I am having trouble with loading a modem driver. I have had some good advice that is over my head or at least I am missing a basic step that others assume that I know.
Maybe I can express my need in another manner that might be easier for you to answer:

The driver is now sitting on my desk top as a zip file. I had to bring it in on a zip drive from anther computer since I cannot access the internet with this one.

I have the following directions that came with the modem driver:

1. login in as root
2. extract the archieve into a directory with "tar -zxvf<archievename>.tgz
3. cd into the directory it created.
4. type make clean'
5. type: make 536
6. type make install
This will create a /dev/modem device file. This file is used as an interface to modem by all applications: minicom, kppd, efax, etc. Please configure the applications to use /dev/modem if necessary.


Okay. Here is my understanding of each step:
1. I know how to do this
2. How? Do I open something first? Extract it into a directory implies that I have a directory open or a program that is setting one up for me. Please, more detail here. This is the key step for me. Hold my hand through it, so to speak. Assume I am the newbie who is trying to learn linux speak. Thanks!

3. cd means change directory in my dos mind. True? If so, do I just type in the new directory name?
4. Ok
5. ok
6. ok

Is there a 7. like "exit"?
This is all done at this stage? I just go back to user and try it out?

Thanks,
Ron.

2.

youknow its just something that you have to learn and discover yourself. It would be just dam boring to teach someone this, though I understand that for someone who does'nt know this its dam hard to learn..

But I belive theres howtos/guides for beginners in the internet, just try searching with google for example. http://www.google.com/linux

Well, when I installed my drivers, I did the normal...

$./configure
$make
$make install

then I did

$rm -f /dev/modem

I'm pretty sure that command creates a symbolic link between your modem device in /dev/ and makes it so you can set up kppp or something just by saying your device is /dev/modem

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Messiah,
Wow, who would know that you were here!
Thanks for the info, I will try the $rm.....

The driver does have these particular instructions.
I have figured out #2 with the help of others in another forum. Of course that is what I had hoped for when I asked the questions.
The fellow before you seems to think that one should just surf the net, or make random commands on the screen and learn by trail and error.
Personally, I am putting the instructions for this driver together to share with other newbies in the future that need help with this driver.
I think that is why this form exists.
The then, who knows

BUt thanks to Messiah and others who keep me and others.\
Ron