That could be your best bet.

Based on the story she had clearly given up on this machine and any data on it, and most likely didn't have the chance to wipe any confidential stuff. Please don't repay her kindness by going through her private data, just wipe it and install a fresh OS on it.

I wasn't saying you should boot off the removed disk (which would indeed present you with the login box), but to read its contents on another computer, i.e. boot another computer into Linux, maybe using an Ubuntu boot disc, and reading the other drive that way. You shouldn't have to change any passwords to access the files, unless the disk or partition is encrypted.

I thought about that too. Prying somebody's privacy is unethical. None of you guys suggested that, you all just try to help me out, thanks. I would just swap the hd out for a month or so, and if no contact from owner, repartition the HD, if it still alive. BTW, the bootup is 50-50, sometimes it does, sometimes it does not, I think the HD is on its last leg.

Curiosity kills a cat, I was just playing with it... after awhile, the computer is booting 1 out of 2, lost interest. Just put it aside for the time being, Not sure it is the POST of the computer or the HD or the battery, probably will play with it this summer.

Thanks for all the suggestions. This way, I learned some linux, and remember better than reading a linux book. Thanks again,

bun

Are you guys serious?

Edit the GRUB prompt and boot it to single user mode. Done.