don't know root password

In the thread on X programming, I mentioned that I have a laptop running
Ubuntu 4.1.2-0, with kernel 2.6.20-15-generic. Someone gave me the laptop.
I have an account on it, so I can log in, but I don't know the root password
and the person who gave it to me doesn't remember. He suggested that I do the
following when booting (it uses GRUB):
(1) Select Linux version and type e for edit
(2) Select line that starts kernel and type e to edit the line
(3) Go to end of line and type "single" as a separate word (press spacebar
and then type single). Press <RET> to exit edit mode.
(4) Back to GRUB screen. Type b to boot into single user mode.
(5) When boot completes, get shell script. You are now root. Type
passwd to change root password.

I tried this, but it seems to boot so quickly that I didn't see any of the
events I was supposed to respond to. Is there any way to slow it down
so that I can see what I am doing?

Just for starters, I didn't see a choice of Linux versions. I did try
to type e and it ignored it. I'm not used to this and I don't know what I
am doing.

I also don't like the fact that this install didn't include emacs. One way
to solve the problem with the root password is to simply scrap the present
Ubuntu installation and install one of the distributions I have sitting on
CDs, which range from RH 6.2 to Fedora III at the moment. But I'd like to
try to use it as it is first.

If I am in a terminal window and type halt, I get a message saying that
I have to be root. But if I click on something I get offered the option
of shutting down the machine and I don't have to be root to click it and
shut it down that way.
--
Ignorantly,
Allan Adler <ara@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
* Disclaimer: I am a guest and *not* a member of the MIT CSAIL. My actions and
* comments do not reflect in any way on MIT. Also, I am nowhere near Boston.
.

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