Black screen with white flashing underscore

[ksandy]

I have a Dell Inspiron 600m.
Recently put a new and larger hard drive in it... Western Digital 260gb from a 60gb.
Computer has been working beautiful... shut it down one night and then started it up the next morning and after the BIOS screen received a black screen with a white flashing underscore.
Computer works fine using the old 60gb hard drive...
Of course all the new music, contacts, pictures, etc. I put on there has NOT been backed up.... so I am hoping to save that... as well as the hard drive if possible.
Any help or suggestions?

 

[B00kWyrm]

Have you tried safe mode?
Sounds like it is hanging during the boot process. Going to safe mode may allow you to find out why.
After powering up, use f8 to start in safe mode.

 

[ksandy]

Won't allow me to start up in safe mode... Tried it a couple of times and just goes straight to the black screen with white underscore.

 

[Bobbye]

If it's a black error screen there should be some white writing. And a Command screen also has a flashing underscore at the C prompt.