I am able to connect to the Internet with the v.6 and the v.7 live DVDs.
(With my PC connected to my wired connection), I did a: sudo lspci -v, and
an: lspci.
Assuming that I can interpet the lists correctly, there are 15 items listed,
and the last item is an Ethernet controller. Also listed are a Communication
controller, various bridges, a bus, VGA, USB, Audio, and IDE controllers.
What should I be looking for? (My knowledge of hardware and command-line
stuff is limited. I use Trisquel the way most people use "windoze".)