I can't find the administrator password

Was there already an user account when you purchased the computer?
The first user on the system will be the administrator, so most likely your own password would be the correct password.

I think the computer may be a rebuilt one. I have tried 0's, my password, and other combos of numbers, but nothing works. I was not asked for a password until I tried to install a program.

It looks like you are using a password less account. Such accounts can not get admin rights by default.
But to check it please open Application → Accessories → Terminal, then run the short command in the next line and post the output here.
id

Also try to run
sudo id
and tell us what happend!

The terminal window says" owner@owner-laptop:~$" I don't know what you mean by run sudo id

> To: <email address hidden>
> From: <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Question #157698]: I can't find the administrator password
> Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 18:15:51 +0000
>
> Your question #157698 on software-center in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+question/157698
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> Thomas Krüger requested more information:
> It looks like you are using a password less account. Such accounts can not get admin rights by default.
> But to check it please open Application → Accessories → Terminal, then run the short command in the next line and post the output here.
> id
>
> Also try to run
> sudo id
> and tell us what happend!
>
> --
> To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
> this email or enter your reply at the following page:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+question/157698
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.

Just type in "id" and "sudo id" and press Enter!

when I typed in sudo id, [sudo] password for owner: is what showed up on the screen. When I typed in id, uid=1000(owner) gid=1000(owner) groups=4(adm),20(dialout),24(cdrom),46(plugdev),105(lpadmin),119(admin),122(sambashare),1000(owner)
owner@owner-laptop:~$ is what showed up. I tried using sudo and 1000 as the password and niether of them worked.

Thank you for your time,

Carrol

> To: <email address hidden>
> From: <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Question #157698]: I can't find the administrator password
> Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 05:31:03 +0000
>
> Your question #157698 on software-center in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+question/157698
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Thomas Krüger proposed the following answer:
> Just type in "id" and "sudo id" and press Enter!
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+question/157698/+confirm?answer_id=4
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+question/157698
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.

Thanks Thomas Krüger, that solved my question.

Welllll.......The password works, but it seems that the login keyring is now a different password. I can't get onto my wireless internet without it. I tried to go in and find it but of course I couldn't, soooo once again I need help. I am starting to hate ubuntu because it also is not compatable with any of the programs I use, because they are all for windows xp, vista or 7.

> To: <email address hidden>
> From: <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Question #157698]: I can't find the administrator password
> Date: Thu, 19 May 2011 08:31:10 +0000
>
> Your question #157698 on software-center in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+question/157698
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Thomas Krüger proposed the following answer:
> That is Ok so far, I just needed to know if the groups are set properly. They are.
> Now please follow the steps on the page below to set your password. But remember that your user name is "owner", not "susan".
> After that you can login with that "owner" and your new password.
>
> http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/resetpassword
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+question/157698/+confirm?answer_id=6
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+question/157698
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.

Please open terminal and try

rm ~/.gnome2/keyrings/default

Then please take note of your password...

Then to use Win software you have two ways using Wine or install Windows on a virtualbox pc inside Ubuntu...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N_gqJQqAq0

the best way is to use native software for Ubuntu to made our works

New to Ubuntu:
- read the Ubuntu Manual, it's very informative: http://ubuntu-manual.org/
Click on the "download Button" to download the latest PDF version.

The Ubuntu 11.04 Unity interface
http://theravingrick.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-effort-at-writing-help-for-unity.html
The Unity interface: http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/natty/#what

- https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows

- The Ubuntu pocket guide: http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/

- The online help https://help.ubuntu.com/10.10/index.html

That didn't work. It said there is no file

> To: <email address hidden>
> From: <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Question #157698]: I can't find the administrator password
> Date: Sun, 22 May 2011 07:35:50 +0000
>
> Your question #157698 on sudo in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/sudo/+question/157698
>
> marcobra (Marco Braida) posted a new comment:
> Please open terminal and try
>
> rm ~/.gnome2/keyrings/default
>
> Then please take note of your password...
>
> Then to use Win software you have two ways using Wine or install Windows
> on a virtualbox pc inside Ubuntu...
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N_gqJQqAq0
>
> the best way is to use native software for Ubuntu to made our works
>
> New to Ubuntu:
> - read the Ubuntu Manual, it's very informative: http://ubuntu-manual.org/
> Click on the "download Button" to download the latest PDF version.
>
> The Ubuntu 11.04 Unity interface
> http://theravingrick.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-effort-at-writing-help-for-unity.html
> The Unity interface: http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/natty/#what
>
> - https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows
>
> - The Ubuntu pocket guide: http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/
>
> - The online help https://help.ubuntu.com/10.10/index.html
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.