pc boots w/no CDROM, won't boot when CDROM is attached

I've got a Gateway P55C-200 w/128M ram. The system started shutting
itself off during the boot process. I've been able to get it to boot
if I remove the CDROM, but if I try to add it or another one back in
it won't boot. Tried 2 other known good CDROMs (the one coming out is
a Toshiba). Tried with HD as master on primary channel and CDROM as
Master on secondary, also tried HD master and CDROM slave with both on
primary. Neither works. Any ideas (other than a new computer).

Thanks, -Rick

Rick wrote:

 > I've got a Gateway P55C-200 w/128M ram. The system started shutting
 > itself off during the boot process. I've been able to get it to boot
 > if I remove the CDROM, but if I try to add it or another one back in
 > it won't boot. Tried 2 other known good CDROMs (the one coming out is
 > a Toshiba). Tried with HD as master on primary channel and CDROM as
 > Master on secondary, also tried HD master and CDROM slave with both on
 > primary. Neither works. Any ideas (other than a new computer).
 >
 > Thanks, -Rick
 >

Could it be the current draw from the extra drive is causing a marginal
power supply to fail? What does the bios ( or appropriate utility) show
for voltages?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->