OK, here's what I did per some instructions I was following to install my Knoppix to a blank hd:

opened a shell
pressed ctrl-alt-F3 to bring me to another instance of Linux
In that instance, I typed,
su
passwd
and then I set the password.

I then pressed ctrl-alt-F5 (F6?, can't remember) which returned me to the instance running the window program.

In that window, I typed
su
and then I was supposed to enter the root password I had just set but no option came up where I could enter the password unseen. Instead, the error returned was 'unable to recognize command [my password] or something close to that effect.
At any rate, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Thanks in advance for any help! Also, thanks for the previous answer as well.