You are locked out of the machine via a bios password. IBM was on a security kick with these machines in 99 and 2000. So there are two levels of bios passwords. One normal bios password that can be reset using the removing the cmos battery method here: A. Power off the computer. B. Remove the battery pack and AC Adapter. C. Remove the backup battery for 20 minutes D. Put back the backup battery . E. Power on the computer and wait until POST ends. F. Verify that the password prompt does not appear. If that does not work you need to replace the security chip on the main board I have seen it done for you around $75 and I have seen the chips on ebay for about $35. It might be time for a new laptop - seeming you can get a decent older machine (better than this) for around $200 on ebay as well. I also found these "Methods" of getting into the IBM's backdoor - but it will not work if the bios has ever been updated: a.) Press both mouse buttons repeatedly during the boot b.) Hold down shift+enter when prompted for the password <a href="http://forums.techsoup.org/cs/forums/t/9224.aspx"> And finally here is another method (not verified that I found here</a> Good Luck! ou can remove most if not all BIOS/Hard Drive/All types, or passwords from IBM machines... but it's not w/o challenge. We have done this on several models successfully and without damage... but I did kill one. So, please THINK and BE CAREFULL. The following procedure can DESTROY your laptop if done incorrectly. Find you BIOS chip (usually labeled =BIOS=) or lookup the board layout/schmat from the web. Find the grounding pins. Usually 2 to 6 - yours may (read WILL) vary. Using a 1.5 volt AA battery hooked on a carrier (available at Radio Shack for about $2) run voltage from the lower numbered pin the higher numbered pin for about 30 seconds, if it doesn't work try again for a LITTLE longer till you get it) GET THIS RIGHT! THE POSTIVE + on the LOWER NUMBERED PIN AND THE NEGATIVE - ON THE HIGHER NUMMBERED PIN. This will caused the BIOS to reset to factory specs. DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK! Thank you for the reply: DIdnt work for me last time I had this issue I replaced the hard drive and reintstalled OS.I have some one to buy it and dont really want to put money in another hard drive.I think it's more the OS than the machine it's self but what do I know.If I have to I'll buy a converter cable and reformat the drive and install xp on it never had any issues except a little slow with xp.It runs smoother with 2000 but not now after the service pack what ever number it was been in closet for a year. Rockinturbo

You are locked out of the machine via a bios password. IBM was on a security kick with these machines in 99 and 2000. So there are two levels of bios passwords. One normal bios password that can be reset using the removing the cmos battery method here: A. Power off the computer. B. Remove the battery pack and AC Adapter. C. Remove the backup battery for 20 minutes D. Put back the backup battery . E. Power on the computer and wait until POST ends. F. Verify that the password prompt does not appear. If that does not work you need to replace the security chip on the main board I have seen it done for you around $75 and I have seen the chips on ebay for about $35. It might be time for a new laptop - seeming you can get a decent older machine (better than this) for around $200 on ebay as well. I also found these "Methods" of getting into the IBM's backdoor - but it will not work if the bios has ever been updated: a.) Press both mouse buttons repeatedly during the boot b.) Hold down shift+enter when prompted for the password <a href="http://forums.techsoup.org/cs/forums/t/9224.aspx"> And finally here is another method (not verified that I found here</a> Good Luck! ou can remove most if not all BIOS/Hard Drive/All types, or passwords from IBM machines... but it's not w/o challenge. We have done this on several models successfully and without damage... but I did kill one. So, please THINK and BE CAREFULL. The following procedure can DESTROY your laptop if done incorrectly. Find you BIOS chip (usually labeled =BIOS=) or lookup the board layout/schmat from the web. Find the grounding pins. Usually 2 to 6 - yours may (read WILL) vary. Using a 1.5 volt AA battery hooked on a carrier (available at Radio Shack for about $2) run voltage from the lower numbered pin the higher numbered pin for about 30 seconds, if it doesn't work try again for a LITTLE longer till you get it) GET THIS RIGHT! THE POSTIVE + on the LOWER NUMBERED PIN AND THE NEGATIVE - ON THE HIGHER NUMMBERED PIN. This will caused the BIOS to reset to factory specs. DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK! Thank you for the reply: DIdnt work for me last time I had this issue I replaced the hard drive and reintstalled OS.I have some one to buy it and dont really want to put money in another hard drive.I think it's more the OS than the machine it's self but what do I know.If I have to I'll buy a converter cable and reformat the drive and install xp on it never had any issues except a little slow with xp.It runs smoother with 2000 but not now after the service pack what ever number it was been in closet for a year. Rockinturbo