I've downloaded and burnt to DVD pclinuxos64-MATE-2017.70.iso. When running it as a livecd I have been disappointed to find that it cannot access the internet. Firefox starts normally, but when I try to search for anything it gives the message "Server not found".

I did not have this problem in the past when using a PuppyLinux livecd, and other livecds, when they connected to the internet automatically without any problems.

My computer connects to the internet via an ethernet cable, modem (not wireless), and the telephone line. As far as I can tell PCLinuxOS is aware of the ethernet part, but the lights on the modem stay constant and do not blink as they usually do, so maybe it is not logging on to the telephone line or whatever they do.

The modem is a Smartax mt882, quite old but works fine, I am using it now.

How can I get internet access please? What do I need to do?

Another disappointment is that it did not recognise my printer, an HP Deskjet 930c. It just tried to print a test document to a generic printer, and nothing happened. Maybe it would work ok if I had internet access.

The PCLinuxOS forum has a registration system that will probably take several days, so please excuse me from posting this request for help here.

I was intending to change to PCLinuxOS as my everyday operating system, but if the hardware I have is not supported, then I will choose something else. I thought one of the selling points of Linux was that it supported older hardware, so that you did not have to get a completely new computer system as more recent version of MS Windows necessitate.

Thanks.

Edit: I tried an old liveCD I had of Ubuntu 16.04.1, and it worked beautifully. It got on the internet automatically, it automatically found the correct resolution for my display, and it automatically identified my old printer model correctly and printed a test document straight off. The only drawback is the outrageous disregard for privacy, where it sends your disk searches to Amazon and others so that they can send you personalised adverts. From what I had read on the web, this was promised to be fixed in version 16.04, but it obviously is not.

I am marking this thread as solved as the solution is to use another linux distribution rather than PClinuxOS, and save yourself hours of linux headaches when you try to get the thing to work.

Thank you for highlighting the very best of PCLinux OS. It is sure a very good experience that wouldn't come easy for everyone. From the core ground up PC Linux OS is sure a versatile one i reckon. But if you cannot get on the net and print with that printer is plainly the beautiful thing about linux in general. For me i would probably get the info of that particular hardware from dual booting it with WinXP to get the Lan Chip name T100/1000 then download the code from linux org and unzip it inside PC linux os. Same goes to your printer chip. Get the codes download it and unzip install to pc linux os. I don't guarantee it will work but you've tried at least. If it is not that... try going to hop other interesting distro antiX pepermint and the likes
I wish all the best and good luck