unlock password on thinkpad??

[luckydog]

I just got an IBM thinkpad laptop from Goodwill cheap.

it has windows 2000 professional and the passwod is locking me out

is there any way around this??

could I download another operating system to bypass this??

or did I buy a nice looking doorstop

[birdbrain]

MAYBE HERE:
Forgot the Administrator's Password? - Alternate Logon Trick

[Youngjedi]

The Best and simplest way is to Format the Drive, and install a new OS onto the laptop. If it's a fairly new machine, you could change it to windows XP. If it's older, use windows 200 or windows 98... check to make sure you can get the drivers for it before you do this.

Another way is to be able to get into the PC via an Ad Domain. The password that is locking you out is probably the Local Admin Password. Unfortunalety, in or to Join a Domain, you need to get into locally first. A network Admin can change a local Admin password through users.

If it is the Bios password that is stopping you, then you can do a cmos reset. On a typical motherboard, this is done with Jumpers...On a laptop...I do not know. Again, you would need the original drivers for the laptop in order to do this.

IF IT WERE ME...

I would reload an OS onto the Laptop.

[luckydog]

i haven't found a way to get in to reformate it, I'm thinking of installing a different operating system

[compirate]

Not something you'll probably want to do, but yank out the drive and get a 2.5" external drive case and copy it all to another drive. It should be able to be formated that way also. If it's a cmos lock, you have to open the case and remove the battery for a little while, then replace it.

Is it Windows 2000 that's asking for a password, or during POST? Does it have a floppy drive? You could also create a boot disc (using another compurter) and boot to that, then delete the password file, I think.

[luckydog]

i disconnected the cmos battery and the laptop battery, would that help.

i've got it into a few other screens, but non with dos prompt.

if i could just get a dos prompt i would reformat the hard drive.

[MrGoodBurn]

LD, Does this laptop have a floppy drive, or a CD drive?

[luckydog]

yes it has both drives,

i tried 2 different floopy boot disk and the computer always wants to go to windows 2000. then i don't have password to get in

i have a windows 98 cd i tried loading

[MrGoodBurn]

LD, you will need to go in to the BIOS on the laptop and tell it to boot from the floppy or CD. The keys to enter BIOS are usually F1, F2, or DEL at boot up. Power the laptop on while pressing the keys above one at a time until it goes in to the BIOS. Once you are in BIOS you will be looking for something that says Boot, Boot Options, or Boot Order. It sholt tell you what keys to hit to move your boot order around. You will need to put the floppy, and cd in front of the hard drive.

[luckydog]

I haven't been able to get into the bios at all using those keys.

i did get to two other screens using f8 but they weren't any help

[birdbrain]

try escape key at boot up

[compirate]

If you can, remove the hard drive, then try booting to the floppy. You may be able to get into the bios that way (while it's looking for the hard drive). Change the boot order to floppy first, save and turn off, then reinstall hard drive and try it again.

[MrGoodBurn]

What model laptop do you have there LD. I can look up some info on it.

[luckydog]

ibm thinkpad 2635 1998 i think

its a major job removing the hard drive, i've had another one apart before.

[MrGoodBurn]

Ok LD the key to enter BIOS on that laptop should be F1 at power up. Just power it on and keep pressing the F1 until it goes in. If that doesn't work, you can always try pressing a punch of keys down while you power it on to get in under the keyboard error.
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Here is a link to the drivers for that machine as well. It is a early Pentium system most likely a 166Mhz.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...HY-3XWNVG.html

Here is the manual.

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs...es/vol4hmm.pdf

[luckydog]

yep. i found it too

Lenovo Support & downloads - Personal systems reference sheet - ThinkPad 380ED

[MrGoodBurn]

I think your best bet is to load windows 95 or 98 or maybe 2000 on that. I can get you discs if you need them.

[luckydog]

I have 95 and 98 startups cds, and made boot floppies for both.

but, no good if i can't get a dos prompt or get into bios

[compirate]

I'd trade you hard drives (got a few 4 gig units), but you can't even get into bios, it's moot.

How much did you pay for it?

[MrGoodBurn]

Makes me wonder if the F1 key works on the keyboard. Do you have a extra PS2 keyboard to connect to it? F1 should get you in there, and it would at least ask for a password at that point if it was taking the F1 command. If you are seeing any screen that says Windows 2000; it isn't a BIOS password that is holding you back.