Using Ubuntu 12.04
Where can I find an explanation on the myriad of instructions associated with passwords and changes to them
I attempted to change my password and received:
"authentication token manipulation error"

I keep getting displays asking me to log into a "keyring".
I cannot use any applications until I find out how to sort out the myriad of user codes. authentications, etc?

Has a search for previous posts within this forum on the same subject been done? This is a newbie-do, so to speak.

command line is recommended

also, look here for a common reason for your concern

Are you familiar with the site:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community

I found the following with a search here for "passwords":

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/StrongPasswords

I don't know if this answers your questions. You can generate passwords that Ubuntu accepts with the terminal command: mkpasswd

I don't know what the "keyring" thing is. I encountered it myself under SUSE linux when trying to connect to a router (something in SUSE wanted a keyring password). I never figured out what it wanted or how to satisfy it, but the problem went away when I overwrote SUSE with Ubuntu.

I did attempt a search of my problem, but gave up when I received no response after about 20 seconds.
Probably my search words were incorrect.

"This is a newbie-do, so to speak. command line is recommended"
I know I need to learn how to use this web site. I don't know how to use the search 'command line'

I will spend time at https://help.ubuntu.com/community

That 'password' article did not enable me to understand how to correct whatever is causing "authentication manipulation error" was, nor
explain what "login keyring" is. Whatever that is, keeps appearing and interferes with software manager updates and any other application I attempt.
Maybe I need to uninstall Ubuntu and reinstall.

Based on a google search, there are a number of reasons you might get that error message. You didn't explain much about the circumstances under which the error occurred. How did you try to change your password? And why? Was everything working fine before you tried to change your password? Were you in recovery mode trying to reset a forgotten password? Is it your root password or your user password? Did you make any filesystem permission changes? Is the root directory "/" mounted read/write? etc.

I rebooted Ubuntu and selected Advanced options for Ubuntu
selected Unbuntu with Linux 3.5.0-17-generics (recovery)
on Recovery Menu selection page, selected go to root
entered root password
entered passwd
entered a new password
repeated that password

"passwd: Authentication token manipulation error"

A number of hits I found on a google search says if you get that error message under the circumstances you described (i.e., dropping down to a root command line prompt after entering recovery), the problem may be that your root filesystem is mounted read-only. It needs to be mounted read/write.

Try this at the root command line prompt before attempting to change your password: