That's good--

Are you sure that the machine is "set to boot to the CDROM drive" first in the BIOS boot priority list?

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No idea how the boot order is set up. I am assuming it goes to the hard drive first but I don't know since I didn't set it up and didn't really need to know until now.

I am pretty sure my computer is 64-bit but if it's not, will the ISO files for 64-bit computers that I downloaded and used
not work? I can definitely try the boot repair cd but I want to make sure I'm using the right version of these files.

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ok-
You will need to go into the BIOS and set the machine to boot the CDROM drive 'first'.

1- Put the Linux Mint DVD in the drive first.
2- Shut down the machine.
3- Start the machine up and as soon as it fires up start pressing the key to get into the BIOS a few times.
4- Change the boot priority to CDROM drive first. Save and exit the BIOS.

The Mint DVD should boot up. If the Mint DVD doesn't boot and you're back to a black screen you will need boot repair.

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Installing an os for a 64-bit machines architecture that's really a 32-bit machine is not good. It can compromise the system and things will not run right. Aside from that the CPU will not be able to understand the instructions. I'd be very surprised if the installer even starts.

Was the LM 17.3 .iso that you used to install on the workstation a 64-bit iso?

-:::-IF you have the mobo book to that workstation I'd check to see that it's a 64-bit machine.-:::-

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Tried all the function keys as well as Esc, Del and Shift. Nothing gets me to the BIOS.

So, with that said, which version of boot repair disk should I download, 32-bit or 64 bit or do both and try both
(since I'm not absolutely sure I have a 64-bit machine?

If you can't get into the BIOS, I don't see how you will be able to boot the boot repair disk.
The default boot is generally the HDD in the boot priority list:-

-::::-You might need to press the key repeatedly until the BIOS utility appears.-::::-

***********---***********---**********---**********---**********---

What is the make a model of the desktop/workstation?

If I can find it online I can maybe find out if it's a 64-bit machine or not.

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support.hp.com says Z400 is 64 bit and BIOS setup key is F10

Some PCs won't accept the BIOS setup key if it's pressed too soon. Typically it should be done after some message appears onscreen. Often it's "Press <key> to enter setup". Since the Z400 is a server, there might be a motherboard jumper that needs to be changed to allow access to setup.

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Thanks for the help mrmazda-

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When you boot the HP, watch the extreme lower left of the screen for a message which should tell you the key to use to access the BIOS setup/Boot options. Usually it is F10. Until you get access to the BIOS, your other problem cannot be resolved.

If you wanted to see a menu on boot, you would hold down the Shift key on your keyboard after the BIOS loads. That should have brought up the Grub menu. If you had your timeout line in Grub changed to 240, it would boot after 4 minutes. Since you indicate in an earlier post that you did not make note of whatever change you made, it's impossible for us to give instructions until you can boot something and show which line you changed in which file.

Before you can use boot repair, you will have to resolve your BIOS boot issue. Rather than re-installing Mint or Grub, it would be much simpler to just boot some Linux DVD/flash drive and mount the Mint partition so you could show us the Grub files you modified, if you remember?

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I found this model number on the side of the tower: HPQ-FCLSA-0801 (B)
with SN: 2UA140197R

From my research the default boot order is: optical drive, then USB then hard drive.

and F10 to go to BIOS.

Yes, the LM 17.3 .iso was a 64-bit. I figured that 64 bit things do not run on 32 bit machines and vice versa. The other machines that this acquaintance worked on for us, were all 64 bit so I am making the assumption that this one was also but I don't know for sure.

I do not have a mobo (motherboard?) book for the workstation.

I think that's true that if you press the key too soon, it's not accepted. The issue I have is when to press it because the screen is blank. I am thinking that once the keyboard and mouse come on (see parts light up), then it's probably when it shows the special keys on the screen. I'm not sure.

There currently is nothing on the screen while booting, so I don't know for sure what the keys are. I am thinking it's F10 as well.

Prior to this situation, I was never able to get to the boot menu by holding down the SHIFT key even though I had read it worked. I have tried booting with Linux Mint 17.3 which was 64-bit (not sure it it should be 32-bit) on a flash drive. I have also put it on a DVD which seemed to work (heard Windows 7 screen sounds) but screen is blank.

I agree it would be good if I could boot from Linux DVD/flash drive and mount the Mint partition so we could all see what I've done to the grub file but as of yet, I haven't been able to do that.

Thanks for the suggestions.

The way I see it now, I can't do anything. I'm kind of dead in the water. I'm not even sure how I could install/reinstall anything since I don't know the boot order, can't access the BIOS, and I'm not sure what's happening with the computer since the screen remains black. So I'm thinking that maybe I need to open up the computer and look at the motherboard. I have found a service and maintenance manual for the HP Z400 and I know that if I do open it up I should be able to see what motherboard is actually in the computer. I found a "crisis recovery jumper" listed on a drawing of the motherboard the Z400 originally came with. I have no idea what this jumper is for but this is clearly a crisis :-)

Any thoughts...