If you don't have the ability to boot something like a DVD/CD or USB key, try john the ripper?
Save the encrypted string to a test file and run it through john the ripper running on your system:
Ubuntu:
# apt-get install john
Centos/RH/Fedora:
# yum install john
Example use:
# john -single crackme.txt
References:
http://www.openwall.com/john/doc/
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=video&cd=1&ved=0CDIQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D3YyscD_tADk&rct=j&q=john%20the%20ripper&tbm=vid&ei=t3ofTsXRNqTv0gHB2bmYAw&usg=AFQjCNE8vdlkxhwQ15zCuBePI9Y9qk3mAQ&cad=rja
http://www.osix.net/modules/article/?id=455
Hello Mark,
Have you tried using Kon-Boot? It's a bootable image that edits the kernel to bypass the password prompt.