HP Laptop 7 years old; newly installed UBUNTU; just got hooked up by telephone company Monday; got online yesterday. Why Linux? I got tired of Billy's ever-increasing updates for XP Windows. Honestly, I couldn't take it anymore (like the guy shouting out the window).

Problem: Linux UBUNTU keeps asking for a password. Another person installed the Linux; he is out of town; I have introduced no passwords, but now with messages to download plug-ins, I need some kind of password, apparently. Also (related) How do I get to tools? Help!

That'll be your own user password, there is no other user password needed. Unless he's done something weird... are you logging into the system automatically without a password at present?

Tools what tools?

Here are easy instructions to reset if you don't know your Ubuntu password:

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/resetpassword