I'm super new to Linux from Windows xp. I just installed Debian/GNU and now I just want to have a web browser in Linux as i did in windows. Don't forget my level of experience is ultra minimal. I don't know how to go about this, but I DO notice that my cablemodem that I connect with is working when I'm in Linux. I just don't know how to do what it takes so I can eventually just type the address and make it go there. I apologize for the simplicity of the question. I use cox as my cable modem provider.

first open a terminal (command prompt)
type: ping www.google.com
that will tell you if it is working, if not type: ifconfig (as root) and post output here
if it did work you can use mozilla, mozilla and galeon are most common and arguably best browsers, if you cannot find it on a menu type: mozilla in a terminal while in x-windows.
if all else fails you can use lynx in a command prompt and download a mozilla package somewhere (lynx is text based web browser.)

First of all I'd like to thank you for your help. It's people like you that make me not so queezy about switching to Linux.
the 'ping www.google.com' did not work so here is the IFConfig info:

lo Link encap: Local Loopback
inet addr: 127.0.0.1 mask: 255.0.0.0
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU: 3924
metric: 1
Rx packets: 24 errors: 0 dropped: 0 overruns: 0 frames:0
Tx packets: 24 errors: 0 dropped: 0 overruns: 0
carrier: 0
collisions: 0
txquelen: 0
Rx bytes: 1616 (1.5 KiB)
Tx bytes: 1616 (1.5 KiB)


What's the news? any help is so very appreciated. I would love to ditch Windows altogether. Thanks!!!!!

ok next:
type:
dhcpcd -t 10 -d eth0
see if ti gives you an ip address, also try ping www.google.com again
if it works then let me know and I will try to give you a perminent fix

of that fails type:
dmesg | grep eth0
tell me if it gives you anything (if so then what?)

when I typed

dhcpcd -t 10 -d eth0

it says: command not found

what am i missing? Thanks for all your help.

when I type the other command it just goes back to the prompt on the next line with no message....

you need to be root (su - ) or just login as root
if it still does not work type:
/sbin/dhcpcd -t 10 -d eth0

I am logged in as root. and this leads to " command not found" . If it helps in /sbin I didn't see the dhcpcd command listed. all i saw was dhclient. Is it possible I don't have this command?

it is possible, not likely but if you do not have the command then that is most likely your problem, do a "dmesg | grep eth0" and tell me what (if anything) it sais

when i do what you say it just goes to a new prompt. when i type dmesg by itself it spits out alot of stuff. Am i screwed? Should I reinstall? What did I do wrong?

I'm not sure if your answer will be in here, but it can't hurt to read even if it isn't. I'm giving the URL of the chapter dealing with connecting to internet, but I'd suggest you read the entire thing since it's so... well, educational.



http://www.linux.org/lessons/beginne...lesson17b.html

-zsejk

That's where i started. There is no information about connecting with a cable modem. Look again.

Yes, I just realized that myself... I was gonna edit my post to suggest you ignore my post.



-zsejk

ok, your network card (unless it is a 3com) does not identify on boot, I would recompile the kernel, but a debian guy might be able to give you anopther way. I can't

I second that, and will also refrain from making any suggestions from now on, since I really don't know anything about Debian (and my apologies for butting in). Some last gasps from yours truly: what happens when you type "ifconfig eth0"? Or "ifconfig eth0 up"?

Good luck in any case!!!



-zsejk