password please help

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As far as I remember you said you received the computer from someone else and you report indicares that there is some wrong with the installation of the Ubuntu operating system. To get it working properly it would be the best to reinstall Ubuntu.
All you need is a rencent Ubuntu CD (version 12.04 is best).
If you have an other computer avaiable you can download an Image from
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop .
On the pages are also links where you can see how to burn a CD from the downloaded .ISO file and to the installation guide.
When you have created the CD, put it in the CD drive and start the computer with it. A live Ubuntu version from the CD should start and you should have the option to install it to your hard disk.

When you don't have any important private data or an other Operating system on the computer yet, you should tell the installer that you would like to use the complete harddisk and create a fresh installation, you should not recover or update the existing installed Ubuntu. After the installation the system should be fresh and working.

I think thats what ill have to do. As i try to go back to root but nothing happens and i cant get the password to change. Ive3 followed the instructions but it asks for the maintenace password which i dont have. Ive gone back to the seller but he said he couldnt remember it which doesnt help at all.

Use:

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/09/live-usb-sticking-grub-2-video

When you get to the Grub install command, run:

passwd foo

You can then set your password.

You should NOT have a root password set and having it not set is the default config in Ubuntu so you should be able to use the root console to set passwords etc. So by setting your password you have screwed yourself over. Either that, or you bought the system pre-installed and someone else set the password.

I brought it pre installed. The owner forgot the password and when ever i get to the root it asks for the password and when ever i try to punch in a command nothing shows and says wrong password. Its really frustrating as i need to install things but cant.

Then you can use the link I gave :)

Just to clear up your concern that when you type in a password, nothing shows.
That is how linux works. It does not show any asterisks or anything just as a security measure.