very basic about initial install

[reader at newsguy.com]

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.

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?