I've just installed Linux for my first time on an older computer of mine (a no-name P3-450) and have not been successful in getting the system to recognize my Netgear WG311T network card. No card is shown under System Settings/Network.

I've tried to add a new card (by clicking new, Wireless Connection). The only option that shows there is "Other Wireless Card." When I select that an option for my card does not appear in the "Adapter" dropdown -- I do not see any Netgear or Atheros (the chipset manufacturer) cards listed at all. I do not see a "have disk" type option to point the system at a 3rd part driver, and am not sure what driver to point them at anyway if I did. In my searches for an answer I did learn of something called ndiswrapper but could not find a set of installation/usage instructions I could understand (remember I'm a complete Linux newbie).

I have tried various Google searches to try to find an answer to my problem, but so far have not been successful in finding one. To sum up, my question is this: What are the steps I need to follow to get my system to recognize and talk to the network card?

Second, and most important: What resources (besides this site) would you recommend to help someone totally new to Linux become reasonably competent at administering a home Linux box? I'm really looking for a ground-up explanation in any form (web, book, whatever) that will get me to at least a basic competence level in configuring my Linux box.

Thanks,
Terry

did you try the instructions posted in the hcl section of this website?

LinuxQuestions/HCL

Thanks for the link. I did not find that page in my travels but it looks like exactly what I need.

I'll post back this evening (when I get home and try this) and let you know how I made out.

Thank you!

-Terry