Hello ladies & Gentlemen. I have a big problem. I bought a computer from a company that went out of business. It is a LIKE NEW Dell. It has Windows 2000 on it, with a CD drive, floppy and a zip drive.

Here's the problem. I can't do anything with the computer because I don't know the ADMIN password. I can get into the computer, by just logging on. It starts up, and I can see the folders and everything looks normal. I can't do anything because it is set up to need a password to make any changes. I guess it was a high security company. I want to clear it all out and start fresh. I wanted to get rid of the 2000 and replace it with XP. I can't change the boot up order without a password. The CD drive wasn't even hooked up or known to the computer. So, I opened the case, and hooked it up. However, just logging on it tells me I don't have the proper access to add hardware. So, I can't have it boot to the XP CD to reformat the HD. 

Help!   

Ok. I did it. It came up with a screen telling me the time was off. I waited to see what it was going to do, and it just started the Windows 2000 welcome screen.

The only thing I noticed was that the CD was now added. However, when I went to run the XP disc it asked if I wanted to run it under the ADMIN name. My fear is, if I say yes...XP will be on the computer, but I'll be in the same boat after it loads XP. I'll be unable to do anything without a password. I have the battery out now again......

Yes. No?

Leave the battery in.  It sounds like it did its job. 

You don't want to boot to 2000 and install XP.  Reboot the PC and use CMOS setup to put the CD ROM drive first in the boot order list.  Then boot the PC withi the CD in the drive.  This will start an install.

I really don't want to seem like an idiot....but to avoid the same thing from happeneing...could you give me a quick idea on how to do this?

It is just hitting the F8 button over and over at boot up right?

Thanks for your help!

Again...trying not to sound dumb...going into bios is just pushing F8 over and over when it boots up right? It's a Dell.

Update: when I boot up I pushed DEL over and over because when I searched Google I saw a message board that said this: "If it is a Dell usually you hit Del to get into BIOS."

When I push DEL over and over it just beeps. Then it asks if I want to enter set up, I say yes, and it asks for "enter setup password".

try hitting the delete button when the computer is starting up