BleepingComputer.com: locked harddrive no password

i have an old dell latitude D400 laptop for testing new linux distros when i got it it had no os and booted to a white screen saying,This computer system. #4B7Q031-595B, is protected by a password authentication system.you cannot access data on this computer with out the correct password. the problem is i have no password and have no way to get one ,i have though booted gOS on it today but turned it off and it was unable to boot agin any help on how to completly restart hard drive or somehow take off the password would be greatly appreciated thanks!

Hi,

I am not sure what the policy here is regarding assistance with passwords.
I do know on the other sites I help out on that because it is impossible to know that you are actually the rightful owner...
(no accusations here at all).....assistance with by-passing passwords is politely refused.
I am assuming that the same applies here.

I am sure a moderator will confirm this one way or another

See http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&docid=52016&doclang=en&l=en&s=gen&cs= .

Like the legal enforcement authorities...we presume innocent until proven guilty .

Unless circumstances are obvious that the user is in a questionable status.

Google is great for finding such information, you just have to ask the question.

Louis