Resolved.  It was combination of PHP misconfiguration and perhaps a file corruption.  Once Host provider server admin "edited the php.ini file turning register_globals and magic_quotes_gpc off and a reload and reinstall of abantecart was done my problem was resolved.

Did new fresh install of Abantecart using Softaculous    method and also FTP install method.  The Abantecart Administration log in page does not give option to enter user name (the presumed area for doing so appears as a small unable to enter text square).  The second text area does allow text to be entered.  Unfortunately the login effort only results in "No match for Username and/or Password."

Attached is screen capture of the administration log in.

My in ignorance guess is perhaps PHP config  (Data Handling register_globals -on, should be off) and perhaps PHP being older version 4.0.10.7.  If so, that fix requires me contacting contact the Hosting Server admin to correct this.  It may also be a glitch in the code to, so any corrective fix ideas would be helpful.