root user

hi 
i have not used my linux computer for a while, and tonight when i tried to start it up i got a root aaccount is locked errorr.        code 4
its asking for a root user #
i have tried restarting but it went back to the excact same thing
i have less then no idea what this means, and any help is appreciated
thanks

You didn't accidentally start in recovery mode ?

after it didn't work I ctrl d it and tried recovery mode but it did the same thing.
can you elaborate a little more on checking the date and time and battery low thing
thanks

If you're encountering a "root account is locked" error on your Linux computer, it means that the root user account has been locked or disabled. This usually happens for security reasons or when there have been multiple unsuccessful login attempts.

To resolve this issue, you can try the following steps:

1. Restart your computer and access the GRUB boot menu. You can usually do this by pressing the Shift key or Esc key during the boot process. If you have a dual-boot setup, you may need to choose the appropriate option for your Linux distribution.

2. In the GRUB boot menu, select the recovery mode or rescue mode option. This will boot your computer into a root shell or a minimal environment.

3. Once you're in the root shell, you can try unlocking the root account by running the following command:

   ```
   passwd -u root
   ```

   This command will unlock the root account and allow you to set a new password for it.

4. After running the command, you can reboot your computer and try logging in as the root user with the new password.

If the above steps don't work or if you encounter any other issues, it's recommended to seek assistance from a more experienced Linux user or consult the documentation and support resources specific to