I didn't enter a password but it is there.
 

I first did the "try it", running it from the CD. I had the option to install from there and did. I cannot download any thing. My user name is John and there are 5 dots in the password space? My version is: ubuntu 14.04 lts. I was not able to change the root to read-write so I could change the password. Nothing worked unbuntu does connect to my wifi.
I'm a real newbie but what I 've tried in ubuntu has impressed me.
Help please

to change root password and enable it in ubuntu try this in your terminal.

#sudo passwd root

So enter your password twice.

unlock the account.

#sudo passwd -u root
output: passwd:password expirty information changed.

Done...


Reverting Back..
#sudo passwd -l root

Disable the root account
#sudo passwd -dl root

Graphical version.

#pkexec gnome-terminal
passwd root

If your wifi works and you can get online, what are you trying to download and what happens when you try.

When you enter your password, obviously it is not going to show on screen. Why are you trying to change the password? In Ubuntu, your primary user has root/administrator privileges and you can use that. Have you read any tutorials on how to use Ubuntu? On a default installation of Ubuntu, you should not have read/write privileges outside your /home/user directory. To modify anything outside that you will need to use sudo.

I merely wanted to download some of the apps that come with the system and when asked for a password I do not have one to enter. I installed a few days ago and have wanted some apps like "Steller".
When I installed from "try it" it did not ask for a password. I wondered if installing in that fashion might be the problem. Any ideas?
Johnedra

Run sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade then sudo apt-get install Steller.

that won't work either.

Johnedra, you really must have missed something when you installed.
when it asks you for a user name, it will also ask for a password.
if you can't remember it, reinstall.
(that's the simple, newbie friendly answer.)

edit: i take it you are not talking about your wifi password.

I believe your's is the best suggestion yet and had been thinking that a new install might be the best and quickest way to resolve this. My install took place from their "Try It 1st" or whatever they call it. I did not get to enter a password during install, I can't imagine missing that, but anything is possible...
Yes, my wifi is working fine.
Thanks for your input
Johnedra

I didn't enter a password but it is there.
 

It may be a default: try "admin" without quotes as the password.

I reinstalled from the CD and all is well. thanks to everyone for all their help
Johnedra

gawd, yes!
all the ti me i was thinking: what could it be with 5 letters?
user? only 4.
guest? not likely.
heh.