Can't connect to internet

[ChrisGraves]

After being fed up of all the problems I have had with Windows, I have just installed Mandrake Linux and everything seems OK apart from the fact that I can't connect to the internet. I presume it's because I have not got the relevant driver (or have not configured it if it's there)

My machine was previously running Windows and all the disks I have are for Windows.

I have looked in my manual and it says I have a K8NBP GRAND (I think that's the motherboard, you'll see that I don't really know a lot!!) The manual also says Gigabit Ethernet LAN : NVIDIA Gigabit MAC + VITESSE Gigabit PHY - Supports 10/100/1000Base- T Ethernet/Fast Ethernet/Gigabit Ethernet.

When I was running Windows I just had a network cable running out of the back of the PC connected to one of the LAN sockets on my router.

I am currently having to use my wife's laptop (which runs on yet another OS but at least it connects to the internet or I'd be really stuffed).

I hope someone can point me in the right direction so that I can sort my PC out and regain my independence.

Thanks

[elija]

If it is Mandrake then that is very, very, very old. You would be better off using your wife's laptop to download and burn a more modern OS. Mandriva is what Mandrake became but I have never used it so I can't comment on how good or otherwise it is.

[jayd512]

Hello and Welcome!

Right up front, did you install Mandrake or Mandriva?
I'm only asking because Mandrake actually turned into Mandriva back in '05.

Either way, if you can open a terminal window, we'll be able to look into a few things. BTW, a terminal is basically the same thing as a Windows command prompt... should be somewhere in an Application menu.
Open it up, and type the following commands:

uname -a
lspci -v
ifconfig -a

After each command, get the output from them. Post them back here.
They will be lengthy, so you might want to try to save them to a USB stick if possible, and transfer them over to your working computer.

[ChrisGraves]

Yes it is definitely Mandrake and it was on a set of very old disks that were lurking in my drawer. I was so brassed off with the Widows OS plus the virus that was on it wouldn't let me go online to get an up to date version of Linux so I used what I had.

Sounds like good advice to use my wife's machine to get an up to date Linux OS in the meantime I'll open a terminal and type in the suggested commands and see what I get.

I'm away for a couple of weeks from Friday so it may not be until I get back that I do anything further.

Thanks for the prompt replies

[jayd512]

While you're looking into all the other details, and depending on your personal Linux knowledge, you might wanna give a look at a Linux Quiz to help you pick out a distro that may be right for you.

[MASONTX]

If you are new to linux, I would suggest going to distrowatch.com and downloading Ubuntu, Mint, or Ultimate. Ultimate is ubuntu with a bunch of extra drivers and progams already included, and mint is a branch of ubuntu which a lot of people swear by. Incidentally ubuntu is the #1 download and mint the #2 at distrowatch. Have fun and don't be afraid to burn some cd-rw discs to try as live cd's. Explore the different linux branches and different desktops to see what you like best.