i just got a computer from a mate but it's asking for the old password & we dont know the old password is there a way to get round this or disable the password screen without reloading windows on

Hi Sanitarium,
The solution is simple.
I'm sure you obtained the computer legally, so just ask the previous owner for the password.
Regards.

Ford Prefect is perfectly correct.

The only other solution is to Clean Install XP.

If you need help with that please start a new thread as I am closing this.