is this password the one i created to access windows? or is it one dell created with my system?
With Windows XP, an administrator account, using the name
"Administrator", is setup as part of the XP setup process. You were
asked for the value of the password to use.
Do you remember giving an administrative password when you setup your
computer? If so, use the account (user name) "Administrator", and
that password to login as an administrator, or to setup an
administrative task.
Not knowing exactly how Dell delivers an XP computer, that answer may
or may not help you. You may need to ask Dell Support for assistance.
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.