Instead of booting down with the power button you should first try:
Alt-SysRq-s (syncs the hd's)
Alt-SysRq-u (unmounts them)
Alt-SysRq-b (reboots)

Haven't used myconfig so I can't help there.

Did you try unplugging the CD drives and plugging them back in. You could also try to upgrade the firmware in them. That said, I once had to replace a DVD drive after making a typo in a dd command and writing raw data to the drive instead of a hd. Nothing brought it back to life.