Is it still possible to set a password in BIOS using WIN XP?
And if it is, how do you go about it?
Thanks,
Sam

Hi Sam,

BIOS password setting and Windows XP settings are two different things. Just enter your BIOS settings, and set a user password. Its possible that you may change a password option to access the BIOS or/and system.

This will prompt any user to enter a password on the first screen, before Windows load.

Chris

PS - Where it is on BIOS setup depends on your BIOS make and version. Mine is on "advanced settings".

On bootup, you should see a prompt to enter the bios. These are the "dos" looking screens before windows starts to load. You should, for a second, see the button to enter the bios settings. It is usually F2 or Del (depending on the bios you have). You need to hit the key before windows starts to load.

My bios password settings are under "security."

If you do decide to set up a password in the BIOS (using one stops the computer from booting an OS such as XP etc until the VALID password is entered) you should make sure you can easily recover should you forget the password. BIOS password clearing requires at least some hardware action.

Thanks for all the help guys!!!!
I really appreciate it.

Well I've been 50% successful!!!!
I've been able to place a password on my IBM Notebook to protect it on boot up, but for some reason I am unable to do this on my desk top computer. The difference between the two is the IBM has XP-Pro and my desktop has just XP.
When I get into the BIOS of the desktop and go to Security, I have to type in a Supervisor Password or the User Password is disabled. But when I type in both passwords and hit "Save and exit" or "F-10" which is supposed to do the same thing, nothing happens the next time when I boot up. It just goes right into Windows without asking for a password before it gets to the Windows screen.
On my IBM a little padlock appears before the Windows screen appears and I type my password, and then it will continue to boot up. This is just what I want on both computers.
I have tried to do this several times and each time, when I boot up, I am not asked for a password

Update; HELP!!! Being unable to set any password in my BIOS, I went in to Windows and tried to set a password. The only problem is my password that I set has 9 characters (3 letters and 6 numbers) and when Windows opens and asks for my password, it only shows room for 3 characters?????????? So now I cannot use this system at all!!! Is there a way I can get to system restore and get rid of this?
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Sam

Windoes not show any spaces for a password. It is definitely not limited to 3 characters. Are you sure your number lock isnt off or something?

Helping to get around a password is against forum rules, so if the number lock is not the problem, check the below MS Knowledge Base page. It will not help crack a password though.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321305

efabes,

Thanks for your reply.
I don't think I had the numbers lock on when I was trying to set the password. However, after only typing 3 letters, nothing else would take. As you would see the little dots as you proceed to type the letters.
When I was finished typing and hit enter, or whatever, all I got was an error message say this program has stopped responding and asked if I wanted to end it now, which I selected.
Then when I booted up, a password request came up. When I typed in my password, only 3 characters (Dots) would show up and not the rest.
I did try using the numbers at the top of the keyboard and they were allowed to be entered, but all I got was a little message telling me I had typed the wrong password!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really don't understand why I couldn't enter a bios password like I could in my other computers.........
This is really what I wanted to do.
If I could go into the "Restore" function I could restore my system to yesterday, or anything but today and maybe take care of this problem??? But I can't even get into the "Safe Mode." I can get into the bios, but this does me no good at that point...................... HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sam

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

efabes,

The link you provided me with is just what I needed to log in the Safe Mode and delete whatever password I had entered. I did not enter a new one for fear of this happening again!!!!!
I would still like to enter a bios password though just to protect my system when I'm not here.
Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong trying to do that?
Thanks again for your help and I'm sorry if I asked something I shouldn't have, but I didn't know where else to turn. It's awful hard to get Bill Gates on the weekend!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your help

Hi samsung, there should be no reason why your BIOS password doesn't take effect & whether you have XP Pro, Linux, DOS, or any other OS doesn't make any difference as to the operation of the BIOS side of things. When the BIOS runs, there is no OS running - the last operation of the BIOS is a boot handover & in your case it's to XP, and when the boot process starts, the BIOS steps to one side (not totally, but to the user it appears so).

The two password arrangement is very common - one is for the BIOS setup utility and the other is for the startup, so if you've set up these two passwords, you should see if you're asked to enter a password to get into the setup utility.

In order to get the correct definition of what each of these two passwords does on your computer you need to read either the computer user's manual (if your computer is a branded unit) or the motherboard manual if your computer is a custom make (laptops would be "branded" or "brand named"). If you have difficulties getting this documentation (normally downloadable from the computer or motherboard manufacturer), post some details on your computer configuration &/or make and model.

Alfons,

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I found my instruction manual for my motherboard as I built this computer a couple of years ago and went right to the password section.
It took me a little while to figure out how to change the user password so it is always on, but finally was able to set it.
But I wouldn't have been able to do it without your suggestion.
Again SAF comes to my rescue, and for that, I can't thank you enough!!!!!!!!!

Sam

Glad you got your problem solved samsung, happy computing