Startup password

Hello all,

I work in a school with many pcs. One of the students who left last year has a startup password that blocks entry. How can I get past it? I can't reformat because I can't get into the settings (boot from a usb drive).

Need help

thanks

Tim

When you say start up password are you referring to the login password for the desktop? Are you talking about a password prompt after the bios loaded giving you access to the HDD?

In most cases you will have to reinstall, unless they have a password locking the HDD which may be a challenge.

The login password for the desktop. I am trying to get in so I can allow for usb booting. Bios is not passworded

If you have the Windows Recovery disk then you can use it, else download: Macrium WinPE .iso - OneDrive , put it in a USB stick then boot up. On the bottom left corner, you'll see a command prompt icon, use it then follow the next step in the link below:
Deleted admin account in Win 8.1 update. How to restore?

EDIT: For usage of net user command to reset user password: How to Use the Net User Command

Hello all,
thank you for your replies. Unfortunately I have buggered the job and need you help once more.
I got pissed off with trying to do the passwords thing and so I ended up with replacing the hard drives.
I still can't seem to boot from either a usb or an external Rom drive (they are netbooks so usb is the only internal option I have).
How do I new install on a fresh blank drive. Every time I interrupt normal startup the drive is shown but can't be booted from,

help

Tim (again)

Is the boot menu option {in the bios} enabled with an F key to press on restarting to get the boot menu to pop up ?