Bypass password?

I recently inherited a G3 running OS X. Unfortunately, the password was not included. This machine has a Zip drive only, no CD drive. Is there a way to get into this machine or alternatively, re-install the OS? I do have an external DL CD RW drive (currently attached to my Windows box).

TIA

Welcome nightshade .... If you have a external cd drive all you need is the install disks and you have yourself a working Mac ....
Please tell us you have the install disk that came with the machine ??

I don't think so.

One of the Zip disks is labeled OS 8. Nothing happens when machine is booted with this disk in the drive, so I can't be sure what is on it. It may be worthy to note that a Compac keyboard is being used. It came with a Compaq keyboard. Do you know which key would correspond to the Apple key? There was a suggested work around posted elsewhere that begins with Apple key + S

Im not to up to date with a OS that far back but you might have to boot up holding down a certain key to be able to boot from it.

The option/alt key from memory and this will give you the option to boot from the disk ??
But someone might come in and correct me
As i said im not to good on OS 8 ... Love it though its a zip disk

Option/alt should do the trick for OS 8, if memory serves. It has been a while since I've had to choose a boot volume in OS 8 (I was 11 or 12 but I loved doing all the troubleshooting). I know in OS X that key will let you select your boot volume on start up, and I believe that it is a relic of Mac OS systems past.