Ibook G4 14": "?" at norm bootup, no HD in Disk Utility with CD bootup

Model G4, 14", OS 10.3.4, Model A1055. Date on label is 2003.
Two brand new hard drives have been put in this computer, with the same non-result. Hard drive info at bottom.
Symptoms (with either HD installed):
1) Flashing question mark and 'face' folder alternating on grey screen on normal boot.
2) Machine will boot from CD disk 1 "Software Install and Restore 1 of 1," and will progress through installer (select language, then installer, then software license info, then to destination). There is no destination listed. It does not recognize hard drive.
3) The Disk Utility does not list the HD. Only the CD-Rom is listed.
4) Holding "option" down after first chime on boot-up brings me to a screen with a "reload" icon and an arrow (pointing right) icon. Clicking either produces no result, but there is a stopwatch icon for a brief period after clicking the reload icon.
What I've attempted:
1) listening to hear HD spin up (it does)
2) The fan is not running noisily (it is normal),
3) PRAM reset (Commandoption+Pr), Pressed before power, then held through three chimes before releasing (no difference),
4) Holding "option" button to get to a menu screen (it never comes -see above description),
5) Resetting PMU (computer off, press shiftoption+ctrlpower, then release all. Wait 5 seconds and press power. Same dang flashing icons.
6) the MacStore Genius. He connected a FireWire external drive to the FireWire port, and it booted fine. He said "bad hard drive," and insisted that the logic board is OK, so I bought the second hard drive and installed it.
Question: How on earth do I get this computer to recognize the HD is installed?
Many threads refer to these symptoms as meaning the HD is "toast", but I have no reason to believe I'm one in a million who has two bad - brand new - hard drives from different manufacturers.
I've read all the "reflow or shim the (video) chip" threads, but this does not seem relevant either - I see video output (and shimming to place pressure on the chip did nothing when I tried it).
Thanks!
Craig
HD info:
a) Hitachi hts541680j9at00, 5400 RPM 80GB ATA IDE, and
b) Western Digital ATA IDE 160GB 5400 (installed, and further info inside machine - bought at "We Fix Macs" in Palo Alto, CA for this machine).

I'm sorry if this is the obvious question, but did you format the drive using Disk Utility before your OS install, Mac OS extended (journaled)?
If so, it is possible that you have a bad hard drive cable/ribbon or a bad connector. I had a bad HD cable on my iMac G5 that was giving me problems like this. If you have the iBook apart again, check that the logic board HD connector is also pushed all the way down tight.
Anyway, those things come to mind. Someone else may have a different take on the matter. I hope you get it figured out.
Randy
I'm sorry, I see that the HD is not even recognized in DU. After you boot with the install DVD and just after your language selection, If you open DU at that point you should be able to format the drive by choosing "Partition". This is before you begin installing. Does it not give you a chance to select the drive at that point?
Message was edited by: DesertSage

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