jax@jax-Inspironlaptop:~$ lspci | grep -i ethernet 02:00.0 Ethernet controller: 3Com Corporation 3c905C-TX/TX-M (rev 78)

nope, that didn't work. After I installed b43 I tried to connect and the same thing happend, so I rebooted and tried again with the same results.

I am using an old Inspiron 4100 I installed wattos R5 after having had many problems with lubuntu. so far i like it but I am having a problem using wifi, when I click on my network connections icon at the bottom right of the screen I see my wireless router's SSID when I click on it I wait for about 30 seconds and then a window pops up asking for the wireless network key. After i type in the key the window disappears and the network connection icon looks busy, after about 30 seconds the same window pops up asking for the wireless network key again, and the cycle keeps repeating. The only way that I can get on the internet is thru an ethernet cable. If I can't get this problem fixed i'm throwing this thing away. Can anyone please help?  PS. I am new to linux so a step by step would be very helpful.