Help with unknown virus

[mpd224]

I am trying to help a friend out with their computer problem on their Gateway Essential 700c. When I turn the computer on, it shows the bios screen and instead of going into Windows ME, it shows a screen that says "Enter your password". If you hit enter it shows an "X" and on the third time you hit enter, it shows an "X" with a little smiley face next to it. It has the computer completely locked up and I can't do anything. No Windows, no dos, no nothing. I am not the smartest with computers, so I hope I explained it good enough. Thanks in advance.

 

[psman]

do u have a windows xp cd??
if so use it and boot from it and enter repaire mode and type bootcfg /rebuild
rebuild the boot file and try again
(assuming that the boot is hijacked to a virus boot location...)

 

[SHAWN]

There is a bios password set on the machine. Doubt its a virus. Try removing the battery overnight. if that dont work, replace the motherboard. not worth anything else.

 

[shuaibao]

A smily face? Liek this? or ??

Weird, must be a virus/joke/trojan/thing.

Or else it's a stupid easter egg.

I doubt that the BIOS would do it....are you sure you read right?