Help Please

[dondford]

My Aunt passed away and I ended up with her ThinkPad P51; unfortuantly we cannot find her login name or password anywhere and cannot start the computer up.  We are not vry computer savvy and don't have a clue.
Any help please.

D

[carbon_unit]

When do you get the password prompt? right at the beginning of startup or when windows is loaded. If it the Winodws password you can just restore the system by pressing the blue button at system startup. This will lose all of your grandmothers files but it will be a clean new windows install.
If you get the black screen with a padlock on it you can try removing the BIOS battery. That will clear a Power on Password. If it is a supervisor password you are out of luck. Supervisor password cracking is not open for discussion on this forum. So please don't ask about it.

[dondford]

Thank you for your help; it is the Windows Password it wants.  Please clarify which "Blue Button" I should press.  There is a bright Red button in the middle of the key, pad.  Several of the F keys have blue icons and there is a blue "Access IBM" button.  Please clarify which button I should press.
Thanking you in advance for your continued help.

D

[carbon_unit]

Press the Blue "Access IBM" button. It will take you into the Rescue and Recovery program where you can tell it to restore to factory condition. That will give you a new clean windows install but it will lose all of the files presently on the computer.

[dondford]

CU
Thank you for your help; I re-installed XP and had it re-format.  The computer is up and running and I have installed software.  Before, when I could not logon, the Wireless Indicator light was on so I assume it is wireless capable.  I have been unable to add it to our wireless network.  I suspect the problem is the format zapped all the software and drivers.  Any thoughts on how to get the wireless up?
Also, I am having problems finding a Owners Manuel to DL, any help here?

Again, thank you for your assistance.

D