Ventura docs for M2 Macs in this comment: https://gist.github.com/henrik242/65d26a7deca30bdb9828e183809690bd?permalink_comment_id=4555340#gistcomment-4555340
Old Monterey docs in this old revision: https://gist.github.com/henrik242/65d26a7deca30bdb9828e183809690bd/32c410e3a1de73539c76fa13ea5486569c4e0c5d
Solution for Sonoma: https://gist.github.com/sghiassy/a3927405cf4ffe81242f4ecb01c382ac
Yes if it is asking for an old password you never set, simply erase Macintosh HD, and reinstall the OS and then you'll know exactly where every component is at and what to expect.