I do not have the password to unlock BIOS

Sean Scanlan,
You will need to contact Dell Support in order to get the bios password reset. Removing the battery will not resolve this issue. Once you call Dell they will verify system ownership and then proceed in generating a bios password.
Thank You,
Dell-Jesse L
Dell Social Media and Communities

F10 to setup bios? reset to default to remove all passwords.

o open the BIOS Setup screen: Reloading the BIOS default settings To reload the factory BIOS settings to the setup default:

1. Press the F5 function key.
2. Select Yes or OK.
3. Press the Enter key.
4. Press the F10 function key.
5. Select Yes or OK to save the defaults.

You can also complete the following steps to reload the factory BIOS settings using the menu:

1. In the BIOS Setup utility, select the Exit tab.
2. Select Load Setup Defaults.
3. The system prompts you to load the optimized setup defaults. Select Yes or OK and press the Enter key.
4. Select Exit Saving Changes.
5. Press Esc and then press Enter to exit Setup.

Please don't forget to rate this if it fixed your problem. Four thumbs up is basically what means your problem was solved. Anything less means your problem was not solved. Not sure people here understand that as far as how we get rated.

i dont know which compaq system you had, but generally there are two ways to reset bios
1. short the bios reset jumper near battery on motherboard for a while and place it back, it will reset the bios. 2. take out the battery from motherboard for some time and put it back to motherboard it will also reset the bios
if there is no password problem then just load bios default from the bios menu.

what you need to do is to remove the CMOS BATTERY for some seconds/minutes and then replace it. This brings your machine to default settings and then you can enter a new bios password.start your computer then press F10 for setup/Delete for other machines and then go to bios settings and set a new bios password.In addition to this you can also clear the bios password by removing the shunt on the cmos jumper then plug it other way round, remove it again and then plug it as it was at first.

You need to turn off your computer and unplug the power cord. open up the box and find on the motherboard the jumper for the battery. Cut off the power from the battery for 30 seconds. The BIOS will reset to the default values.
Now, when you turn on your computer, will be able to access the BIOS, no password requested (default value for password). You also need to reset all your parameters as required by your specific setup.
Advice: if you don't have a strong reason to password the BIOS, don't do it.

For that you need to reset factory defaults settings for bios.
For reset bios u have to open back side of your laptop then u find motherbord circuit there.
pull cmos cell on motherbord for 15 minute then it reset to defaults.
Also u can reset with jumper settigns read carefully on mother bord there is 1 jumper near cmos cell u read there " bios reset or clear"
It is on 1-2 position right now set it in 2-3 position then power up then all bios settings are reset.
then again set it in 1-2 its original position.
Then it not want password.

-Boot system to BIOS
-Load bios DEFAULT
-If no..go Contact manufacturer and get the default hdd password.

Well i can tell you what to do but it is difficlt and you should get professional help

TO RESET BIOS PASSWORD

Take out the top cover (including keboard) from the laptop
Remove laptop battery as well as mainboard battery
wait 1 minute
replace mainboard battery followed by laptop battery

thats it bios is reset and set to defaults..

just enter the bios after and load fail safe or optamised defaults and you are done