Horrible Fedora Core n00b issues. Networking + Devices.

As I mentioned in my title, I'm a huge n00b when it comes to Linux, and I was referred to Fedora Core 6 as a good 'newbie-friendly version' by a network admin friend of mine (Who mysteriously goes offline or silent when I ask her for help. Fie on her!)

At any rate..

I have FC6 installed on my Acer Aspire 3620 (Which I purchased entirely for its cheapness and portability for putting Fedora Core on, since my spare room full of old computers apparently wasn't good enough... ) which has built-in Wireless, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and 56k modem.

I can get online perfectly fine with the ethernet connection. Wireless, even with an unsecure wireless router a foot from it it can't find an active connection to connect to, because apparently it can't activate the wireless device, and I can't seem to find the firmware for it (It has a switch on the front of the laptop to toggle both Bluetooth and Wireless, two switches) and I've never tried the Bluetooth connection.

My biggest irritation at the moment, however, is right now I'm visiting family and can't even get the dialup connection to work.

The only thing that happens when I try to activate it in the Network Configuration window is I get an "error 2", but naturally it's impossible to figure out exactly what that error is when you don't know what you're looking for...

Anyhow, I suppose my issues are A) How do I locate the right firmware to run my wireless card? (I don't necessarily need someone to find it for me, just a better idea of where to look. I've been Googling to no avail) B) What might be wrong with the dialup that it only throws back an error?


Then the "+ Devices" bit is probably simple - Is there anywhere that I can easily look up everything mounted on the system? Not just what HD, but also what network hardware, DVD drive, etc., and what the mounting points are?


Thanks in advance guys.

 

best place to look would be on the linux forums, most distros have there own forums which are very active, and you wouldn't be alone with the wireless setup as many people on many different distros have wireless problems, so i'm sure you will find a fix on fedora forums

 

Aran if you have KDE then the app you seek to dialup is kppp.

I think the FC is pppd

Start here to search more

It takes a bit more of a curve to learn, but the results are much sweeter with Linux.