very basic about initial install

[J.Liek]

reader at newsguy.com schreef:
> Installing Ubuntu 8.1.4 in a vmware as guest on Vista home Premium
>
> After a successfull install I'm not finding a way to get to a root
> terminal and use the text files to do setup chores.
>
> During install I was asked for a user name and passwd.  I used a
> familiar user I always use `reader' but once the install is finished
> and I reboot.... I'm not unable to get to a root terminal.
>   
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> sudo with your 'reader'-passw.
> I thought I might just boot the install disk and chroot to the new
> install but using fdisk on the install disk, it cannot find the
> virtual /dev/hda from the install...  Seem like a bad catch 22
> situation.
>
> How might I get to a root login?  
>
> When I try to sudo I'm told my machine name won't resolve... when I
> try to create a network I told I don't have the privs.  Do actully
> have to redo the install and chose `root' when it asked for a user
> name?
>
>
>