I have just recently got my puter up an running. I got some help with it on the modem, but now I can't seem to be able to get into the config file for it. How do I tell what file it is linked to if the permission starts with an "L". Then what kind of permission starts with a "C", I have several books and no where does it mention a "C". I am looking to turn off the sound on the modem so I don't hear all that squaking when it dials.

"How do I tell what file it is linked to if the permission starts with an "L" "

The command:
ls -l
will list your files. Any links are shown as link.name->target.file
Type in:
man ls
to get a semi comprehendable description of how ls works.

If you are using a GUI file manager then the file manager can be configured to display the target names beside the link names.

"Then what kind of permission starts with a "C" "

The first character of permissions is file type, not permissions.
C means the file is a character device.
L means that the file is a link.
D means that the file is a directory.
- means that the file is an ordinary file.
B means that the file is a block device.

and there are probably others that don't come immediately to mind.

"I am looking to turn off the sound on the modem so I don't hear all that squaking when it dials."

That is done in your modem initialization string. Find the Hayes commands that your software issues to the modem and change the speaker on/off control from M1 or M2 to M0 (speaker off). The modem command probably will contain an M1 or M2 to turn on the modem speaker and then later an M0 to turn it off after the connection is made. Simply change all Mx commands to M0. It may use Lx commands to set the speaker volume. Change all Lx commands to M0.

kppp or wvdial or whatever dialout software your are using will call the Hayes commands something like the modem initialization string.

Where do I find the Hayes commands? Every time I try to use /dev/modem or /dev/ttyS0 I get permission denied, amI doing something wrong?

"Where do I find the Hayes commands?"

If you are using wvdial the Hayes commands are in /etc/wvdial.conf.
Here are my modem initialization strings:
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2
Init3 = ATM0
I do not know where they are if you are using kppp. Here's some information on kppp:

http://www.linux.se/doc/HOWTO/PPP-HOWTO/tools.html

Here is an explanation of the Hayes commands:
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayes_AT_command_set

"Every time I try to use /dev/modem or /dev/ttyS0 I get permission denied, amI doing something wrong?"

The permissions for /dev/ttyS0 are probably set to where only root can use the modem. Log in as root and use the chmod command to set the permissions on /dev/ttyS0 to 777 which means that any user can use the modem. See: man chmod

/dev/modem is a link to /dev/ttyS0 so its permissions are automatically the same as /dev/ttyS0.