Modem problems
 

I'm totally new to this Linux stuff. Not impressed so far.

I'm still connecting to the internet using Windows XP OS as my Linux set up doesn't seem to want to use my modem. It is Ubuntu 2.6.15. My modem is a Conexant 56K. The device manager sees the modem, but when I go to networking and try to auto detect the modem, it is not seen, so it can't be activated. What do I do now, apart from bin Ubuntu and continue to use Windows?

The Conexant modems, if I understand it correctly, are a variation of a "Winmodem" or "Softmodem" -- a modem where the majority of processing is performed by the host CPU, rather than the device itself. Compared to the original "hardware" modems of the past, these are much cheaper to produce, but also require a valid device driver in the host operating system in order to function. Winmodems tend to have drivers only for Windows, softmodems are perhaps better supported by a variety of operating systems etc.

Don't be so quick to judge linux based on this. Nonstandard hardware is difficult to support, especially if the manufacturers won't release documentation to the linux community.

Offhand, I'd say that your chosen distro, Ubuntu, really is above-average in terms of properly identifying and automatically configuring hardware. It's also a pretty good distro for beginners, in my opinion.

There's an excellent source for Conexant drivers (and a nice set of guides, as well) for linux here: http://www.linuxant.com/drivers/

Remember: linux is a different animal from Windows. Sometimes it might take a bit of work to get things just right. Sometimes it may require more--such as purchasing hardware based on the HCL here at LQ, just to verify you won't have a non-working peripheral.

However, once you get things running, you just might find it to be a more stable and reliable desktop environment. Don't give up just yet.

Tried that
 

I downloaded an installer for the modem. Ran it in the terminal, it didn't do a great deal. Nothing changed, same as before. I put another modem in that I have. The CD doesn't have any Linux drivers on it, ubuntu doesn't recognise it as a modem, so that's no good.

Sorted
 

Found the right driver after running the installation program to identify kernel and modem type. I'm now connected but only at 14k.

I understand if you don't buy the premium driver that most of the modem drivers for the winmodems run half speed or less. The best for me has been to buy an external serial modem. You don't need to supply a driver and they setup pretty easy in most linux distros. If you are running a dual boot with windows you will need a driver for windows.

I went to linmodem.org (something like that) to solve my winmodem problems. I don't know if your chipset is supported but you could go there and download their tool to see and then send the log file of it to them. That's what I did when I had dial-up. Maybe someday hardware vendors will quit being Microsoft's b*tch.