Ubuntu password/wireless/newbie problem?

Factual Questions
1

Sorry to be so vague, I have no idea what the problem actually is. I have a E-machine, that just had Linux (Ubuntu) installed on it. To make a long story short, a virus seemed to wipe out the Windows registry and I no longer have the product key, so the guy who fixed it* installed the above. I’ve always wanted to try out Linux so it wasn’t to big a deal and it’s not my main machine anyway so I figured the learning curve wouldn’t matter much. I’ve had it 4 days now enough to explore Open Office, check on my pics and documents and play solitaire.

Now however I’m wondering if I need to reinstall it because I haven’t been able to get online. I think I need to change the network settings so it can detect my wireless card but it won’t allow me access. Any ideas why this could be? Is there a way to fix this without reinstalling the OS? Will reinstalling the OS make me loose any data?
*Original problem was the power supply the Windows problem came up on testing.

2

I’m guessing it won’t allow you access to the network settings because you are logged in as a non-privileged user (which is how it should be). Did the person who set it up for you give you the “root” password?

3

He said the only password he set up was the one he gave me. That’s why I figured something was wrong.

4

Hmm, well, I’m afraid I don’t know much about Ubuntu specifically.

When you try to change the network settings, does it prompt you to authenticate yourself as an administrator (i.e. ask you for a password)?

You might try logging out and logging back in as user “root”. Maybe the default root password is blank. “Root” is the super-user/administrator account that is allowed to do anything.

If that does work, you should put a password on the root account while you’re at it.