Setting a BIOS password

[Dodgyfeas]

I have a HP pavillion PC here. I have just installed Windows XP on it. I am trying to set a BIOS password so that no one can access it without it. I got into SETUP and it has an option of SETUP PASSWORD and SYSTEM PASSWORD. The system password cannot be set without having a setup password set first. I have set them both up and when I reboot, to go into the BIOS, I have to put the password but if I reboot and leave it, it goes straight into Windows.

How can I make it so the machine will not boot without a password set?

Cheers

DODGY

[QWERTY]

What happens if you cold-boot from a powered-off state? (without going into BIOS). Does it ask for a password then?

Some BIOS'es will only ask for the password once per power-cycle.

[Dodgyfeas]

How do you mean COLD BOOT. Just by powering it off by the power button and on again, it just boots into windows fine. I have not disconnected from mains then powered on. Would that make a difference?

[QWERTY]

A cold boot is to start up the system from a powered off state (i.e. the system is cold)
A warm boot is when you restart a system that has already been running.

Since this is Windows XP, if a BIOS password isn't working why don't you just put a password on the user account(s)?