Getting Into BIOS and CD ROM Accessing Problem

I failed to mention that this system is running windows 95.

As to entering BIOS, try F1, Del, and Esc.

Resetting the BIOS password requires clearing the CMOS.
For a desktop, change the jumper to the clear position, boot up, and then shut down.
Move the jumper back to normal.

For a laptop, you need to contact the manufacture for directions. Usually, you need to take it to a factory service center so that they can reset the password.

As to the CD-ROM drive, what you need to do, is update the IDE bus driver for the motherboard.

Chas

See a problem in your first sentence, Compaq (proprietary set up) and HP Diagnostics (standard setup). They do not work well together.

As for the CD sounds like a corrupted driver in windows, could delete and let windows choose the best driver or say have disk and load the OEM driver for the CD (if you have it), or follow CHAS and look for the most up-to-date driver on the Web (found 202 sites just with "Prolinea 5100e") search.

Press F8 at startup, goto Safe Mode and look for ghosted devices! I once ran into a warranty call for a new CD-ROM and they had 56 ghosted cd-rom drives in safe mode. After removing them all, the cd-rom worked fine. As for your bios, Older compaqs had those bootable floppies I believe to access the bios. Also, another way to clear the CMOS is to remove the CMOS battery for a minute if you cannot see a jumper in there. Battery removal works good for laptops as it is usually easy to find! All in all, contact the manufacturer for more info. Good luck!