Apologies in advance for typos- I'm using a laptop keyboard and I'm really not used to it at all.

I just bought a laptop, so the first order of business was to set up wifi in the house so I could use it. Now, the laptop is running Vista, and it's not the problem- the wireless works fine. However, when the internet to the PC is hooked up through the router I can't connect. The PC is on a wired connection, not a wireless one. This is on a dualboot Windows XP/Kubuntu Gutsy machine, and it's only the linux OS that has a problem. I've never done networking before, so I have no idea what I might have done wrong, or even where to start fixing it.

I configured the router on XP, and it works there, just not on Kubuntu. There is a password on the router- is there somewhere in Kubuntu that I need to input that to give it access? Should I just remove the password?

Also, possibly related, the other thing that I have hooked up through the router, a Vonage box, doesn't get an internet signal at all, but I don't expect help for that here, I just thought it might help in solving the problem.

OS: Kubuntu 7.10, Gutsy Gibbon
Router: Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router

If there's any additional information needed, and I'm sure there is, because there always is, and I haven't given much, please do let me know and I will very happily get it for you. I'd supply more, but I just don't know what's needed.

Thank you very much in advance- any help at all in solving this is greatly appreciated.

I'm wonder if you can clarify your failure. It sounds like the wireless laptop stops working when you plug your desktop PC into your router. Is that correct?

Or is it just the linux system that will not work?

While you are at it, on your linux system, open a konsole and run the command '/sbin/ifconfig' ( without the quotes, and post the results. That will show if your interface is active, and if you have got an IP address.

Post back and we'll go from there.

It was just the linux system. As seems to happen with a lot of my computer troubles, it seems to have fixed itself. I got everything except for it not working on Kubuntu straightened out, and suddenly it works like there was never a problem in the first place. I'm baffled, but certainly not complaining.

O.K. , now that it is working, spend a little time, run the command /sbin/ifconfig in a terminal and see what you have got. If it is working, it will display your current IP address. When it fails, this is a first step to determine if you have an IP or not.

I would also recommend you learn how to run the ping command. This allows you to find out how far you have connectivity. If the problem of not talking to the internet happens again, you may or may not be able to talk to your router, your ISP etc. By using ping, you can find out how far you can go.

Also find out what module talks to your ethernet card. In linux they are modules, that load into the kernel. In windoze they are called drivers. From a terminal run the command 'lsmod grep | eth0 and see what is listed. If you get nothing, then try 'lsmod' That will list every loaded module. Then you can look through the list. Look for something to do with ethernet.

These are basic networking things you should know about your system. This can be done on any distro. It is easier to learn when it isn't broken. The more you know the better off you will be.