No longer boots. Startup freezes at Apple logo. What's wrong?

Apple's Hardware Test says its O.K. Wont recognize install disk, so I can't reinstall system software. What do I do now? This is an 8 core Mac Pro running Leopard.

Thanks for your input, Linc. I have tried 3 Install Disks, one each for Tiger, Leopard, and Snow Leopard, so its not the disks. The startup just doesn't get far enough along to be able to recognize the optical drive. But I don't know because it did, after all, read the Install Disk enough to bring up the Apple Hardware Test program (which came on the original Leopard Install Disk. I ran Apple's Hardware Test Program in both standard and extended tests, with the same negative results.
Perhaps I should mention that the only other clue of a problem is that there is always a screen flash, or two, associated with the freeze.
I have put the computer in Target Mode and been able to access the startup drive on another Mac - ran Disk Utility's First Aid, repeatedly but detected no problems. This Mac has four drives, with two in a raid. One other peculiar thing is that the last drive (#4), the largest and newest drive (2 months old), does not show up at all, not on the desktop nor in Disk Utility, when in Target Mode. The other drives seem to work fine, and I have been backing up everything I can. This means that the startup drive seems to be working O.K. but the startup process is not. So I am leaning towards a system software problem. Is there a third component involved that wouldn't be a part of a hardware test? Is Apple's Hardware Test software any good? insufficient?
Is there a way to do a Clean Install of the System from Target Mode (another Mac connected by Firewire)?
Why is this happening to me?!!?

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I don't even know if this will work...buy a USB to micro USB cable and connect the AppleTV to your computer and try doing a firmware restore. Here are the instructions from the manual:
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Hi Everyone,
This is my first post, and I'm going to be as detailed as possible here.
_Background Information_
I work in a public school system, and we have a lab of 20-inch Early 2009 iMacs currently running 10.5.8 as well as Windows XP via Bootcamp (running CAD software). Being that these machines are at a high school, we have a firmware password set so that students can't go in and mess around.
Recently, a few of these machines have been freezing at the gray Apple logo during startup. I've been able to fix them by doing the following:
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d. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.
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Step 3
Sometimes a startup failure can be resolved by resetting the NVRAM.
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If a desktop Mac hangs at a plain gray screen with a movable cursor, the keyboard may not be recognized. Press and hold the button on the side of an Apple wireless keyboard to make it discoverable. If need be, replace or recharge the batteries. If you're using a USB keyboard connected to a hub, connect it to a built-in port.
Step 5
If there's a built-in optical drive, a disc may be stuck in it. Follow these instructions to eject it.
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Press and hold the power button until the power shuts off. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed to start up, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Use a different keyboard and/or mouse, if those devices are wired. If you can start up now, one of the devices you disconnected, or a combination of them, is causing the problem. Finding out which one is a process of elimination.
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The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know the login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
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If the startup device is an aftermarket SSD, it may need a firmware update and/or a forced "garbage collection." Instructions for doing this with a Crucial-branded SSD were posted here. Some of those instructions may apply to other brands of SSD, but you should check with the vendor's tech support.
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Step 11
Do as in Step 9, but this time erase the startup volume in Disk Utility before installing. The system should automatically restart into the Setup Assistant. Follow the prompts to transfer the data from a Time Machine or other backup.
Step 12
This step applies only to models that have a logic-board ("PRAM") battery: all Mac Pro's and some others (not current models.) Both desktop and portable Macs used to have such a battery. The logic-board battery, if there is one, is separate from the main battery of a portable. A dead logic-board battery can cause a startup failure. Typically the failure will be preceded by loss of the settings for the startup disk and system clock. See the user manual for replacement instructions. You may have to take the machine to a service provider to have the battery replaced.
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If you get this far, you're probably dealing with a hardware fault. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

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Hey adinat,
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No longer boots. Startup freezes at Apple logo. What's wrong?

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