What happens after I install a package in SimplyMEPIS 3.3?
 

I just installed MEPIS on my PC (and love it!), but because my PC has an Intel 865G graphics card and an Alcatel SpeedTouch USB modem, it requires extra drivers to change resolution and get online. I obtained those drivers, sucessfully converted them from .tar.gz to .deb using alien (which I was very proud of, it was the first time i've ever used the shell!) and installed them using KPackage.

Neither seem to have done anything. Do I need to do something else to the packages after installing them in order to use the drivers/software?

extract the tgz file.. 'cd' into that folder and look for a 'readme' or 'install' file. read them both. they will tell you how to setup/configure the program. if need be, uninstall the .deb one u made and installed, and start over by installing it by 'source'.

edit: did you reboot when you installed the drivers?