I installed Ubuntu on several Dell Latitude C510/C610 that had been properly wiped and were used but empty. Once I figured out an installation CD that worked the installation went smoothly. After rebooting the computer and typing in the user name and password nothing loaded except a message saying ‘you do not have rights to access’, and at this point by adventure into Ubuntu stalled.

It occured to me that the bios date on the laptop was wrong so I thought if I altered that it would be work. Once I got into the bios and changed the date and after a compulsory system check happened (because the computer thought it had not been booted for 2200 days), I was able to log in.

I can only guess that because the installation date will have been in 2008 – but the bios was in 2002, Ubuntu looked at the bios upon booting and did not recognise the creation of a user at a date 6 years in the future.
If anyone has any fact about why this would be the case – please let me know!