Forgotten password...cannot get around an initial log in screen

Hello everyone, thanks in advance for any help that can be offered. I am posting this for my friend who is not really an Apple user and the Macbook was a present to his daughter 2 years ago. Its using OS X 10.4.9.
Long story short, when the laptop was bought two years ago, another mutual friend set up the computer for him. At the time, a user ID and password was generated. For whatever reason my friend did not write it down and went without any updates for two years (his daughter probably could careless about any updates as long as the computer works since she's about 15 now).
A week ago my friend tried to change the password. From what he described to me, he did the password change (but did not enter an user ID) and then turned off the computer manually. When he turned it on again, instructions on the screen asked him to enter the OS X Install Disc. He did so and the computer seemed to automatically start reinstalling for OS off the disc.
Now every time upon boot up, a screen box ("MAC OS X User's Computer") asks for name and password. Below the name and password fields are options for sleep, restart, shut down, and log in. Entering no name and the password he had changed to only makes the screen box jitter so it looks it's an incorrect password. We tried holding "C" at bootup with the boot disc but the laptop still returns to the same screen.
How can I help him get the computer to work? Please help! Thank you.

BDAqua, thanks for your post. Unfortunately what he remembers as the original name and new password doesn't work. I'm pretty sure his memory failed him so going that route doesnt work.
I have tried to restart the computer while holding the C key a few times, but each time the laptop restarts and goes back to the same screen I described asking for user name and password. I don't have any other options to anything except for entering name and password or sleep, restart, shut down.
Is there another way? Please help. Thank you so much.

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