cannot type my user password: my computer and terminal will not recognize my password

The password in the terminal is hidden for security reasons. When the terminal asks you for password, you have to insert it and press enter.

iunderstand this but it still will not reckognise my password . cannot install anything from my apts

Please open a terminal, run this:
sudo apt-get update

try to insert your password, and copy and paste here all the terminal says.

thanks for your support but i have uninstalled and am going to reinstall now

What are you reinstalling?

ubuntu 11.04 have reinstalled and it is running ok now ta