Confused about linux.
 

Hi, I'm not sure that all of this should be in the distribution section but here goes... I've just switched from windows vista to linux ubuntu because I cannot stand windows anymore. I have a dell inspiron 17 laptop and it was filled with virus', my only option was to format it and someone recommended I switch my OS as well, they suggested linux. I panicked because an examiner is coming into college at the end of May and I have tons of work to do which is why it is essential I have my laptop. So, without doing as much research as I probably should have done I dived in and installed ubuntu, now I don't have a clue what to do! My first hurdle is the internet. I'm trying to connect to wireless internet (I have a livebox from orange). I've been on the help section and it says:
1. Ensure that your wireless device is turned on. (it definitely is as I am on here)
2. Click the network manager icon (done that)
3. under wireless networks click on the network you want to connect to.

This is where my problem is, I'm going on wireless networks and there is nothing there! I've tried clicking add but I don't know what SSID, BSSID, MAC address or MTU is!! I thought this was supposed to be f****** simple! I actually read on the website before I installed it that my granny is supposed to be able to use this! Can somebody please help me and speak in simple terms because I epically failed in ICT at school so no terminology or anything.

Someone told me something like I have to do a LAN connection and install drivers? I am currently using my mums PC and this has the software installed for the livebox, when I first got my laptop I spent the entire day trying to install stuff so I could connect and none of it worked, then I realised that my laptop has WiFi and I simply selected my wireless device, entered the WEP key and I was connected. So shouldn't it be the same with this? Or will I need to install drivers? (I don't even know what a driver is! :S)

Or maybe someone can just suggest a better, simpler and easier version of linux for me to download?? All I use my laptop for is: listening to music, downloading and watching films, web browsing and college work. So I dunno if it'll just be easier for me to download a different version??

kamon;

Welcome to LQ!!

We're going to need more data but fewer words...

First, you say your wireless device is definitely on because you are on here----that implies that you are already connected??
Regardless, we need to determine if you have the driver for you wireless card.
Open a terminal and enter "sudo iwconfig". If all the devices say "no wireless extension", then you will need a driver. For that we need to know what your wireless card is. If you don't have it in your computer specs, you can get it by entering "lspci" in the terminal.

Are you saying that the laptop wireless worked on Windows, but does not now work on Linux?

I'm connected now because I'm on my mums PC, I went on the help section already and that told me to type something into terminal but everytime I do it asks for a password, I have the same password for EVERYTHIN and throughout all of the setup I have used the same password, but it keeps saying "sorry, try again" I've just tried typing what you told me to and it's saying the same thing. And yes it worked on windows but not on linux.

OK---we need to solve the password thing first.

First, I assume you can log in to the computer when you start up. To do that, you use your normal user password.

Second, the normal Ubuntu installation does not activate the root account. Therefore, administrative commands must be done with sudo. Please confirm that you have only one password.

In a terminal, please confirm that you can do these commands with no password required:
ls
cd <filename> (use any name that appears from the ls command)

Next, try "sudo fdisk -l" If should ask you for your password.

None of that makes sense to me.

Ok, Let's start from scratch:
1. When you start your computer, do you need to type a username and password on linux?
2. Once you've booted up Ubuntu, can you find a program called "terminal"? It should be somewhere in the menu.
3. Can you run the terminal program?

NONE of it!!!???

Can you not at least answer this question??:
Can you type "ls" in a terminal? (You said that you did the other command in a terminal......)

No, when I set up the password I selected the log-in automatically option and yeah I can get on terminal.

Good start!! Now please answer my questions!!

Do you have a password?

Can you type "ls" in the terminal?

Can you type "sudo fdisk -l" in the terminal?

PS:

Is it possible that you are not remembering your password correctly? Since you have it set to log in automatically, your can try CHANGING your password by entering "passwd" in the terminal.

right, i typed in ls and it said its not installed but a message came up about what to type to install it, so i typed that in and it asked for the password, now it won't let me type the password at all. It says:
[sudo] password for kamon:
And it doesn't matter what key I hit it won't type anything after that.
I typed the fdisk thing in and same thing is happening.

Right I've changed the password and its working now I think. I have to go out for half an hour its unavoidable please stay online if you can.

No worries -- we work 24x7x365 shift patterns with volunteers from around the globe :)

I am actually sitting here waiting for your next post!! But, please do not expect this kind of service every day.

Please post the actual terminal text when you attempt to type "ls". Use cut and paste. Here is a sample from my machine:

Time's up!!!
I'll check up on you when I get to work.