I signed up with Adelphia, A.K.A. Time Warner Cable for cable internet. For activation, it requires IE 5.5 or "better" and that I just point to http://www.adelphia.net/ and login.

I changed Konqueror browser identification to be recognized as IE, which allowed me access to the account creation page, but the page must not be compatible with this browser, because it did not work. Firefox, Opera not working.

IE should work on WINE (according to winehq.org), but I don't have IE, nor anyway to download it, transfer it to disk (school lab computers have most of this disabled). I own a student edition of XP, but for some reason it won't install. Is there some way to get IE off of this disk? They have file extensions like *.ex_ and they don't run in wine. Is it using some form of compression?

I had same problem with Comcast when I signed up using OS X.
Just gather your info up and have the mac address of your modem ready. Call them and tell them you can not run the install software.
They will probably just have you connect directly to your modem (No router between computer and modem), an point to an address they give you. I had to leave my browser at the address for and hour or two before the connection was activated.

This all allows them to manually configure your modem's mac into their system.

You may also see if they have instructions for Apple OS X systems. That may work also.

Good luck.

Where do I find this mac address, or whatever address that I should have ready? I am using GNOME.

MAC address is for the cable modem.
If you look on the box for or the modem itself you should find a bunch of numbers. One of these should be labeled "MAC".

When you hook your cable modem to their coax then their network reads your cable modem's MAC address.

If their network recognizes your MAC address (i.e. You have registered it with them by matching it to your account information.) then it will give you a connection to the network and allow you to surf.

Right now when you hook up your cable modem their network blocks your connection and prevents you from surfing until you register it.

The software for IE registers your modem automagically when you hook it up. It sends your MAC info and asks you for your account info and then sends it to their network through the connection. After this is complete it will allow you to surf outside their network and on the internet.

You can't run the software so you must call and they must manually enter your info.

Thank you! Thank you!