user logon
 

just getting started with red hat 7. loaded on old machine (wiped clean)and after it boots can enter user name just fine, but try to enter password and nothing. only key that works is "enter"

Do you mean that you enter the password correctly, press enter and nothing happens or that you are not seeing asterisks appear when you type your password?

Linux by default does not draw asterisks or anything else when you enter your password but the characters are still there and your password should work.

(Don't mean to insult you but I did take note of "just getting started" and a postcount of 1)

When you are in the password portion it looks like you are not typing but you actually are. I believe they do that as an added security. So if someone is looking over you should at the screen, they wont know how long your password is.