How to access BIOS in XP to change ROM order?

i got the windows\system32\config\system error today, and i need to access bios to change the rom boot order so that the xp cd-rom boots before the hard drive. when i hold ';del'; buring boot, it has alot of grey lines at the bottom for a bit, then goes to the error screen again. how do i access bios?How to access BIOS in XP to change ROM order?
First, if all you need to do is boot to the CD-ROM first, your BIOS might support a ';Boot Menu'; option that allows you to temporarily change boot order without going into the CMOS settings. A number of motherboards with AWARD BIOS installed have this feature: usually by pressing F11. A menu then appears, asking which device you want to boot to (external USB, optical drive, hard drive, etc.).





If you need to make changes in the BIOS, it's possible that the Delete key is not how you access the system BIOS. It varies by manufacturer. I've worked on PCs that use Delete, F8 and F10 and there may be others as well.



If you're *sure* that Delete will get you into your CMOS settings, make sure you're tapping it and not holding it down. The POST screen should briefly show ';Loading Setup...'; or something similar when you've done it right.



I can't suggest what another user here recommends and resetting your BIOS by removing the battery (or by resetting it in the more traditional fashion and moving the jumper on the motherboard). That will wipe ALL of your CMOS settings; restoring them to factory defaults, which may not be appropriate for your particular system.How to access BIOS in XP to change ROM order?
When your bios is loading it says at the bottom press f8 to access options or setup. Try that. Then go to boot order and put cd-rom first.



Hope this helps!
you have to keep tapping ';del'; just after you press the power button on some pcs, on others you keep tapping f8.



or you can just take out the cmos battery for 10 mins, this will reset the bios.
try this. when you first power up the computer start tapping F8 and it should give you several different boot options. choose the one that says safe mode with command prompt and hit enter. if the computer boots in safe mode, first install the windows cd into the cd drive, then go to the command prompt and type in, ';sfc.exe/scannow';, and hit enter. this is a system tool that scans your windows files and fixes the ones that are corrupt or missing. as far as accessing the bios goes, usually tapping the delete key will bring it up, but some pc's are different. my brother has a compaq presario and i know that you have to hit a different key to access the bios. it usually tells you what to press on the first screen that comes up before windows starts to load