Mint is a derivate from Ubuntu.
Somebody seems to have making it working under Ubuntu
http://www.brianzier.com/getting-the...work-on-ubuntu
So, install Mint and see if it works immediately. If not, make the advices of the thread above.
Perhaps the latest Mint version has the drivers inside!
In any case, can you please
a) start Mint live CD
b) put the USB to your PC and give the result of the command in a terminal "lsusb" ?