I'm an asshole for making this thread.
I just figured out through messing around on my own, randomly, how to just restore the laptop to its factory settings, by mashing some F-# buttons before Windows started up.
So, no more password issue. And no need to clean out any old junk.. it's already done.
[It's still Windows Vista, but eh, what can ya do].
I probably couldn't articulate to anyone how I worked that out [yes, I am aware it's likely disgustingly simple to most people].. that always seems to be the outcome when I'm wandering the mystical world of technogadgetry. I just stumble around and sort of.. guess at shit.. I guess. Eventually some path leads to the promised land.
Thanks anyway to you people who posted instructions.. Sorry I didn't come back here to look them over when I got it in my head I'd like to make this thing work. Just sort of hyperfocused on digging around.
..BUT I FIXED IT!
*proud*
:edit: Ok, this is what I did.. in case anyone else wants to quickly wipe Windows Vista clean to get around a password, & doesn't have any of the discs or documentation onhand.
-Restart laptop & press F11 before Windows loads.
-select Recovery Manager.
-select Advanced Options.
-select System Recovery, & then Next.
-follow prompts [they take care of the rest].
-PROFIT.