I switched from debian to mandrake today and was pleasantly surprised how wonderful and easy it is to get to know linux this way. I have a dell inspiron 5100 laptop and it has an internal modem and wireless card and other cable connection too. I would love to configure the modem and wireless card.
The modem is a pctel 2304wt v.9x mdc intel... So I looked it up on google and downloaded something that started with pctel and had lots of numbers at the end. I think that is the kernel number version or something. Anyway, I rebooted in linux and extracted the file but I really don't understand in the faintest how to run this magic file. I am also wondering how I can get my internal wireless working, but that isn't a huge priority yet.
any help is appreciated

ip

This little venture can be simple or can be a nightmare, I suggest you visit linmodems at this site http://www.linmodems.org/ and read up, but better yet hit the colored link on this page called archives to see discussions on many instances of modem troubleshooting, I've seen many pctel discussions there, but the best thing this site will tell you is to download scanModem from here http://linmodems.technion.ac.il/first.html which will scan your system & tell you what ppp related modules need to be unpacked, what modem package you need, where to get it, steps required to install, how to install, how to test & if you still can't get it to work you'll be able to attach one of the reports this scanModem puts out to an e-mail for discussions and people will help you ( experts ).
PS: the reports this scanModem puts out after running it will be in a folder called Modem in the directory that the scanModem utility resides in.

Well for me it is turning to a nightmare I guess. I followed the instructions with the pctel download. There was a problem because I didn't have gcc. So I downloaded gcc. I tried to install it but I discovered that I have no idea how to do this. I liked the pctel thing b/c it was more cookbook and I could follow it. Is'n't there an option to just double click on an install icon that will make everything easy for us? anyone know how to (in newbie detail) install gcc, or any program for that matter?

ip

Well for me & my Intel 537ep modem...it was such a nightmare that after two weeks day in/day out I eventually did what most will recommend and hooked up a serial modem I had, I still try once & a while to get the internal Intel 537ep going but hasn't happened yet. And no there is no Windows type quick fix in a Linux system unless you have an install CD that came with your modem that can compile Linux drivers.
But you should check the archives @ linmodems because like I've mentioned your setup is not rare based on the articles I've read there & you'll get an idea as to whether you want to pursue it or not.
As for installing gcc from console as root type # urpmi gcc-3.4.1-4mdk.i586.rpm which is the gcc that came with Mandrake 10.1 official, and it will tell you what dependencies need to be install also then prompt you to put the CD in the drive and it will install. Or you can issue the urpmi command from within the directory that your download version resides.