This might seem like a dumb question, however, Konsole doesn't let me type anything. I want to access root priveledges using the konsole however, when I open console, it seems to be that it doesn't allow me to type anything. Also, on the login screen, i cannot login as root. Any suggesstions to fix this?

Do you see any error messages?
Also check the systems log-files for these kind of messages - they might point out the reason for your troubles.
The log-files are stored in /var/log directory and are named sys.log or messages...open them with any editor you like - if you can as a normal user.
vi is an editor you can use in text-mode (when on a VT - not in kde...) - another is nano

Unfortunately, I don't have permission to see the messages file. I don't get an error message when I load Konsole, it's just that I don't seem to have permission to type anything in it. I also cannot login as root, as it will tell me that root logins are not allowed. Any suggesstions?

Can you get to a console by pressing ctrl+alt+Fn (n is from 1 to 6)?
Can you log in as root from there? If so, you can use the less command to have a look at /var/log/messages and /var/log/sys.log. You might want to try updating the packages on your system using emerge --sync && emerge -aDNu world. You should read the gentoo docs on portage before doing this.
Check your .xsession-errors file in your home directory as well.

Mandriva? Don't know this one really - but if it is like you said, there mustbe eighter a bug or some mistake on your side during installation of the system.
You cannot type anything?
Or can you just not log in as root?
How do you do that?
- it is usually done with "su"
It could be fixed from the "outside" too - using a live-cd like knoppix for example - don't know where to look for exactly in Mandriva though...

-edit-

Sorry - forget all the Mandriva stuff I wrote - I got confused by your signature...I should have paid attention to the thread title

Sorry, I guess i should have mentioned i'm running Gentoo 2006.0

can you physically not type anything, like the keyboard doesn't work, or you just don't have permissions to do it?

just edited my last post - but again:
Sorry - forget all the Mandriva stuff I wrote - I got confused by your signature...I should have paid attention to the thread title
But still: the other questions and suggestions are valid.

What happens is that whenever I open konsole, there is no command prompt. I cannot type anything, but the window is not frozen. I figured out about the root thing that Gentoo normally comes without allowing you to log into root. I have to edit some system files in order to fix that. However, most info I find about the Konsole problem leads me nowhere, and the suggestions I have tried have led me nowhere. Any suggestions?