I'm trying to load drivers from .tar.bz2 file. I got the .tar opened and extracted to directory ABC. When I try to CD to that directory, I get a message the directory does not exist even tho' I'm looking right at it and the ls command shows it. Did I miss something. The full path is user/downloads.ABC.
When I try to run the next command $tar -xvzf DPB_RT2870_Linux_STA_x.x.x.x.tgz I get a message Ubuntu 10.04 cannot find -xvzf.
When I try to run the Makefile command locate in the same ABC directory, I again the error message cannot find Makefile.
This is my first attempt to load a tarball so all help is appreciated.

Can you copy and paste here the command you are sending and its output? Don't retype, copy and paste.

Well firstly rt2870sta kernel modules built into the 2.6.30+ kernel. Why are you trying to build them?

So that point aside, you say you untar a tar.bz2 which creates "ABC" a directory - and "ls" reveals it is created; then you try and CD ["cd" should not be capitalized case is relative to linux] to that directory - then 'The full path is user/downloads.ABC' [I am guessing the full path is actually /home/user/Downloads/ABC - again, case is relative the "Downloads" directory is usually capitalized in most distros and you use a period instead of a forward slash] to get to a second tarball this one is gzipped. It doesn't sound like you got to the second tarball. I am guessing you are following a recipe from somewhere and you haven't quite got there yet to get to the point of compiling.

Also, "Makefile" isn't a command "make" is and if you aren't in the correct directory where the "Makefile" resides which contains the instructions to "make" a binary - it will of course not know what to do.

I would recommend you read up on the basics first ( http://www.rivetserv.net/ or tldp.org ) before you attempt to build something as complicated as a kernel module and that you check if you even NEED to build a kernel module (once your wireless USB device is plugged in first run "lsmod" to see if it has inserted the rt2870sta module then run "dmesg | tail" to see if the kernel has recognized the hardware on that link I posted earlier there is a quick rundown on how to troubleshoot wireless on the second page).

If you are trying to use a patched version of the module from somewhere for some enhanced use make sure that it is compatible with the kernel first. Problems with the rt2870sta modules are usually related to the firmware not being available not the module not being inserted.

I'm on a different computer, so I'll get the command AlucardZero requested later. I have a usb wireless-n adapter that had been working. When I had to reinstall Windows on a dual boot system, I had to redo Ubuntu as well. Now the wireless won't connect. I thought that by installing the driver directly from the disc that came with the adapter.I'd have better luck getting the adapter to work. And now you know the rest of the story.

you can use the command "file your_file" to get the real type of the file
sometimes the .tgz maybe a tarball only
and an unpacked tar maybe a file,but at first you must ensure the tar and gzip are installed