No startup screens, boots straight to windows

[Nizerifin]

I have a corporate version of XP Pro and I'm trying to install a new hard drive. However, when I restart my computer, the screen remains black until windows boots into the startup screen (just the user profiles). I need to get access to my bios, yet I dont know what to press, or if pressing anything will work. I've tried numerous combinations already.

So, I have none of the usual stuff on-screen during startup. It may be because of the corporate version of Pro, but I doubt it as a friend of mine has the same OS but has the typical startup.

 

[dmroeder]

Do you have a home built rig or something like a Dell?

Most motherboards use the delete key to get into the BIOS. Dells and Gateways and such tend to use F1 or F2

 

[Nizerifin]

This is a Dell Dimension 4600, I'm installing a WD Caviar SATA Hard drive. I've pushed Esc, F1 and F2 many times, and have yet to get access to the bios. I checked around on the net about the 4600's and saw that most do display the bios after pressing F2 or Esc, so I'm pretty sure I've hit the right keys.

 

[Zoron]

Turn the computer off and then turn it back on. As soon as it's powered on, tap the F2 key.

Are you using a USB or PS/2 keyboard?

 

[emogoch]

If it's a Dell, it should be F2. Don't hit it just once, hit it repeatedly, until you're either in the BIOS or the windows boot-screen comes up.

As Zoron said, are you using a USB keyboard or a PS/2 one. If it's USB, the BIOS may not have native USB keyboard support, so you may be forced to plugging in a PS/2 keyboard to access & modify the BIOS.