[March.]

I bought a laptop for $15 it's a Windows Vista and haves a password. Owner somehow forgot the password or didn't know it so he sold it. How do I remove the password and get in

[Freebooter]

There are way to reset Windows user account password but question is why wont you ask the owner of the laptop for the password.

[March.]

I have, he don't know the password that's why it was so cheap.

[Freebooter]

You can use KON-BOOT or "Offline 'NT/2000/XP/Vista/7 Password Changer" to reset Windows user account password.

"Resetting Windows Password with Offline 'NT/2000/XP/Vista/7 Password Changer"
http://www.hirensbootcd.org/resetting-windows-password/

[ryderstorm]

Just DBAN it and reformat dude. You know you're going to reformat anyways.

[Aura]

Just DBAN it and reformat dude. You know you're going to reformat anyways.

This.
There's nothing to lose in formatting that laptop and reinstall Windows. So reinstall it right away. This way, you won't have to clean up all the junk that is installed on it, and tweak it to your liking. If you want to get in that laptop to see if the previous owner left "interesting stuff" in it, then it's just morally bad. Either way, this question doesn't belong in this section.

[Polymath 1.0]

If the password is in BIOS, i.e. the machine won't even boot without asking for a password, then removing a BIOS password can be a NON trivial matter depending on the computer make and model, particularly newer laptops. In such cases ignore ALL advice to remove the CMOS battery it won't work except on older machines, and a Vista laptop is not an older machine in that regard. The manufacturer may have provided jumper points on the motherboard which when shorted can be used to reset the BIOS password typically Toshibas), while other's (Dell) will generate a code upon password failure that can be used to get an unlock code from the manufacturer. The method and approach is manufacture and model specific, there is no one size fits all solution.

If the password is simply an account password for Windows (i.e. the O/S boots but remains on a login page) then more than likely the machine came with Vista preinstalled and I highly recommend simply invoking the Factory Restore provision supplied by the manufacturer to reinstall the O/S and place the machine into the same state in which it left the Factory. That will reinstall the O/S, ALL correct drivers as well as the legitimate activation of the O/S. There will be no passwords other than those you may chose to use at that point. Invoking the Manufacture's Fatory Restore provision is make and model dependent so check the manufacturer's website and manual (downloadable) for the key sequence and process that when pressed simultaneously or immediately after turning on the power will invoke the Factory Restore. Again the process is model dependent, no one size fits all key sequence. 🙂 Be Aware that if the process is interrupted it can leave the machine inoperable so MAKE SURE the power adapter is plugged in and working BEFORE invoking it. Factory Restore is your preferred route to not only remove existing passwords, but also clean install the Vista O/S, avoid DBAN it isn't necessary as any formatting including that of an installer is more than adequate. DBAN should only be used for forensic data scrubbing not for any other purpose, as it is overkill and if used improperly will destroy the manufacture's hidden restore provision.

Take care