WHY? is it so hard to get Linux to work?

[#1]

That appears to have worked! 
Check dmesg, and try to set up a mobile broadband connection in NetworkManager. I think someone posted some screenshots to help with this in one of your threads.

[#2]

B I N G O ! 
plugged in the 3G dongle again.... and type dmesg ... loads of stuff came up on the page  (with gsm modem converter detected) in several lines.... and the 3 mobile network connected appeared simultaneously at the top right corner....
Thanks for that.... 

[#3]

Nice work ejs. I've learned something myself there. I knew about adding vendor/product to the usbserial modprobe but I didn't know about the new_id facility. Have just looked it up and found a good description here http://www.ha19.no/usb/ .
I guess it ought to be possible to produce a udev rule for shutter to avoid him having to type the commands in each time he boots, but are either of us brave enough... 
Now on the the USB memory stick problem I guess, although gleneagles problem on the other thread turned out to be a corrupted USB stick, invalid partition information. We ended up having to repartition and format it with gparted.

[#4]

I think shutter "only" needs to update the relevant usb-modeswitch config file so that usb-modeswitch will do everything automatically.
wget http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswitch/usb-modeswitch-data-20110714.tar.bz2
tar -xf usb-modeswitch-data-20110714.tar.bz2
(next step as root)
cp usb-modeswitch-data-20110714/usb_modeswitch.d/12d1\:1446 /etc/usb_modeswitch.d/
@shutter using tab completion, you can just type "usb-mo" then press Tab. It works differently to Windows command prompt, it fills in as much as it can until there's more than one possibility, then you can type a bit more, press tab again, and repeat until the end.

[#5]

I don't see anything in those updated rules that will set the new_id...

[#6]

Oh dear....................
all is not well..... have removed the wireless dongle, and replaced it with the memory stick, re-booted, and get the cannot mount 2gb message... so then I saw the bit about downloading firmware-b43-installer, so plugged in the wireless dongle again... and ...... you guessed it....no mention of it, and no connection...
I could take the laptop into the other room, to wire it to the router, but thought I would be lazy and use the wireless dongle, seeing as how you guys have spent so much time and effort getting it to work for me...

[#7]

@ MisterW: The new_id setting code is in the /lib/udev/usb_modeswitch script. But the 1506 ID of shutter's stick when in modem mode is now in the updated data file, without that it can't tell if the mode switch succeeded.
@shutter: you need to update the config for usb_modeswitch. My previous instructions won't help as you're no longer connected.
There are some instructions in the file /usr/share/doc/usb-modeswitch-data/README.Debian
It should go like this, as root:
cd /etc/usb_modeswitch.d
tar /usr/share/usb_modeswitch/configPack.tar.gz 12d1:1446
gedit "12d1:1446"
and edit the "12d1:1446" file and add 1506 to the others in TargetProductList.

[#8]

OK... hold it... getting confused now....
just going to take both laptops back to the other room and connect  the Linux one via the wire to the router, and then I can do the necessary downloads or Terminal instructions.....
watch this space !.
.

[#9]

Quote

The new_id setting code is in the /lib/udev/usb_modeswitch script

@ejs, Ah, that makes sense now. Thats presumably in the standard usb-modeswitch package and hence not in the updated data package.

[#10]

OK guys.... now got my two laptops side by side..... this one is the Windows Vista .... and will be the one I use to answer your responses....
the Linux Mint 11 laptop is now hardwired to the router , so we now have BOTH laptops connected to the internet....
so , I open a Terminal, and type "su"... and then what ..... ? ? 

[#11]

Quote from: shutter

so , I open a Terminal, and type "su"... and then what ..... ? ?

cd  /etc/usb_modeswitch.d
tar  /usr/share/usb_modeswitch/configPack.tar.gz  12d1:1446
sed  -i  -e  's/14ac/14ac,1506/'  "12d1:1446"
cat  "12d1:1446"
The "cat" line is just to check the result.

[#12]

"su"
cd /etc/usb_modeswitch.d
gives
bash: cd/etc/usb_modeswitch.d: No such file or directory
tar /usr/share/usb_modeswitch/configPack/tar.gz 12d1:1446
gives
tar: Old option `f` requires an argument.
Try `tar -- help` or  `tar --usage` for more information
sed -i -e `s/14ac/14ac,1506/1 "12d1;1446" 
gives
nothing .... just a flashing cursor at the left.....
cat  "12d1:1446"
gives
nothing (as previous line) just flashing cursor......

[#13]

<censored> 

[#14]

OK the second line should have been:
tar -xvf /usr/share/usb_modeswitch/configPack.tar.gz "12d1:1446"
I guess the instructions in /usr/share/doc/usb-modeswitch-data/README.Debian need updating.

[#15]

so.... do it all again?
or just the one line you posted?