new to linux - problems getting started!

hi, I installed linux 7.1 on to a new, second hard disk, several weeks ago. I was able to boot to linux using a floppy disk with no problems, but then had problems with my bios which I had sorted out professionally - a jumper had detached itself (!) from the motherboard and the bios was resetting to defaults (including the time and date) every time I switched on. It now boots to windows, but when I try to start linux the process gets stuck at 'setting up CMOS clock'. How do I get it to boot? I am relatively new to computers and brand new to linux. Thanks. Dave, stroud, uk.