Can't access bios on lattitude E5500

[lucretiao]

I got a Dell latitude E5500.from my sister. I want to reinstall the operating system but I can't get into the bios. When I turn the laptop on it goes into the Win xp splash screen so fast. I have tried holding down the exc key, F1, F2, F8, F10 and F12 to no avail. The problem is it hangs on the Win xp screen and never goes further

 

[Alabalcho]

On most Dell's, when you start it up, for a brief moment there is a black screen with <F2> for BIOS, <F12> for boot options. Instead of holding the F2 key, try pressing it multiple times before Windows logo shows.
Also - on some laptops, you can go into BIOS only from complete shutdown state.

 

[lucretiao]

Thank you!! so much. I did as you suggested and kept hitting the F2 key and got into the bios.