Middle Age Geeks

Hey guys, I'm trying to migrate over to the whole open source action thing, and my latest 'big step' was to get myself an old used laptop (PIII, 512 MB RAM... RAR!) as a backup to my desktop, and install Ubuntu 8.0.4.

Everything went great, Ubuntu is a kickass OS and even my just-computer-literature-enough-to-be-dangerous ass was able to pull off installing everything and getting it to chug along nicely.

HOWEVER, I'm having a heck of a time getting my Wirless Network card to work (and apparently this is known to be one of the tricky issues with Ubuntu/Linux OS in general). The card 'works' in the sense it'll pick up the wireless network, but it'll just ask me for the encrypted ID number.... and then just hang for a while and ask me for it again. My best guess is its a driver issue but I can't decipher how to resolve it through HOURS of diligent searching on the Googleweb (I even found several people with my exact same issue... I'm just not bright enough to follow along the various solutions that were suggested.

So... any Linux-wise folk out there willing to give me a hand on getting this card working? I can be reached at andrewbaker13@gmail.com as well

Details: Ubuntu 8.0.4 -- the nice automatic network configuration tool failed me so far
The card: Linksys model #WPC55AG version 1.1
Machine: PIII laptop, i386, an old Dell Latitude machine

Ideas: Apparently people have made Linux drivers under a p[ackage called "madwifi" and I have it installed (I think), but I have no idea if I'm "using" it the right way... Alternatively, people recommend using something called NDISwrapper -- something that allows you to use Windows-based drivers for wireless cards in Linux machines. I'm not clever enough to use this... I can't follow the "how tos" I've found online. This may be the solution I need.

Alternatively, if anyone can point me toward a local Linux expert they know who I could pay/suck up to (make them some foamfighting stuffs?) to help me out, it'd be appreciated.

PS - Sorry if this explanation sounds noobish... learning Linux by the seat of my pants here...

As unhelpful as this post is im posting it anyway.
Im running Ubuntu 8.0.4. and using the same wireless card as you and having no problems.
what do you mean that its asking for and encrypted ID number? can you post a screenshot of it asking for the ID #? if you can i can ask the people i know that run linux and see if they can help.

Just like in IT circles you ask about Linux and folks pop out of the woodwork talkin' all smart n' stuff.