[newbie] modem question

[Richard J A]

Hi,   First off, I have absolutely no idea what I am doing.  I installed Mandrake 9.0, and it installed everything alright except I have no idea how to get my modem to work.  So until then, I am back on this awful Microcrap XP.  I would appreciate any help anyone could give me, and in as easy terms to understand as possible, because all of the help pages I have seem to talk in a language that is far above my head :0(   My modem is Conexant Softk56 PCI  so I gather I go here http://www.mbsi.ca/cnxtlindrv/hsf/downloads-mdk-x86.html  and download kernel version 2.4.19-16mdk (I gather) after that I have no idea what to do.  How do I install that?  I'm used to the simple and pleasurable clicking on an upgrade in windows and letting it self install, but when I clicked on this, it just asked me what to open it with, argh.   When I installed it, it would find that I had some other type of modem, Eth(something) and would show I had an LAN whatever.  I have no idea what any of that is.  Someone suggested I disable that then my modem will show up, but as I don't know what it is and it all came with my computer, I have no idea how to do that, so I'd rather stay away from that.   Anyway, if anyone can help me, I'd be very grateful   Thanks for you time Take Care Richard