if this is a hdd password set by bios for laptops do search here long explanation and links that might fix it
if it's a xp or W2K password for files you need to boot to that OS and use the password or get a app like winternals to reset there are free app that may seen to erase password
but the encrypted files still need password and you just messed it all up
winternals resets password
PM for data recovery