I tried the wired connection and although it said the network was up I couldn't connect..
Well we need the wired connection up. Go PCC and find hardware, browse and configure,
ethernet card. Then run config tool, then connect to the internet.
Then you can search Synaptic for kernel firmware, ndiswrapper's, new kernels, etc.
if the current drivers you find in hardware, browse hardware aren't going to work.
Look thru PCC for all options, then go thru Synaptic and try the newest kernel.