ADSL modem problems

[Wulfy]

Last week I decided to upgrade from Hardy to Intrepid (32-bit).  
Everything went as I expected (minor problems, 2 update/upgrade cycles, 
I use aptitude).  Then came the reboot.  Everything came up as it should 
except my modem.  I couldn't connect to the internet, even after 
reinstalling Hardy.  As this was the (crappy) USB modem my ISP supplies 
(and it doesn't do support for Linux), I took this as a sign to do what 
I've wanted to do for ages...  get a proper Ethernet modem (Netgear 
ADSL2+ DM111P).  No more firmware...  no more cobbled scripts to get 
on-line.  Wheee!!!

Except that it didn't work.  After 5 days without internet access, I 
called on a friend who had a friend who was a whizz-kid...  after much 
cursing and a change of cable, he managed to get the modem working using 
his laptop which was running Windows.  But still Kubuntu Hardy couldn't 
connect.  He installed Vista (shudder) on a spare hard drive and got me 
up and running.  Connects no problem.

I tried booting into Knoppix (5.3.1, the latest) and it saw the internet 
immediately.  I downloaded and burned the Kubuntu 8.10 64-bit live CD.  
Booting into that, it saw the internet immediately.  So I thought my 
problems were over.

Because of some technical reasons I didn't understand, both hard drives 
couldn't be connected at the same time.  So I swapped back to the 
Kubuntu HD and booted.  Still no internet access.

I'm tempted to install Intrepid and hope it sees the internet when not a 
Live CD.  Is this likely to work?  Or do I need some Magickal 
Incantation on the CLI to make it see the modem and internet????

Blessings

Wulfmann (currently in exile longing to come home...:@( )