can not get into BIOS F2 or F12 wont work..

I am trying to fix my roomates Inspirion 1100 and there is a huge problem with the BIOS. I just want to reformat the hard drive, but the computer wont boot from CD.  F2 wont get into BIOS and F12 doesnt bring up any option to boot from the CD-ROM.  Both these keys work fine once inside Windows. I've searched far and wide, I've even been on the phone with Dell multiple times (case# 123059886) There is seriously nothing I can do to get into the BIOS, the keys to get into it must have been changed or something. 

 

I didnt know if there was a cmos battery or something on the motherboad that I could to to reset the BIOS to its default setting.  Ive already taken out the battery and hard drive and held the power button for 5-10 seconds, didnt work.  I am completely comfortable with taking apart the laptop (keyboard, EMI shield, CD-drive) I have already done it once to look for the BIOS chip, but I couldnt find it, when I re-assembled the computer everything worked fine (except for the BIOS of course). 

 

I feel like my only options are to re-install the BIOS (if that is possible) or reset the battery to the BIOS in hope that it resets the defualt settings.  Ive tried Fn+F1, Fn+F3, F2, F12, delete, tab and multiple other keystrokes numerous times when the computer is loading.  Please help!

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Will