BIOS password Being prompted for a password before even being able to boot from anything (so password cracking tools won't work). There must be a jumper to reset the CMOS but where is it and how do I get to it? Panasonic Toughbook CF-50 laptop.

If the boot sequence is wrong, then how can you even try and log into XP, what you're saying makes no sense.

You said, (every time I attempt to log in It prompts me to activate xp)

So it's booting to the hard drive, why would you need to change it ??????????????????

Removing the CMOS battery might and I mean might reset BIOS password, but that has nothing to do with XP and activation.

You can't upgrade until you get XP activated.

So you might as well install XP pro.

Do a search on google for a XP crack if you can afford to buy it.

I won't post how to crack it.

Restart your computer repeatedly tapping the f8 key to enter safe mode while the screen is black once in safe mode where the only things working will be your keyboard and mouse allowing you to attempt to repair your computer
As the computer is booting repeatadly press the F8 key as the computer is booting If done properly the user should get to a screen similar to the below screen. Select the option for Safe mode command prompt only Windows Advanced Options Menu
Please select an option: Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt Enable Boot Logging
Enable VGA mode
Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)
Directory Services Restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only)
Debugging Mode Start Windows Normally
Reboot
Return to OS Choices Menu Use the up and down arrow keys to move the highlight to your choice. select safe mode with command prompt Then type at the C:\> prompt: type

DEBUG

and hit Enter. You'll see a dash (-) at the DEBUG prompt. Now type:

o 70 2e

which will show as -o 70 2e at the DEBUG prompt. Hit Enter. Then type:

o 71 ff

and hit Enter. Finally type:

Quit

and hit Enter one last time to quit DEBUG back to the C:\> prompt.
Now you're ready to reboot your PC, and press the appropriate key or key
combo (look it up in your motherboard manual if you don't know it) to access
your BIOS Setup. Youll notice the password is gone. If this fails try typing At command prompt type debug
you will get a - prompt where you can type the following (<enter> means press enter, not type enter*)

A <ENTER>
MOV AX,0 <ENTER>
MOV AX,CX <ENTER>
OUT 70,AL <ENTER>
MOV AX,0 <ENTER>
OUT 71,AL <ENTER>
INC CX <ENTER>
CMP CX,100 <ENTER>
JB 103 <ENTER>
INT 20 <ENTER>
<ENTER> just hit enter on this line
G <ENTER>
Q <ENTER> Basic BIOS password - works 9.9 times out of ten
If this fails you will need to Select safe mode with networking to download you could download all of these or just one save them to a usb drive for later use if one fails to remove the password http://www.tech-faq.com/reset-bios-password.html At some stage you might need to press Ctrl+Enter rather than just Enter if on a Dell Latitude E5410 http://majorgeeks.com/CmosPwd_d239.html A CMOS BIOS password recovery tool Editors note: This tool should only be used by experienced computer users. Please see the enclosed read me if you would like to run it from Windows. Failure to follow instructions (from Windows) will cause your anti-virus to flag this as a virus. Hope this helps.

-Download an Offline NT password recover tool such as http://www.pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/ -Burn the image (tool) to a CD or USB drive. -Insert CD/USB drive into computer and reboot the computer. -Make sure CD/USB is set to boot first in BIOS. (To get to BIOS it is usually F1 F2 F9 or F10 while the computer is booting up.) Look for Boot Order and make CD/USB first and save and exit BIOS.
The CD/USB should then boot into the utility program. Follow the prompts to blank out the password (Just hit enter when it asks for a new password) Blanking it just usually works better than changing it.
Reboot and your account should no longer have a password.

Your other option is to reformat the operating system. (You can pull the drive and plug it into another computer if you need to backup data)

hold f10 or whatever key that it tells you is the setup key when you first turn it on. Navigate the bios with your arrow keys. Find the option that lets you boot into safe mode with the command prompt. Boot it into safe mode and when you get to the command prompt type "net user *" but type that without quotes and instead of the you should type you're user name without the 's. It will then ask you for a password and you'll type in that but it won't show you typing anything. It will ask you to type it again so do that and then boot your system back up and then hold f10 or whatever key it is and to go into the bios and select boot regularly from the options in there.

1. Boot up your computer and immediately hold down f1. If it boots up normally then restart your computer and try f2. try all of the f keys and try del or esc until it boots up into your BIOS setup. This will look like a bunch of very blocky graphics. (usually the buttons are either f1, f2, f8, f10, del, or esc)
2. Once in your BIOS, navigate with the arrow keys and enter until you find the option to boot into "safe mode with command prompt" select that option, save your preferences and reboot your computer.
3.Once you've booted into safe mode, log on as the administrator or guest. Usually it does not require a password.
4. At the command prompt type "net user *" but type that without quotes and where it says you're user name just type you're user name without the 's.
5. It will ask you for a password. Type in the password you would like (It won't show the keys or even * that you are typing so that's ok). It will ask you to retype the password so do that.
6. reboot your computer and hold down whichever key that you used to get into setup.
7. Once in setup change the option from booting into "safe mode with command prompt" to the default option which will usually say boot into windows or something to that effect.
8. Log in as yourself using the password that you typed in at the command prompt.
Hope that helps

hold f10 when booting. Navigate the bios with your arrow keys. Find the option that lets you boot into safe mode with the command prompt. Boot it into safe mode and when you get to the command prompt type "net user *" but type that without quotes and instead of the you should type you're user name without the 's. It will then ask you for a password and you'll type in that but it won't show you typing anything. It will ask you to type it again so do that and then boot your system back up and then hold f10 to go into the bios and select boot regularly from the options in there.

So you forgot your windows 7 login password?

Don't worry. There is plenty of software for windows password reset available online. And I recommend Windows Login Recovery.

You can crack dell bios password with Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.o . Here is a good post to help you:
http://www.windowspasswordsrecovery.com/crack-dell-laptop-password.htm