Xperia X10 :: Locked Out After Too Many Pattern Attempts

I have what seems to be a resonably common problem with my phone being locked out after too may pattern recognition attempts (My son's playfull fingers methinks).

I have consulted the forums including this one and it seems clear that the Log on fix for the google account using null as the password may work for some but hasn't for me.

I have tried to do a repair on the phone, but using pc companion i cannot get this too work, i cannot get into pc companion normally because the software is asking me to put the phone into Usb connect mode which i can't because i am locked out the phone.

method (that works) to get me phone to being useable again? perhaps i am doing the repair method wrong ( holding the back ket then connecting the usb cable does nothing)