2 pcs, no post

[Spammeh]

I've got an old 40gb lying around the house which my dad decided to connect to his PII machine. When this hd is connected the pc no longer powers on which leads me to believe that there is a short. Removing the hd allowed the pc to boot as normal. After a while this PC stops POSTing.

Testing this HD in another machine also results in the same problem. Another PC that does power on but doesn't POST. Cleared CMOS, no change at all.

Could the HD somehow affect both PSUs? (el cheapo ones) or both mobos killed by static via poor handling?

 

[mpilchfamily]

If the HDD is somehow shorted it could damage the motherboard. Its likly the chipset on the board has been damaged.

 

[Modelworks]

Damaged HD. There is a a 5v line on the ide cable that is part of the normal operation. Short that and most MB will not start.