[coreutils] promptline?

[TommyG]

Dear GNU,
I am trying to be flybynight programmer you might say, just to do one thing:
to reboot knoppix6.2 Linux from the dvd disc, and have with it a new root username and password, so we can set up our printer (driver). Or we would be just as happy with a single-user setup.  I tried using commands given to me by the friend who installed it in the first place, but it did not follow as he said.
Can you give some tips and a primer on commands for this prompt line. It says something like   root@knoppix:/# _ and the little underscore flashes.
Thank you,
ThomasGould