Password reset, help?

[xVermicide]

initially, i had my login set to require a password. i realized i didn't need this, and i set it to autologin without a password.
since this caused the prompt for the keyring password, i found it pointless. i read up a little on how to get rid of the keyring unlock prompt, but when i tried to solve the problem by going into settings>user accounts, and under login options i chose "login without password" or something the like.
this made no difference, the keyring prompt still comes up. only now when i try to install software or do anything that requires a password, i enter my password and it says "sorry that doesn't work. please try again." i'm 100% sure i'm typing my password in correctly.

i can't change my password back to what it was before either because it asks for my current password, which i enter into the text field, then when i type in any term into the new password field, the "change" button stays grayed out.
so i'm stuck being unable to install any software or do anything that requires authorization. including changing my password. i tried leaving the field blank, it doesn't work.
however i'm still able to unlock my keyring upon login. but other than that, my password doesn't work at all.
help, please?

[xenopeek]

The keyring has its own master password; you would have left that empty in the initial dialog to disable it asking you for the master password on each login.

You can change the password for your user account. However, you must not do this if you have an encrypted home folder! If you don't have an encrypted home folder, follow these steps to change your password: viewtopic.php?f=90&t=99771#p568234