CD-ROM works but won't boot

Hello,
I recently upgraded my beige G3 and installed a new CD-ROM drive. Now when I try to boot from a CD it won't boot. The computer just displays a gray screen. Would anyone have any idea why it won't boot?
I know it boots when it is connected to the j9 IDE connector on the motherboard but when I connect it to the j10 IDE connector it will not boot. Is the j10 connector not recommended?
Here are some details. My G3 beige is a rev 1. The CD-ROM is a 32x-speed drive pulled from an old b&w G3. Previously I have succesfully booted many times with this CD-ROM drive on my G3 beige when it was connected to the j9 IDE connector on the motherboard. But when connecting the CD-ROM to the j10 connector it will not boot.
I read in the G3 beige service manual that when you have only one IDE connector in use (with the other connector not in use), for best results, be sure it is the j9 connector that you use individually and not j10 individually. However that doesn't seem to apply to me because I am using both j9 and j10. (I have the j9 connector connected to a hard drive.)
So my nexrt step in trouble shooting this problem is to try connecting the CD-ROM drive back on the j9 connector. However, I was hoping to be able to use the j10 connector. Is there a way to connect a CD-ROM drive that is bootable to a rev 1. beige G3 using the j10 connector? If I have to use the j9 connector for the CD-ROM drive may I make the CD-ROM drive slave or does it have to be master? Should I put my main hard drive on j10 (instead of j9 as it is now)?
Could these problems all be something completely urelated to the j9, j10 connectors?
PS When you see a completely gray screen what does that mean? This completely gray screen worried me because it did not even display the flashing question mark disk icon typical of a mac that can't find its startup disk. Is this normal?
Thank you for any suggestions.

rainforest,
Starting with the gray screen, give it a little more time to resole startup issues or zap the PRAM for 2 chimes.
Macs were designed to go out and look at all hardware connected to the CPU and report back with details. PCs were never given this feature because Bill Gates said to himself, only smart people will use a computer and they will tell the computer every little thing that it needs to know. Thus, PCs are dumb. They do not look at the floppy drive until instructed, ie. you must tell it that you inserted a floppy disk and now you actually want to look at it. What a thought!
Steve Jobs said, dumb people will use computers so let's make the computer smart. It is that startup review process that gives you the gray screen until it figures out what has changed. Zapping the PRAM is designed to force the CPU to take a fresh look at all devices. If you wait long enough, the review process should finish and give you the smiling face. Some swear by letting the PRAM zap chime three times because once is not always enough.
Everytime you reconfigure your hardware, you create a new startup obstacle.
Is it possible that there is a distinction between j9 and j10? From a purely essoteric design standpoint, yes. From a functional standpoint, no. Both should work and when they do not, you have just discovered an annomily with your motherboard.
I once asked a certified auto mechanic about an electrical problem to see if it was something that was obvious or maybe part of a recall that he could easily spot. He said no. I then asked if he would have to go exploring to find the electrical problem. He said yes. I then asked if the service charge would cost more than the car was worth. He said "absolutely."
Learning what your computer will and will not do is one thing. Fixing it is a whole new adventure.
Jim

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