Ok. I finally made the full (ALMOST) move into the Linux world. I just can't get muy darned cable to work. I'm just installed Mandrake 9.1. I'm using a Dell Dimension 4300. Its partitioned with Windows. Windows reconizes the cable. I do NOT have a ethernet (I realize that that would solve everything but as a 15 year old that is way too hard for me to even attempt), and i connect to my computer from the USB port with my RCA 235. I've tried to do the regular install from root with the GUI in the Internet Wizard. I can't find a correct driver though. I searched for hardware and it came up with it, but I noticed Mandrake doesn't reconise it as a modem although it does see it. I'm just really lost. I can

**Things I have tried***
1. Using Mandrake internet Wizard
2. Contacting my ISP for support
3. Contacting my modem maker for support (Not much help when the person doesn't know what Linux is..)
4. Begging my parents for a couple hundred to order an ethernet.
5. Google.
6. Linux for Dummies.

I ran a search in the forums for stuff like this and i heard a couple things about a terminal session under root and doing the ifconfig command.

Thanks for at least reading what I had to say guys.
And i hope I get linux-literate soon.

Hi --

I'm not familiar with either Mandrake or USB cable modems, but I can make a couple of suggestions. The site with all the Linux USB info is www.linux-usb.org which unfortunately does not list the RCA 235, although it has some other cable modems. Not a real good sign. What do you mean when you say Mandrake 'sees it'?

Do you know how to open a terminal window and run programs from the command line? If not maybe start with a good beginner guide e.g.

http://espc22.murdoch.edu.au/~stewart/guide/guide.html

Then you can do some useful things. e.g. command 'lsmod' lists all the driver modules linux has loaded. You could see if there is any sign of your modem there.

Assuming you can somehow install a driver for the modem (this looks like the hard part) you may be able to configure it from the command line using the 'ifconfig' command. In fact typing 'ifconfig' on its own will list your network interfaces. I suppose any USB network connection would show up there.