I need some help logging on to windows 8.1 and nobody knows the password
 

I need to get into a laptop I got for my daughter at a yard sale. The people it belonged to did not have a clue what the password is. Can someone tell me how I can get into the system so I can load a linux OS into it? Any advise, instruction or lead me in the right direction would more than be appreciated.

Thanks - John Henry

Probably stolen ... ;)

Just boot from a CD/USB install disk and wipe/install.

If you want to preserve the Windows install, then I have successfully used ntpasswd. http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

Hi...

Welcome to the forum :)

If you have any reason to suspect that it is stolen, I would encourage you, before doing anything to it, to give your local police department a call and see if anyone's reported it stolen and has provided the exact serial number or any other identifying number. ;)

Otherwise, you shouldn't need anything to wipe the hard drive and install a Linux OS, unless the BIOS is password protected. That's a whole different story...

Regards...