vnc is for use by nortel tech support only ...
everything will be doable using the UM

ATTEMPED TO UPGRADE 2.5 T0 3.01 AND THEN 3.6, NEVER MADE IT TO 3.01 SYSTEM CRASHED, THE HARD DRIVE THAT IS,TRIED HARD DRIVE REPLACEMENT BOTH 2.5 AND 3.6 AND THEY WERE BOTH 20G, COULDN T EVEN TELENET INTO SWITCH, CALLED NORTEL, WENT TO SECOND LEVEL, BUT NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR CALL BACK, CUSTOMER HAS 24 HR CALL CENTER, AFTER 8HRS AND NO CALL BACK FROM NORTEL,THE CUSTOMER REQUEST TO INSTALL A NEW BCM 400 WITH 3.6, SO NOW I HAVE A 1000 WITH A CORRUPTED HARD DRIVE.NORTEL RETURNED CALL 24HRS LATER, AND SAID THEY COULD POSSIBLY REPAIR PROBLEM BUT NEED TO ACCESS VNC, JUST CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT WAS THERE,I LL ASSUME U DON T KNOW THE PASSWORD AND NOT EVERTHING IS DOABLE IN THE UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN U CAN T ACCESS IT. THANKS ANYHOW

if you cant access the UM, then u cant do much with it ...
try the command line using the serial port ...

the VNC is best left untouched ...

I know the password to vnc on 2.5 if you still need or want it.  

You should be able to replace the drive and access the platform reinitialization menu through hyperterminal.

I believe that during the upgrade process there is a bios upgrade to the motherboard.
This may have caused your problem.
I am curious to see how you worked out your problem since I have made a few doorstops myself during the upgrade process.
Replacing the hard drive does not always seem to work.
In my case putting a monitor on the BCM SVGA connector allows me to see the BCM rebooting every couple of minutes.

Does anyone know the VNC password for 2.5 ?

as you know this is VNC.View NOT!! Change. If you give me your email address I will email it to you.  It is better not posted for anyone to use because it really can make your system unusable.