Re: Installing new HDD in a Dell... Can't enter BIOS

RyeTronics <ryetronics@xxxxxxxxx> wrote

> I'm trying to install a new hard drive (Maxtor) and when I
> boot the computer, it doesn't allow me to access the BIOS.

> A black screen shows up that says...

> Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
> Copyright yada yada

> KT600-A Ver 1.0D

> Main Processor: AMD Athlon XP 2600+
> Memory Testing: 524288K OK

> Press DEL to enter SETUP

> ***********
> Now I press DEL from right when I hit the power button and nothing happens.

Looks like what is causing it to freeze is what gets the DEL key ignored too.

> Also, this screen stays up here and never changes.
> Anyone have an idea what is making it freeze at this point?

See what happens with the hard drive unplugged.

> Also, I have one other question...

> I thought the HDD was dying on this pc, so I bought a new one.
> The old HDD was making weird clicking sounds and not booting.
> So when I put the new one in the case, I replaced the old ATA
> Cable with the new one, and the click's have gone away. Now
> granted, I can't get past this BIOS screen, but is it possible for
> an old/bad ATA Cable to prevent a computer from booting?

Yes, its possible. More strictly it can result in a VERY long pause
in the very early boot. It might eventually decide that there is no
drive visible, and that can take a surprisingly long time. In other
words its not necessarily frozen, just appears to be frozen.

See if it still 'freezes' with no ribbon cable plugged into the
motherboard at all. If it still does, you may well have either
managed to damage something in the process of replacing
the drive and ribbon cable, or you have an intermittent
short to case thats been seen after the mechanical stuff.


.

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