Xubuntu will no longer boot; even after re-installation
 

I am using an HP 503n with 256MB of RAM, and I did something that was rather incompetent... I tried to upgrade to a 40GB hard disk after using Xubuntu on a system with 19GB for a few months; so I put in my Ultimate Boot CD and used HDClone to copy the OS over. After a couple of days of trying to re-activate the swap, I realized I killed the system and I should just re-install (there was no sensitive data on the system). After re-installing a couple of times trying to get this to work, all that happens when I turn on my computer is a flashing _ sign at the top; no GRUB, no boot. My computer will no longer boot to the Hard Disk, so I tried installing on both the 40GB and the older 19GB drive, and none of them will boot. I can still boot to a live Ubuntu 7.04 CD, but I can't install Xubuntu 8.04 anymore because it won't boot. What should I do? Did I inevitably KILL my box? Also, just so you know, I am not using my original install CD, I had to re-burn one...

Thank-you in advance for your help
-Kev717

P.S. Sorry for the long post

the flashing _ usually indicates some BIOS issue. Have you tried switching disk order? And which drives are you using, PATA or SATA? If you are using SATA, are you sure that they are properly jumpered (CS or master/slave)?

I am using PATA, and this computer DOES boot from live CD, so I don't think it is a BIOS issue... also if I hit esc before it searches for the OS, I can select which device to boot from so I select Hard Drive, but that doesn't help...

wait... I just tried this with a windows 98 hard disk and it also didn't boot... I think you are right; it is the BIOS. I've cleared the cmos and it seems to be working for now; I'll post if there is any further complications. Thank-you for the help