i know nothing about computers. and i really need help. my friend tried installing ubuntu onto my computer because i told him i was getting tired of xp. we did and now i don't have internet. i use linksys. i'm not the main, i route it from downstairs. what should i do? thanks.

You have Linksys, you are not the main, you rout it from downstairs. I will assume (a dangerous endeavor) that Linksys refers to your network adapter. Is it a wireless adapter, or is there a network wire connecting your computer to 'downstairs'? Does your computer share another computer's Internet connection (ICS), or is your computer connected to a router (LAN)? Is your Internet service broadband or dial-up? If it is broadband, which type (Cable or ADSL)? If you can answer these questions, one of us may be able to try to help. Ernie Registered Linux User 247790 ICQ 41060744

"my friend tried" Get a new friend. You or your new friend are going to have to understand how the old system connected and IF ubuntu supports it configure it exactly (or an equiv) so that the linux OS will connect. Notice I said IF. Not all linux installs will support all XP installations. Consider using a LIVE cd/dvd next time to test stuff out. Consider using the system restore XP disks. I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you goober.

Ubuntu, while very popular, is not the best choice for someone who "knows nothing about computers" & presumably nothing about Linux. Obviously your "friend" doesn't know a heck of a lot more than you do. Assuming you formatted the HDD & completely wiped out XP, you have several options: 1. struggle with your current install of Ubuntu & maybe you'll figure it out. 2. reformat & reinstall XP. Then run Ubuntu (or a different Linux distro) as a LiveCD til you get the hang of it. 3. reformat & partition your hard drive so that you can create a dual boot setup with XP on one partition & Linux on a different partition. 4. reformat & try a different distro such as SimplyMepis 6.5 or PCLinuxOS 2007.

it's wireless. it's a router (LAN). cable. my friend doesn't know much but he did it on his and did all that terminal stuff has linux and whatnot, but he didn't know what to do when i had no internet connection because his worked fine when he did his. oh and i'm sticking to ubuntu. i want to learn to figure this out. thanks in advance.

Good for you, Malcolm_m016 (I'll call you Malcolm if that does not offend)! Doing things the hard way often leads to greater knowledge and understanding. Since you use a Cable Internet connection, and you are trying to connect more than one computer to the Internet (no ICS), I will make the following presumptions (please correct me if I am wrong): You have a router with a wireless end point connected to a cable modem. The family (main) computer uses Windows and connects successfully to the Internet. Now for a few more questions, first about your computer: Is the computer a laptop or desktop system? If the computer is a laptop, is the wireless adapter built in (internal) or does it plug into a pcmcia slot (usually located in the side of the laptop)? What is the brand name and model number of the wireless adapter? ... then about the router: Is the wireless end point in the router configured to use WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) or WPA (WiFi Protected Access)? These security protocols can be implemented in several ways. Please include the full name given to the one selected on your router. Some commonly used identifiers include 'WEP open system', 'WEP shared key', 'WPA-PSK', or 'WPA(802.1x)'. If you are interested, Wikipedia has information on the subject of WPA. HTH, Ernie Registered Linux User 247790 ICQ 41060744

" i want to learn to figure this out." Good for you! Keep asking here on a new post on how far you get. I'd bet we could get close to helping you get it working. We may have to bypass some stuff while testing to get you connected to start. Then we may be able to add in stuff later. I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you goober.