[Inkscape-user] Inkscape can be extremely frustrating

All I want to do to begin with is draw a simple Line Circle. (white background with white inside the circle). But instead it draws a dashed-rectangle with (4) little squares. Two squares are on the rectangle and the other two are outside. So, I go into: Edit, Preferences and the Circle it not even listed under Shapes! Crazy. Does anybody know what I should do? Thank you. Ken