my neices computer stopped letting her access any of files or programs she is getting a message saying her windows xp is not licensed I cant reistall xp so how do I format the hard drive to do a clean install and if I format the hard drive will the cd rom still work so that I can do a clean installation

I found the answer through Microsoft

you should boot the computer off the cd. Put it in the drive and boot up the computer. It should say "press any button to boot off the cd". You will be able to format the drive and install it clean.

Back to the original issue, can you go back in to the bios and make sure it saved the changed boot order?

nope could not boot off the cd for some odd reason it is save in the bios, but it goes cd rom then hard drive and it boots from the hard drive it's very weird.

Maybe it is not displaying the "press any key to boot from cd drive", but if you press enter every few seconds during bootup, it may work.

I'll try this but i also read that microsoft will block you from using any of the programs in windows to a certain extent and you have to buy a code to get into windows but how can I take this version off of the computer if I can't load anything on it has the administrator features blocked

I have tried this several times and it still goes straight to windows even though I went in and changed the boot sequence it still goes straight to windows and just ignores the cd drive I know the cd works because I have put in music cds and they play

Do you see anywhere while booting up that it says "press x key to select boot". If not, what make/model is the computer

I'm so sorry I have not responded to the answers I have been busy with a sick child I do know that it is a dell PIII I have to look at the other specs some time today and then post them later on I still need your help I am just getting back to the computer. Thank you

Kathy

I have read somewhre that you can disable the desktop in control panel but I am trying to get into control panel from task manager new task but I cannot find it does anyone know where I should look?

Is the regular windows explorer (i.e. start menu, etc..) not showing up? if it is not, you can type in explorer.exe from the task manager new task to fire up explorer then get to control panel that way.

Did that work to allow you to boot off the cd?