admin account locked out

When i try to log in locally to the domain controller as admin it will not let me, it appears thet the account is locked out?
i recieve the message ‘unable to log in interactively’.
i have tried to log in various ways but have had no joy.
is there anyway i can configure the security policies from another client to overcome this?
does anybody know a work-round for this or do i have to chicken out and run my back up and start again?