local host login - not working

If resetting the root password is not working, the first thing I recommend is to make sure you're using the correct username. To login using the root password, you'll need to make sure that the username is root. By default, this is the only account on a Linux system, so unless you've created others it is the only username that will work.

If you're using the correct username, and it's still not working, you can try following the instructions in this post from our Community Questions site to reset the root password manually:

• https://www.linode.com/community/questions/19470/the-root-password-reset-option-doesnt-work-for-my-linode-how-can-i-reset-my-root

If none of the above options work, you may need to rebuild your Linode in order to regain access. If you have a backup, you can then restore it to avoid data loss.

Also when my instance is powered down am I still paying for it.

It's important to note that we bill for services that are on your account, whether they're powered down or inactive. This is because we are maintaining your data and reserving resources for that Linode while it remains on your account. As soon as it is removed, the Linode will stop generating charges. If you'd like to learn more about our billing policies, I provided a few guides below:

• Is linodes prepaid or postpaid? | Linode Questions
• Understanding How Billing Works on the Linode Platform | Linode Docs

At the moment I am very unimpressed

We're always looking for ways to improve our platform. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to submit your feedback here. The feedback provided is invaluable to us and we want to ensure your voice is heard.