Im having a problem also with my IBM A21m i got it on a Auction there was 5 computers there and i got screwed cause about a week later after i decided to mess with it i turned it back on and it had a power on password or a Adm. password i get either or but havent been able to find a solution i tried everthing from bios setup but have not opened the computer cause i dont have the manual or motherboard manual for it can anyone help ?

Buying a hot Thinkpad is not a good idea. If it has a Supervisor password (SVP) and you don't have it, then there is no way to change or clear it without replacing the system board. You should get the SVP cleared by the person you got it from and who knows what it is. (The registered owner who set it should know what it is/was.) If it has a Power On Password (POP) but no SVP on it (not likely) this can be cleared by pulling the battery for several minutes. Or by entering the SVP and clearing the POP. There may also be a Hard Drive password (HDP) and/or User Hard Drive password, that must be entered to access the disk drive. If this is lost or not known, then the drive must be replaced. So at a minimum you need the Supervisor Password and the Master Hard Drive Password also if it was ever set.