I use Ubuntu 10.4,

Do you have internet through your ethernet connection?

Have you updated your kernel, gcc. so that all are sync'd to the same kernel?

System > Administration> Update Manager, and update all...

If you have Internet, and you are updated via update manager, do the following:

1. Turn off computer, plug in Ethernet cable, make sure it is plugged into your computer and firmly connected to your modem / router.

2. Reboot the computer, log in.

3. NOW - if it finds the connection, then it should work, if it does not find the connection, then you need to do the following:

a. systems > Administrative> Update Manager, update, then reboot.

b.Systems > Administrative> Hardware. See if you need to activate or install any drivers. do what it tells you.

c. Reboot, ensure your Wifi switch is on, and you should be able to find your router... or USB device.

d. if you cant find your USB wifi device, do the following:

d1. Applications > Get software> type USB Wifi, and allow it to search using your ethernet connection to find drivers or software that will work with your USB device. You may have to go to the device website and see if they offer the drivers for linux as well. It is possible that it may not work, as most wifi drivers are proprietary, and companies arn't giving out the drivers.

d2. In Windows XP,using the USB Wifi, google linux and Telstra Bigpond wifi device driver :

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffiles.bigpond.com%2F&ei=lKkITOyFJYvaNaiYzLUE&usg=AFQjCNFA6-xll85Mwbu9zY4SSZzslfeBcg

None of the above worked for me. I can't get updates if I can't connect to the web or can I? The dongle is a Bigpond Turbo USB MF633BP. There is nothing on the Bigpond website I can find that helps with internet connection for linux. I have the disc for Ubuntu 9.10. Should I go to that OS? Would it be any easier to get connected? Don't forget, I am a newbie to Linux and I know nothing about computers, I only use the programmes as they are.

Thanks for that Ian. It certainly looks like what I need. It is a pity someone hasn't put this together as a downloadable update for mugs like me. It looksa bit involved for my capabilities but will give it a shot. If I stuff it up it doesn't matter as I have not started to use the linux computer yet and so don't have anything to lose. As a last resort, I know a bloke who has the skills to be able to do all the inputs, so if I stuff up, I might be able to con him to fix it up.