The password it asks for is usually the cmos pass, on some lappies you can remove all batteries and leave it overnight (or longer) to reset the password whilst on others you can manually reset the password via a button or jumper inside.
The password isn't a problem, I know what the password is.
The laptop just won't go beyond this config menu.
Would booting up with the XP disk in work, I did try it, but when it got to the "Recovery Console" nothing happened.