Q: my mac wont stop at single user it continues to root, how can i get to single user to enter info needed to reset password

Have you seen this help document?

Changing or resetting an account password

Are your sure that wasn't a Verbose boot (Cmd-V) you were trying? That would go on to a regular boot.

Try a PRAM Reset, then try the single user, Cmd-S, at the startup chime. For the PRAM Reset, hold down Option - Cmd - P - R all together until it chimes a total of three times, then let go to finish booting.