Desktop

Shot in the dark: install it as a slave in another PC, then try to get at it with antivirus, fdisk, etc. Make sure other PC has solid virus scanning up and running.

Since I am assuming the BIOS Flashed sucessfully, Some further history/investigation is called for. What you are describing sounds like the IDE/Floppy controller might have gone out. Was there a power problem? Lightning? Coffee spill?

If possiable you should boot the drive on another computer just to verify the drive is good. (6GHD has a good shot at being under warrenty). If drive boots, (note of a BIOS extendor has been installed, if these flake out you can reboot/restore the drive with the same program and usuall get it working. If not format it), you should next look at possiable power/MB problems and what your options are (replace/buy new).

Is the processor fan working?
It's possible that your processor is getting to hot. That is why, sometimes the BIOS picks up all the info, sometimes it doesn't.
When it picks up the info right away as you mentioned, has the machine been turn off for a little while?
This is a long shot, but turning the machine on with the box open, do you see the fan on?
Is the fan tight close with the processor?

That's my 2 cents...

Had the same problem with a system - CPU fan was Socket 7 and was working fine - however, one side of the fan clip was touching the end of one memory chip - put chip into different slot - problem went away! Lucky I didn't **** the bad boy up!

An inconsistancy in the BIOS is usually a warning that the battery is leaking or may be dud. For a few bucks, replace the battery before trying anything else, it may be all you need. After a fresh battery, use the autodetect again to see if it picksup the hard disk and CD. Once this is resolved, I suggest you write down the settings somewhere for future reference in case you lose the settings again...just a small insurance policy.

clover