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#11
The disk isn't locked - chkdsk was failing and the error was a symptom - not a cause.
I did finally resolve the problem (see below)
I was able to get into safe mode by continually shutting off the computer during the OS boot. Safe mode actually worked just fine, and I was able to back up the owner's files, and run several disk checking commands like chkdsk and sfc /scannow and attempt System Restore. System Restore won't work - it says all the recovery points were "damaged or missing"
chkdsk reported errors (real errors this time, not "write protected"), so I booted the computer with The Ultimate Boot Disk and ran a sector scan of the hard drive (Western Digital) using DLGDIAG. This allowed me to determine that the hard disk is actually failing, which is why Windows isn't working (likely parts of the OS are on some failed sectors).
Resolution: ordering new hard disk.
Thanks for all the help!
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