I am new to Linux and its distros.
I have acer notebook with vista in 64 bit. Earlier I installed ubuntu x64 along side and I was automatically able to connect to internet through netgear router I had set up for vista. Seeing Mandriva linux x64 I installed (ONE) it over Ubuntu. Now it does not connect to internet. It becomes very difficult for me to go online to get help from Mandriva and it is more difficult to get back to vista OS every time for the sake of internet connection and reading help outs on forums.
Kindly answer my questions: (1) Will reinstalling Mandriva 2009 over the existing OS correct the problem. (2) If not, will installing Mandriva 2008 over the existing OS solve the issue. (3) Is there any other easy (one-stop-solution) way – since I am very ignorant and newbie linux – to get internet access. I have no knowledge to understand technical solutions, therefore, advise me in easy layman terms.
I had downloaded “madwifi-0.9.4.tar” as advised on the forum, but I do not know how to install it on Mandriva.
Thanks in advance.

You can configure your Internet connection in the Mandriva Control Center (MCC). Open MCC (Tools > System Tools > Configure your computer in the menu system)

Select Network & Internet in the navigation list (left)

In the Manage your Network Devices section, open the Set up a new Network interface icon in the main pane (right)

From this point it is a simple matter of making the proper selections (follow the on screen prompts) to configure your Internet connection.

Note: New Wireless Network Adapters may not be natively supported in Linux (because the manufacturers do not provide the required information to the linux development community). If you connect using a wireless Network adapter, and your card is not yet natively supported, you may need your Windows driver for the device (Mandriva will attempt to configure it using a facility called ndiswrapper).

HTH,

thanks to ernie for this prompt response. shall follow your directions and see my luck. thanks again.