Install Windows XP, no floppy, no BIOS access

[Raptor]

An ESD bracelet is about 5 bucks...

And they come in a lot of colour styles.

[GX1_Man]

Laptops are NOT the same as desktops.  

The BIOS password is not meant to be be got around in the ways that you can on a desktop. Check with the manufacturer, but I'll bet you end up needing a new mainboard.

[paulinnorway]

UPDATE:

I downloaded the "Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2 Utility: Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install" from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=15491F07-99F7-4A2D-983D-81C2137FF464&displaylang=en
.

Once I had all 6 floppy disks ready I followed all the steps only to get an error screen after installing the final disk :-/ :



One thing that could help is that I found a new startup menu. I only saw it because the external floppy drive delayed the startup procedure by half a second. This allowed my to see an extra option "Press F12 for boot device selection menu".
When I pressed F12 I was given these options:
1. Hard Drive
2. CD-ROM/DVD Drives
3. Removable Devices
4. Network Boot

By selecting "3. Romoveable Devices" I was able to try to boot from the 6 floppy disks, but that was unsuccessful. However, when I rebboted and chose "2. CD-ROM/DVD Drives" everything went fine .

So I'm now in the middle of a clean install of Windows XP (at last!).
Thanks again to everyone who offered their help in this thread.... much appreciated

[Raptor]

No problem, glad you figured it out. I'd still try to break the password on the BIOS if I were you, though.

[street1 (RIP)]

No problem, glad you figured it out. I'd still try to break the password on the BIOS if I were you, though.

BwaHaHaHa!!!ROTFLMAO

Thanks Raptor.I needed that!!