Very new to linux. just installed fedora core package and i cant set up internet connection because it cannot detect the modems that i tried. have an Aopen 56svv soft pci and usrobotics 3com. it finds them when it is first starting up and asks if i want to configure them or ignore . any help would be appreciated. even if the help is to tell me to get a different modem

To start with post the output of:

lspci -v

If you feel the support is not in the kernel, have you tried getting any drivers for either of these modems and loading them on boot up as kernel modules? -
if you're unsure about the exact chipset, check out scanmodem at:

www.linmodems.org

also - what exactly do you mean by:

"it cannot detect the modems that i tried"

and

"it finds them when it is first starting up"

at which exact point are you having problems?

it detects the modems in kernal mode. I dont know how to detect them or install drivers for them in gui mode. also you can respond to me as if i am a complete idiot because i have been using windows and dont know much about linux how do I post an Ispci -v

Not to worry, we're all new at some point...... for lspci -v, just open a terminal while in normal GUI mode, su to Root user then type

lspci -v

(l= small L)

and post the full results.

couldnt get the code to work from terminal but think this is what you wanted
PCI_bus
00:00.0 Host bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 735 Host (rev 01)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS 530 Virtual PCI-to-PCI bridge (AGP)
00:02.0 ISA bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 85C503/5513
00:02.2 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0 Controller (rev 07)
00:02.3 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0 Controller (rev 07)
00:02.5 IDE interface: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 5513 [IDE] (rev d0)
00:02.7 Multimedia audio controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] Sound Controller (rev a0)
00:03.0 Ethernet controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS900 10/100 Ethernet (rev 90)
00:0b.0 Communication controller: Conexant HSF 56k HSFi Modem (rev 01)
00:0d.0 Communication controller: 5610 56K FaxModem WinModem
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage 128 Pro Ultra TF
-------------------------------------

Modem candidates are at PCI_buses: 00:0b.0
00:0d.0
Providing detail for device at PCI_bus 00:0b.0
with Vendorevice PCI_IDs
----:----
00:0b.0 Class 0780: 14f1:2f00 (rev 01)
Subsystem: a0a0:0281
----:----
00:0b.0 Communication controller: Conexant HSF 56k HSFi Modem (rev 01)
Subsystem: AOPEN Inc.: Unknown device 0281
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 11
Memory at cffe0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]

p.s. whats with all the IBM comercials for Linux?

Ok... have you already downloaded any drivers from:

http://www.linuxant.com/drivers/

for the Conexant modem?

no I was/ am confused because i know its an Aopen modem is Conexant the same thing?

The Aopen modem will be using a Conexant chipset - if you want to definately confirm this check out scanmodem at:

www.linmodems.org

or if not, check out the linuxant site for a driver for that chipset.

my POST and F8 key are getting a work-out today

anywho thank you. for the help. i got myself a copy of the red hat linux bible to read so i get more used to linux.

Fedora and RedHat users may find out their exact kernel architecture (which is not always the same as "uname -m" output) with the following case-sensitive shell command:
rpm -q --qf '%{ARCH}\n' kernel
when i do that it says it athlon but when the computer is shuting down i see i686 which do i go by?

think i istalled the wrong driver. i cant figure out how to uninstall it so i can try the other one.