power light came on. The cables I am using are the ones that can with the disk. And my power supply is a ATX 350 watt.

"yet when I unhooked it the power light came on."

You didn't disconnect the cable with the power on did you, please tell me you didn't do that...

Budfred

Peebles
[qoute]Also the power button is not working I can turn the computer but can't turn it off I need to unplug it to turn it off.[/quote]

In the BIOS there is sometimes a setting that allows for a 4 (four) second delay before shutdown. Keep your finger on the power button and count to at least 6 and see if it powers then.

Where do you take your name from? As there is a town in the Borders called Peebles

Originally posted by Peebles
when I plug in the ide cables into the hard drive, cd-rom or floppy it turns them off. If I unplug them them they boot-up and run good.

Peebles could you clarify the above for me please. If you unplug all your drives how can the computer boot up and run. Sorry if I am being dense/thick:confused:

I have the power cables connected and the drives run but if I turn off the pc plug in the ide cables along with the power cables it will not.

Originally posted by Peebles
ok I unhooked all my drives and then hooked up my fdd and it did nothing, yet when I unhooked it the power light came on. The cables I am using are the ones that can with the disk. And my power supply is a ATX 350 watt.

That sounds like a short - circuit, but to be sure, unhook the FDD and try with just the HDD.
a 350 watt supply should be sufficient for a normal PC.
If the problem repeats with the HDD, then the problem is likely to be on the motherboard (the HDD should have it's own controller on board)
If using the HDD alone allows the system to boot, then simply try replacing the FDD cable (if you don't have a multimeter - if you do, just test the connections for shorts/continuity)

Ah! Now I see.

You have a couple of choices on what to do.

First -Try and get other cables. (Borrow ALL cables from somewhere) and then re-try your computer.
Second - Take ALL your drives and install them into another computer.

By doing this you will check whether your drives and cables are OK.

Have you tried installing other drives?

If the problems are still there with other cables and drives work OK in another computer it then means the fault(s) lies with the motherboard, possibly shorting on the casing. To my mind the fact that ALL drives stop working when connected to the IDE\FLOPPY ccables indicates the mobo.
Try the above unless\until someone else comes up with less fiddly solution.

Ok I did all the things you said and all my drives worked fine in another computer and the cables work fine. So it must be the mobo shorting out? And if so is there a way I can ground it or stop it from doing so?

Did you make sure that the FDD cable is not connected upside down?

It is connected right side-up.

Yes,
Make absolutely sure the cables are connected with the red stripe to pin '1' on each end (mobo end AND device end, HDD or CD-ROM etc.). Also your jumpers MUST be right.

I just installed another HDD from the same manufacturer of the same design but had to remove the jumper pin entirely to make it boot whereas on the previous one (of half the size) needed the jumper on cable select. (both manufactured this year)

When you say "does not boot" do you get any message at all or no video whatsoever? Any error messages like 'disk failure'?

What have you done in BIOS so far? Have you gotten ANY screen at all?

Peebles you could try the following.

Remove everything from case and set it up on a bench. Making sure that you lay the mobo onto anti-static mat (the plastic bag it came rapped in would do) Now Install only the basics. Boot the comp.

After that Turn of the comp and add one drive at a time, rebooting after each install.. After going through this process and if everything boots Ok then you definately have a short. (I check out this way as |do Not have a meter(Don't know how to use one) Could the short be coming from one of the drives when installed in the case? Someone else will verify if this is possible