MSI US54SE USB Stick, Ndiswrapper, networkmanager and WEP settings

Hello,

Firstly, I will admit that I am new to Linux and Ubuntu. But I have some limited technical knowledge and find that I can learn fairly easily.

Plus, Ubuntu looks like it'll be fun.

I have installed Ubunti Edgy (ver 6.10.)

I need to get my wireless working so that I can get Internet access and do troubleshooting etc. for whatever else may crop up (and learn the system.)

But I can't get my wireless to work :

1) I run my wireless in Windows through a USB stick - MSI US54SE 802.11b+g stick.
2) I don't know if Ubunti picked it up automatically, there's nothing in Ubuntu that seems to 'search' for networks or at least show me that the stick is searching or doing something. I can turn the wireless on from the Networks menu, but I can really type anything in there and it says it is 'on.'
3) So I thought the driver probably wasn't detected automatically (although a google search indicated that the MSI US54SE is supposed to be automatically detected in Ubuntu.)
4) I ran NDISWRAPPER on my windows driver, and NDISWRAPPER -l reported that the driver is loaded and the hardware was found (I am paraphrasing somewhat, as I am obviously typing this through Windows.) I then ran the command so that it would include running ndiswrapper on the driver at every boot up.
5) I heard about NetworkManager - that it scans for networks. So I tried to run this through the Synaptic software LIVE CD, but when I click on it to apply NetworkManager it comes back with an error message saying that I'm either missing hardware or the software doesn't support my computer type?? (i386.)
6) This sounds to me that the Wireless hardware is still not really detected, Ndiswrapper didn't really do anything or I am missing something here.
7) Nothing in Ubuntu helps me to set up a WEP encryption network or anything. I mean, I don't see anything there that looks like it's actually 'doing' anything.
8) A google search doesn't help much - i've tried to troubleshoot this on my own. I found one link in Launchpad that doesn't explain to me exactly what it is I have downloaded (but claims to be some sort of networkmanager plug-in or something.) I tried to un-tar the file but it says the archive is corrupt. I can't find network manager anywhere, and can't really afford to download Ubuntu 7.04 which claims to have it automatically installed. Besides, if my hardware is still not working it won't make any difference.
9) My limited knowledge now has me stuck here.

Many thanks