I'm trying to install a new hard drive 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. Also, this screen stays up here and never changes. Anyone have an idea what is making it freeze at this point? Thanks. 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? Thanks again!

If your unit can not tell when you hit the DEL key, try another keyboard. If you are using a USB Keyboard, sometimes the motherboard will not see the keyboard until you pass the BIOS post; hence the BIOS will not respond to the DEL request. I have had USB keyboards fail during this part of the boot sequence, so I keep a PS-2 board around just in-case. Yes of course a data ribbon will stop you from booting. If your unit can not read the boot loader file located on the drive, then the unit can not boot. Could the clicking noise have been the ribbon getting slapped by a fan? Tomorrow the Stars!

I checked the ribbon and it was not hitting a fan. I am on my second keyboard, and they're both not USB... They're PS-2. The 2nd one I've tried is a Microsoft keyboard. It's the kind with the asinine F-key lock, so if I have to use f8 to enter the bios, I first have to Flock and then f8. Luckily this motherboard requires the DEL button. Also, this is a Dell computer in case that makes a difference.

Dell's enter bios by F2

That's weird b/c the bios screen says to push DELETE.

Try removing the battery for a few minutes to clear the BIOS settings. This will reset them to their default settings and may allow you to enter. Repost. Tomorrow the Stars!

The drives don't seem to be spinning. When I put in the old ATA cable, the drives make the same clicking noise and seem to struggle spinning. Yet when I put in the brand new ATA cable, nothing seems to happen. So I tried a third ATA cable and once again it started the drive spinning, but it continues to have trouble. It seems to not necessarily click, but struggle to start spinning. I then unplugged the drive from the ATA cable and power and booted. When I do this I get a normal BIOS boot screen (with the device listing) and at the bottom is says "DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER" So I'm wondering if the brand new HDD I bought is either busted or I mucked it up. Any thoughts? Thanks for all of your responses.