So this is what I've done..........
I log in as root and typed init 5 and it just gives a new prompt. It doesn't seem to have done anything.

Typing init 2 gives the following - switching to run level: 2
root@compaq: stopping the K display manager: kdm
stopping X display manager: xdm not running (/var/run/xdm.pid not found).

Typing su at the prompt just gives a new prompt.

I am going to boot with the cd and see if I can follow what you said and do some editing. I will try that before I do the one that I cannot break. This will make me learn the hard way. This is a totally new environment for me so it will be painfully slow. I was married to microsoft but I am working on a divorce/separation.

For the install I followed this guide - http://www.linfo.org/knoppixinstall.html