I was under the impression the kernel could load the modules it needed on demand. However, when I compile my kernel version 2.6.9 with my network card set as a module, the enternet does not work, but the enternet works correctly if the driver is compiled directly into the kernel. Basically, I thought the kernel used the modules like windows uses dll's. So, my question is: Do I have to manually load my needed modules, and if so how do I find out the modules name? This also directly leads to the question: How do I automate module loading? Thanks and I'm sorry if I soooooooo much a linux noob that you think I should just uninstall the OS.

Caveat: I know how to work with modules under FreeBSD, and I just have a theory on how it works under Linux.

Try adding it using the command. I think this may add it to the /etc/modprobe.conf file, but I could be wrong (and there is an easy way for you to verify that).

I know how to use the command modprobe, lsmod and rmmod. What I do not know how to do is find the module name. In this case, the device driver I need loaded is under "Device Drivers->Networking Support->Ehternet (10 or 100MBit)->Intel(R) PRO/100+ support." Now if I press "Y" and make this part of the kernel, my enternet works. If I press "M" and make this a module my enternet does not work. What do I need to do in order to make this work when I press "M"?

If you use make menuconfig
then go on Intel(R) Pro/100+ support and press '?'
In the description, it gives you the name of the module (e100)

Basically what you are saying is get a pen and pencil and write down the names of the modules.

Once you know which module you need to load ( & searching wwww.google.com/linux for your device name as listed by lspci and "module" is usually helpful), you can put the name of that module into /etc/modules and it will be loaded at boot time. Note that distros differ sometimes, so that filename/location may not be appropriate for you, but I'm sure you'll find your distro has something similar.