Sticky stituation w/vista

So i got this laptop i'm trying to fix for a friend, it has vista on it, they don't know the password to get onto the machine, can't do a system restore b/c the person just got the laptop basically off the street...so calling the manufacturer is out..i've tried every hack or tool to reset the password such as: trinity rescue kit, winternals 2005, ive used windows logon key, prosoft password recovery...i've also tried installing windows xp over it, but heres where i get the new problem...i get as far as installing the drivers then it says starting windows and it tells me theres no hard drive make sure its connected or run a diagnostic...now if i let the machine boot normally it boots right to the windows vista screen perfectly..so i don't think the hard drive is bad, and when i ran a hdd diagnostic it passed...so my question is, can either A)someone help me find a way to reset this password or get around it so i an basically do what i have to do to this machine, or B)someone help me get a way of installing XP over it (b/c i don't have a vista disc)...i'm all ears!:major

 

New or used (second hand)?

 

its not straight out of the box if thats what you mean by new...so i guess we can say used

 

Let's hope it's not reported stolen and locked per remote. Maybe it's even traceable via some build-in GPS stuff or something? I guess you'll know when they knock on your door...

 

thats fine, its not mine...i own my own business, and sometimes i still just fix computers on the side someone brought me the computer and when i started to pry into the situation thats what i got told...im not worried...and im not even sure if its stolen or not...still though..anyone have an answer to my situation?

 

Well, in my country it is not legal to assist with handling fenced goods so I won't help you.

 

ok? thats fine i just said i am unsure if its stolen for all i know he could have bought it off a crackhead from the street lol...w/e...anyone else?

 

It's stolen, and XP has no SATA support.

 

MajorGeeks cannot support you in repairing this if the goods are not genuine and/or stolen.

Thread closed.