Newbie, no wlan, no chars in open office,no usb modem recognition..HELP pls
 

Hello Linux friends,
I would appreciate a bit of help. Here is my short story. I have a Sony Vaio VGN-FS215 and I decided that it is time to get into Linux world for good (in my previous laptop I have Mandriva 2005, but never used it much). So I get again Mandriva 2005 and try to install it... no luck AT ALL. I tried Mepis. It worked just about OK. I had Wlan recognized (I did not need to put any kind of configuration). I had no sound, greek fonts were awful, update could not take place cause not all of the packages were installed properly, and in openoffice could not see my language displayed when I was typing (more on these later).
Also in Mepis when I pluged a simple USB modem it would recognize it at first but then it would crash...(short of, could not kill or do anything).
I tried Ubuntu, but ...never mind... I also tried Mandriva 2006 RC1... the big problem was the ipw configuration which is still keep looping when you're trying to configure your Wlan.
Knoppix did not work at all, as far as Gentoo is concerned it gets to complicated for a Linux newbie, who wants something to start and learn from it...
I download DVD SuSe 9.3 but unfortunately the checksum was WRONG!!!! I was downloagin for 2 days.. Now, I decided to give it another chance and have donwload 10.0 RC1(5cds). I know it is not the finally version but it looks fine...
Ok, here are my problems:
1. Wlan is not working (although my card is recognized and set up correctly(?))-Note: I have access to an open Wlan, no static IP, or specific servers etc
2. I plug in a usb modem, I go to Yast2 and search for modems but, moded is not recognized (maybe it is the brand(?))
3. I have added another keyboard layout (Greek) and set switching options to ctr+shift. Unfortunately when I press these buttons to change keyboard layout, simple does not work (i tried other combinations as well)
4. When I change language in OpenOffice (from english to greek) and type no character upears on the screen-(although the cursor is moving, as if typing ok-Note:if I go to the place where fonts are displayed and type in Greek I can see the character beeing displayed -in that field only)

Although, I have windows install (it is dual boot) I really want to work with/on Linux. My biggest problem is not having access to the Internet...u see I need it for my work... Furthermore, which time you answer I will have to switch between the two, to see a possible solution.

I would really appreciate it VERY VERY much if you have any suggestions

1. Wlan is not working (although my card is recognized and set up correctly(?))-Note: I have access to an open Wlan, no static IP, or specific servers etc
Use Kwifimanager to configure ..yast should also be able to configure the wlan device

2. I plug in a usb modem, I go to Yast2 and search for modems but, moded is not recognized (maybe it is the brand(?))
google if its supported..or for other users who hav tried various options...
is USB enabled in kernel? is usbcore in kernel ??? ( try $lsmod | grep -i usb ...& it should show usbcore)

3. I have added another keyboard layout (Greek) and set switching options to ctr+shift. Unfortunately when I press these buttons to change keyboard layout, simple does not work (i tried other combinations as well)
Not sure how u do in conlose mode....
but in KDE...Control Center> regional & accesiblity> keyboard layout

4. When I change language in OpenOffice (from english to greek) and type no character upears on the screen-(although the cursor is moving, as if typing ok-Note:if I go to the place where fonts are displayed and type in Greek I can see the character beeing displayed -in that field only)
Maybe you have to use solution 3...& also...Control Center> regional & accesiblity>Country/region & language ??