Complete XPpro re-install: so why can't I get started?

Question

Okay, so I have my original Dell disks (XPpro, drivers, utilities, etc) and I've backed up all my music, photos, email, drivers, etc.  and I'm ready to go ! So I insert the XP disc and it says it can't reinstall directly from inside windows (understandable)  and that I should close Windows and boot up with that install disc. So I try that,  but it won't read the windows install disc: it just powers up Windows like normal.   Okay,  so I go into my setting (F2) and I go to try to make the disc drive the first device, and ..........   can't get into that setting to change it !    something about logging in first as administrator and changing the setting  to allow me to modify the set-up settings. Well,  there's an administrator password in there,  which I'm supposed to know in order to make these changes,  but I don't know the password.   I never put a password in there in the first place,  as far as I remember.      I bought this Inspiron 8600 new, almost 3 years ago,   and it's time for a complete reinstall:   I'm getting lots of blue screens,  etc.   So how do I get into these bios settings without the administrator password???   or,  more importantly,  how can I boot directly from this XP reinstall disk???   Thanks.

chuket · Answer

To change the password, copy/paste this in the Start> Run box. Control userpasswords2

mexicorider · Answer

Thanks for the lone reply;   but that process is for O/S passwords,  not the BIOS passwords that i was asking about.   Does anyone know what to do about getting into the BIOS settings when there's a password in there that you don't remember?   Thanks

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