I can't get nvida graphics drivers or my wireless internet to work.

Ubuntu 8 is not enough info, there are both Ubuntu 8.04 (aka Hardy) and Ubuntu 8.10 (aka Intrepid) available.

Please check question https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/64893 for detailed instructions to find out what Wifi adapter you have.

If googling that type doesn't lead to results, post the output of the commands here and maybe somebody can help you further (probably not me)

The file /var/log/Xorg.0.log might give some hints what is going wrong with your graphics adapter.

Hmm, actually thinking once more

> it rejects my WEP code

Do you mean your Wifi adapter actually works, but you have just trouble with the password?

Well, I haven't used WEP for ages (and never on Ubunutu), because it is very insecure. Programs to break the encryption are freely available on the internet. If possible I'd recommend to use WPA personal or WPA2 personal.

If that is not an option:

From the old days I remember that some systems require the WEP password to be entered in hexadecimal, while others want in in ASCII. Yet others support both formats. I have no idea which class Ubuntu belongs to, but please double check that there is no format confusion.

I have ubuntu 8.10, and the WEP code came with it.
Usually, you have to register online first with the ethernet cable plugged into it to get wireless to work, but I'm already registered, and the wireless just doesn't work. The wifi gateway works fine, It just can't establish a secure connection, and rejects my WEP.

> I have ubuntu 8.10,

OK, that'c currently the newest one officially released.

> and the WEP code came with it.

What do you mean by the "WEP code"?

1. Code as in software, i.e. the application asking your WEP password and carrying out the authentication? Yes, I would have supposed that you just use what came with Ubuntu.

or

2. Code as in passcode, i.e. the password you need to connect to your wifi gateway? Then I don't know what you mean by the WEP code came with Ubuntu.

> Usually, you have to register online first with the ethernet cable plugged into it to get wireless to work,

I don't understand what you mean by that. Usually you have to configure your access point (e.g. setting up security). That might be easier to do using a cable, true. I'm not sure what you mean by registering online (except if your Wifi gateway has been provided by your Internet service provider and they use some kind of remote management solution) If you have just bought the gateway from the shop, there is normally no such step to register online anywhere. Not with many internet service providers either, I'd guess.

> The wifi gateway works fine,

I didn't doubt that. But are you sure that your Wifi adapter in the Ubuntu machine works correctly? Unfortunately quite many models don't work out of the box even with the newest 8.10 and need some manual driver fiddling.

What does iwconfig report? (Run from a Terminal / command line)

Well, I just figured that I was just entering in the wrong passcode the whole time, and I installed the ubuntu versions of the drivers, so problem solved, and thanks for the help!